TEMPLE FESTIVALS

THE FESTIVE NATURE OF KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS

“This Krsna culture has so many festivals. We could have one every day. In the spiritual world, every day is a festival.“

– Srila Prabhupada

“Our movement is for ananda, simply bliss, and the method of pushing this movement is chanting, dancing, feasting and philosophizing. So in our almanac there are many festivals in every month.”

(Srila Prabhupada in a letter to Jadurani – LA 15-July 1969)

“Best way to maintain enthusiasm is by regular chanting with the devotees together in the temple and by having festivals. So you should immediately have one festival then everyone will be busily engaged. There are so many festivals that I can give you one for every day.”

(Srila Prabhupada in a letter to Svati Devi: Jan’72)

“Observe many festivals, that will keep both public and devotees alive. Temple means festivals and Festivals means chanting and distribution of Prasadam.”

(Srila Prabhupada in a letter to Tamala Krsna – Aug’73)

“Either alone or in public gatherings, with singing, dancing and other exhibitions of royal opulence, one should arrange to celebrate those holy days, ceremonies and festivals set aside specially for My worship.”

(Krishna to Uddhava in Srimad Bhagavatam 11.29.11)

“Transcendental are the appearance and disappearance of Krsna’s devotees who are sent to this material world to preach the glories of the Lord. According to the principles of Vaisnavism, both the appearance and the disappearance of such Vaishnavas, or devotees of Visnu (Krsna), are all-auspicious. Therefore we hold festivals in their honor on the anniversaries of both days.

(Srila Prabhupada in the book Second Chance – Text 4)

CELEBRATING PRACTICALLY EVERYDAY

PUSHYA ABHISHEK

Most festivals celebrated in the temple involve the Abhishek of the utsava murtis (small brass Deities); but on this special festival, the main Deities of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath are showered with 1,000 kgs of colorful flower petals. The best flowers are procured from different parts of the country specially for this occasion – Roses from Vrindavan, Jasmines from Coimbatore.

NITYANANDA TRAYODASI

It is the most auspicious appearance day of Lord Nityananda. In his previous incarnations, He appeared as Lord Balaram, the beloved brother of Krishna, and as Lakshman, the younger brother of Lord Rama. Lord Sri Krishna descended in Kali Yuga as Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden avatar, to deliver the people of this age through Sankirtan, the congregational chanting.

GAURA PURNIMA

Lord Gauranga appeared on this planet around 500 years ago. The Lord, in his previous incarnations like Krishna, Rama and Narasimha annihilated the miscreants who caused suffering to his devotees. Lord Sri Krishna descended in Kali Yuga as Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the golden avatar, to deliver the people of this age through Sankirtan, the congregational chanting.

HOLI FESTIVAL

Holi is a celebration of Life’s abundance, with its multitude of colours. It was celebrated by Lord Krishna, 5,000 years ago, along with his friends & especially with Sri Radha. At ISKCON Chowpatty, the festival is joyously celebrated annually by offering emotions ( in form of both wet & dry colours) to the source of all love and life, Sri Sri Radha Gopinath.

RAMA NAVAMI

Lord Rama appeared on this planet in Treta yuga on the 9th day in the month of Chaitra (March-April). He is glorified by his devotees and many poets as the ideal king, the ideal brother, the ideal husband, the most chivalrous warrior, the most handsome prince, the most virtuous hero and the most righteous king.

CHANDANA YATRA

Chandan Yatra, the festival of sandalwood, is celebrated for twenty-one days in the hottest period of the summers. During this period, the deity of Lord Sri Gopalji is completely covered from head to toe with sandalwood paste in day time. This keeps the body of the Lord cool, since sandalwood has a cooling property.

NARSIMHA CHATURDASI

Sri Narasimha Jayanti is the appearance day of Lord Narasimha, the half-lion half-man incarnation of Supreme Lord Krishna, who appeared to protect Prahlada from his demoniac father Hiranyakashipu. Narasimhadeva appeared at dusk on the Shukla Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of the bright fortnight) in the month of Vaishakha (May). Devotees fast till dusk on this day.

BRAHMOTSAVAM

The Supreme Lord descends in the form of Deities so that we get an opportunity to serve Him. In 1988, the Supreme Lord descended in Chowpatty to bestow His mercy upon us and this occasion is celebrated by the devotees as Brahmotsavam. Being celebrated in all Vaishnava Temples with grandeur yearly, we invite you all for this grand occasion.

JHULAN YATRA

Pleasure gushes through veins when we watch them – Glowing Radha and Krishna- coming back and forth on a swing studded with colorful fascinating flowers and love of devotees.. We celebrate the sacred festival of Jhulan Yatra (Swing festival) in the auspicious sacred month of Shravana (July-Aug). For 5 continuous days, Radha Krishna are on a beautiful decorated swing.

BALARAM JAYANTI

This is the most auspicious appearance day of Lord Balarama, the elder brother of Lord Krishna. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the fountainhead of all incarnations. Lord Balarama is the first bodily expansion of Krishna, and He assists in Lord Krishna’s transcendental pastimes. He is the source of the entire spiritual world and is the adi-guru.

SRI KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI

Janmashtami is a popular festival of India that is celebrated with much enthusiasm and fervour for celebrating the appearance of Lord Krishna in the month of August. Thousands of devotees throng the temple from the first Darshan at 5 am to last Darshan at 1 pm. Classes and Kirtan happen through the day & at night, grand abhishek at 10 pm.

SRI RADHASTAMI

Radhashtami day is the most auspicious day of appearance of Goddess of fortune, Sri Radha, who is the feminine counterpart of Lord Sri Krishna. It is a very special day for all the Gaudiya Vaishnavas, as by obtaining the mercy of Srimati Radharani one can easily achieve Krishna-prema. Radha is Krishna’s dearest servant, and is His pleasure potency.

SHARAD PURNIMA

This is the night when Lord Krishna performed Rasa dance. This dance represents the most perfect intimacy between the infinitesimal soul and the supreme soul, free of any material tinge of selfish desire, but charged with intense bliss. In reciprocation with the love of the Gopis, Krishna expanded himself to dance with each Gopi in their eternal spiritual bodies.

DEEPOTSAVA

The Festival of Lamps is celebrated at the temple for one full month of Kartika. During this month, in Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir, Lord Damodara along with his mother Yashoda, is offered lamps of love by hundreds of devotees. In the morning (8 AM) and in the evening (7:30 PM), the beautiful Damodarashtakam is sung.

GOVARDHAN PUJA

As per the instructions of Krishna and following in the footsteps of the residents of Vrindavana, this festival is celebrated every year in the month of Kartika. Devotees prepare varieties of foodstuffs with grain and ghee (like rice, dhal, halva, pakora, puri, etc.) and all kinds of milk preparations (such as sweet rice, rabri, sweet balls, sandesh, rasagulla and laddu).

SPECIAL FESTIVALS

EKADASHIS

EKADASHI

Of all vratas, Visnu is most pleased with those who observe the Ekadasi fast. It is said that a Vaisnava does not accept any eatable that is not offered to Lord Visnu, also it is strictly forbidden for one to accept any kind of grain on Ekadasi, even if it is offered to Lord.

APP/ DISAPP OF ACHARYAS

The more love we have love for God and his great devotees, the more we can serve them in everything we do. In the Gaudiya Vaishnav tradition, we don’t want to love Lord Krishna simply so that we can be in ecstasy but we do, say or think will give ecstasy to Lord Krishna.

YOUTH FESTIVAL

They serve as an oasis that is ‘life-giving and transforming’ in a stress–ridden society’ that is like a desert. Thus these festivals are committed to provide a facility like an Oasis in the middle of a desert to keep oneself surcharged in remembrance of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna.

DRAMA FESTIVAL

Performing and producing dramas brings the community together. Devotees practice for months and annually on 2 days, the whole congregation witnesses these presentations of drama by devotees trained for months and attended by many Srila Prabhupada’s disciples.

KIRTAN-FEST

It is held during the month of January for two and half days. It is received with great eagerness, spirits and numbers with the presence of great Kirtaniyas. The festival is aimed to spiritualise the vibrations on this planet, and simultaneously strengthen the devotion in our hearts.

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