On September 2nd, the devotees at Govindaji Gardens celebrated Sri Krsna Janmastami. This years festival was very wonderful in that it saw a strong collective effort from both the asrama devotees and the outside Vaisnava community to make the program a great success. For almost 2 months all the devotees were collecting donations in cash and kind from various sources. It also brought us in contact with many new people who were eager to help our mission in different ways.
The festival itself began at 10:00am with darsana of Sri Sri Gaura-Radha-Madhava in Their new dress. The pujaris, Kirtanananda and Gaura-nataraja had decorated the Deities profusely with flowers and garlands. Madhava was dressed with a bright yellow dhoti and shirt with a red silk sash and chaddar. Radharani wore a blue dress and a red choli studded with pearls. Mahaprabhu was dressed in yellow with a blue chaddar and red turban.
After the arati Swami BV Giri spoke on the appearance of Sri Krsna from Srimad Bhagavatam and the importance of observing festivals such as Janmastami. Class was followed by bhajanas led by Sri Gopala Dasa who also chanted the Brahma-samhita prayers for the pleasure of the Deities.
At around 1:00pm there was a yajna conducted by Gaura-Gopala Dasa. Ghee and auspicious items were offered into the sacred fire with the chanting of Vedic mantras such as Purusa Sukta, Narayana Sukta, Visnu Sukta, Sri Sukta, Bhu Sukta, Nila Sukta as well as the 108 names of Sri Krsna. The yajna was concluded with Vaisnava Homa and the final purna-ahuti. At the very end of the yajna there was a slight sprinkle of rain which was considered to be a very auspicious sign.
At 3:00pm Raja Gopala and his musicians came to play nadesvaram for the Deities until 5:30 when the abhiseka began. As usual, we were most fortunate to have the Deity of Sri Kaliya Mardana Krsna from our Mulki asrama gracing the occasion. He was bathed with many ingredients such as milk, yoghurt, ghee, honey, sugar-water, auspicious herbs, ganges water, fruit juices etc. Throughout the ceremony there were beautiful bhajanas and the sounds of nadesavaram.
After the abhiseka, Giri Maharaja performed Vandapana – showing auspicious items the Lord and then Sri Sri Radha-Govinda were taken on Their ratha around the compound surrounded by Their devotees chanting the Holy Names. The ratha went around ten times to the accompaniment of kirtana, flute music and nadesvaram until The Deities finally returned to the altar for the 7:00 sandhya-arati.
B. V Madhva Maharaja led the arati as ten lamps of various sizes were offered to Sri Sri Radha-Madhava. After the arati, guests and devotees lined up to receive caranamrta from the pujaris.
Outside the temple compound a pandal had been erected for mass prasadam distribution. This year about 8000 people were given prasadam of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava.
From 8:00pm till 10:00pm there was flute recital by Murali Krsna Dasa followed by a group of professional drummers from Mysore. This traditional style of drumming is called 'Dollu Kunitha' in Kannada which literally means "drum dance." As the troupe danced rhythmically beating their drums with sticks and even making human pyramids, all the spectators cheered enthusiastically.
At 11:00pm Caitanya Dasa led bhajanas and then spoke in Kannada about the appearance of Sri Krsna. During that time, pujaris brought eighty-one preparations to the altar and offered them to Their Lordships.
On the stroke of midnight, conchshells and bells sounded as the doors of the main altar were opened and the midnight arati began. Simultaneously fireworks were lit and the skies were abound in different colours.
About 250 guests remained after the arati and were given sumptuous prasadam. There were three sittings of guests who filled the prasadam hall to the brim. The program ended at 3:30am as the devotees, tired but happy, finally sat down to honour prasadam.
