This years Janmastami festival was undoubtedly the most memorable for Govindaji Gardens due to the long awaited installation of the Deity of Sri Yoga-Narasingha. Many devotees from Bangalore, Mysore and Ganjam arrived just before midday to witness the prana-pratisthapana ceremony performed by Srila Narasingha Maharaja.
The silpi, or carver, completed the carving of the eyes at 6:30am and performed a special puja known as jyotir-prakaranam. At 11:00am Srila Narasingha Maharaja performed other special rituals such as the Silpi-dosa-snanam (sprinkling the Deity with a mixture of milk, yoghurt, ghee, cow-urine and cow-dung), netronmilinam (requesting the Lord to open His eyes) and the prana-pratistha (requesting the Deity to formally accept worship). Outside the altar, devotees led by Madhava Maharaja engaged in nama-sankirtana.
An abhiseka followed, in which Lord Narasingha was first covered with tumeric and then bathed in milk and rose-water. The curtains briefly closed while the pujaris decorated the Deity with silk cloth, ornaments and garlands then Srila Narasingha Maharaja offered arati to the Lord as the devotees sang the Narasinghadeva prayers.
After, all the devotees sat for bhajanas in front of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava which lasted for three hours. At 5:15pm Govinda's abhiseka began accompanied by nagesvaram and other traditional South Indian musical instruments. As usual, the Lord was bathed in a vast variety of ingredients including pancamrta, scented water, fruit-juices, kum-kum water and butter.
After the abhiseka, Srila Narasingha Maharaja organized the Deity's palki parikrama, first taking the small Vira-Narasingha Deity along with Sri Yati-Narasingha three times around the temple compound. When these Deities were taken back into Lord Narasingha's temple, Sri Sri Radha Govinda were brought out and placed in the palki. Accompanied by nagesvaram, then flute and lastly nama-sankirtana, Their Lordships were taken three times around the kirtana hall.
At 7:00 Narasingha Maharaja offered arati to Radha-Madhava and caranamrta was distributed to all the devotees and guests. On the lawn outside the compound, prasadam was also distributed. So many people took prasadam that in no time at all the entire quantity was exhausted and more had to be cooked.
At midnight maha-mangala arati was performed by Srila Visnu Maharaja and a wonderful feast cooked by the devotees of Govindaji Gardens was offered to Their Lordships which was honored by one and all. Approximately 5,000 people attended this years Janmastami function.