Bangalore : ISKCON Bangalore celebrated Sri Krishna Janmashtami the
divine appearance of Lord Krishna on August 18 and 19, 2022, at Hare Krishna Hill, Vaikunta
Hill and Whitefield. This is the most awaited festival when scores of devotees have darshan
of Lord Krishna every year. Over 2 lakh people visited the temple on this auspicious occasion.
The deities received elaborate abhisheka, aratis, chappan bhog and jhulan seva on this
Occasion. Many varieties of special food preparations, including makhan mishri (freshly
churned butter mixed with sugar crystals) were offered to Lord Krishna. Devotees performed
cultural programmes like music and dance based on Lord Krishna’s lilas. Parents dressed their
children as Krishna and Radha for the festival. A special midnight abhisheka was performed,
tollowed by a maha arati to the deities. The programme was streamed live on the social media
channels of ISKCON Bangalore. People from all over the world joined the celebrations online.
The grand finale of the Krishna Costume contest was held for children at Hare Krishna Hill.
Renowned music composer Sri Chandan Shetty and actress Niveditha Gowda graced the
event.
The newly inaugurated ISKCON Sri Rajadhiraja Govinda Temple at Vaikunta Hill also
celebrated Janmashtami in a grand manner. This is the first stone temple of ISKCON and its
architecture is inspired by the Tirumala temple. The Lokarpana of Sri Rajadhiraja Govinda
Temple was performed by the former President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, in June 2022.
ISKCON Bangalore organised the Janmashtami festival at Karnataka Trade Promotion
Organisation (KTPO) convention hall at Whitefield this year. There was a cultural carnival
including events like music, dance, theatre shows and traditional games for children, youth
and families. A flash mob of devotees enthralled the visitors at Nexus Mall, who enjoyed the
festive vibes. Corporate professionals like Dr. Smitha Sarma Ranganathan, Ms. Gayathri
Kupendra Reddy, Dr. Rakesh Godhwani and Mr. Vikas Maheshwari participated in panel
discussions based on Bhagavad Gita.
Traditional sweets like laddu, burfi, mysore pak, holige and savouries like murukku and
nippattu were prepared in huge quantities in the famed temple kitchens. Large-scale
prasadam distribution was done at all three locations to the visitors on both days. Systematic
arrangements were made to facilitate a comfortable darshan for all the visitors.
Shri V Somanna, Hon’ble Minister for Housing And Infrastructure Development, Government
of Karnataka and Shri Tejaswi Surya, Member of Parliament for Bangalore South and National
President of BP Yuva Morcha, were among the dignitaries who visited the temple and offered
prayers to Lord Krishna.
A special video called “Dahi Handi – Joyful Song & Dance of Lord Krishna” was released on
YouTube. Dahi Handi is a traditional sport played in India to commemorate the sweet
pastimes of Krishna, Balaram and Their cowherd friends stealing butter in Vrindavan. To
celebrate the divine birth of Lord Sri Krishna, dancers performed a Dahi Handi within the
precincts of the ISKCON temple in Bangalore.
Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa, President, ISKCON Bangalore, said, “Sri Krishna Janmashtami is a
major festival celebrated all over India with great joy and devotion. I am glad to see lakhs of
people visiting our temples, eagerly having the darshan of the Lord and engaging in various
spiritual activities.
We conduct many programmes for people of all age groups round the year. I invite everyone
to participate actively and benefit from these spiritually, intellectually and emotionally
enriching experiences. I pray to Lord Krishna to bless us all with good health, happiness and
devotion.”
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