New Delhi, September 5 (Daily Kiran) : The vibrant festival of Janmashtami was celebrated with great enthusiasm at ISKCON temples worldwide, including in New Delhi. On Saturday, Brij Nandan Das, the vice president of the ISKCON temple in the capital, shared insights about the festivities. He noted that the celebrations began late Friday night and would continue into Saturday, coinciding with the birthday of ISKCON founder A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Das highlighted the significance of the event, stating, “Thanks to the efforts and blessings of Prabhupada, Janmashtami is being celebrated with great fervor across ISKCON temples globally.” From 4 a.m. on Saturday, devotees began arriving at the temple. When the doors to the deity were opened, attendees were overwhelmed by the beauty of the decorations, which featured flowers imported from various countries.
Devotees who attended throughout the day expressed joy and excitement, enjoying the prasad offered in a simple and relaxed manner. Das mentioned that even those who were not initially planning to come were drawn to the temple after seeing the media coverage of the decorations, prompting an invitation for all to participate in the darshan.
Notable attendees included Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, along with several politicians such as BJP National President Nitin Nabin and Delhi State President Harsh Malhotra. Das shared that Gupta participated in the rituals, performing abhishek for Radha Rani and later dancing joyfully in celebration.
Preparations were also underway for Prabhupada’s birthday celebration, which marks a significant milestone for ISKCON, celebrating 60 years of its establishment. Das emphasized the global reach of Prabhupada’s teachings, stating, “Today is his birthday, celebrated across ISKCON worldwide.”
The festivities not only honored Lord Krishna but also highlighted the community’s dedication to spreading the message of love and devotion through the Hare Krishna mantra.
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