Krishna Janmashtami was celebrated with great enthusiasm in Hyderabad. Many devotees visited ISKCON temples to seek the blessings of Lord Krishna. The temples were beautifully decorated with flowers, lights, rangolis, and tableaux depicting different stories of Lord Krishna. Children dressed up as Kanha, Radha, and other devotees and visited temples like the ISKCON temple in Abids and Secunderabad. People also flocked to the Hare Krishna Golden Temple in Banjara Hills to catch a glimpse of Krishna in various forms.
The day’s celebrations included morning rituals like Shodashopachara Seva and Shringara Arati, followed by Maha Abhishekam and Kirtans in the evening. At midnight, a grand Maha Mangala Arati was performed. The highlight of the celebrations at the Hare Krishna Golden Temple was the mesmerizing Vishesha 108-Kalasha Sandhya Maha Abhishekam. This ceremony involved chanting of Vedic mantras and offering various items like milk, curd, honey, fruit juices, herbal powders, flowers, and sacred waters from seven rivers of India to Lord Krishna.
The Sandhya Abhishekam concluded with a discourse by Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa Prabhuji, President of Hare Krishna Movement Hyderabad, who spoke about the significance of Lord Krishna’s divine appearance and the essence of Janmashtami celebrations. The celebrations will continue on September 8 with Nandotsavam and Unjala/Jhulan Seva to Lord Krishna. In the evening, the grand 127th Vyasa Puja celebrations will be held to honor Srila Prabhupada, the Founder Acharya of the worldwide Hare Krishna Movement.
