Hyderabad: Krishna Janmashtami was celebrated with great enthusiasm on Monday, as many devotees across the city visited various ISKCON temples to seek blessings from Lord Krishna.
Several temples dedicated to Lord Krishna were beautifully decorated with flowers, lights, and rangolis. Some also featured tableaux depicting different stories from Lord Krishna’s life. Young children were dressed up as Kanha (Krishna) and Radha, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Devotees flocked to ISKCON temples in Abids and Secunderabad, as well as the Hare Krishna Golden Temple in Banjara Hills. They came to catch a glimpse of Lord Krishna in three different forms: Radha Govinda, Godha Krishna, and Laddu Gopal (Makhan Krishna).
The highlight of the celebrations at the Hare Krishna Golden Temple was the grand ‘Vishesha 108-Kalasha Sandhya Maha Abhishekam,’ which began on Thursday evening. The ceremony included rhythmic chanting of Vedic mantras and soulful Harinam sankirtan. During the Abhishekam, Radha Govinda was offered a variety of sacred items like panchamrita (a mixture of milk, curd, honey, etc.), panchagavya (five auspicious items from a cow), fruit juices, herbal powders, selected flowers, special medicines, and navaratnas (nine gems). A special feature of the Abhishekam was the ceremonial bath given to the deities with holy water collected from seven sacred rivers of India.
The evening Abhishekam concluded with a spiritual discourse by Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa Prabhuji, president of the Hare Krishna Movement Hyderabad. He explained the significance of Lord Krishna’s divine appearance and the true meaning of Janmashtami celebrations.
The festivities will continue on Tuesday, with Nandotsavam and Unjala/Jhulan Seva (a ceremonial swing service) for Lord Krishna. In the evening, there will be a grand celebration for the 128th Vyasa Puja, honoring the divine appearance of Srila Prabhupada, the Founder Acharya of the Worldwide Hare Krishna Movement (ISKCON), according to a senior Hare Krishna Movement officer.
