Events

Temple Schedule

7:15 am New Deity outfits
7:30 am Swing ceremony
4:00 pm Samskaras and fire sacrifice
4:30 pm Flower outfit offering
6:30 pm Jhulana Yatra (Swing ceremony)
9:00 pm Kalash Maha Abhiseka (Bathing)
9:00 pm Krishna Lila on outdoor stage
12:00 pm Arati and Kirtan
12:30 am Prasadam

Kirtan Schedule

5:30PM – 6.30PM –
6.30PM – 7.30PM –
7.30 PM – 8.30 PM
8.30 PM – 9.30 PM
9.30 PM – 10.30 PM –
10.30 PM -11.30 PM –
11.30 PM – CLASS BY
12.00 PM – MAHA KIRTAN

Main Stage Schedule
7:00 pm  –  Temple Bhajan Band – Kirtan / Chanting
8:00 pm –  Uthara Rajamani – Karnatic Classical Vocalist
8:40 pm  –  Rangashree Dancers – Directed by Paulomi Pandit
9:00 pm –  “Little Krishna – The Darling of Vrindavan” – Animated Movie
10:15 pm – Shakti Dance Company directed by Viji Prakash – Bharat Natyam

Kṛṣṇa’s birthday ceremony is observed in India by all Hindus, irrespective of different sectarian views. Originally, in Vṛndāvana, all the cowherd women and men were invited to participate, and they arrived in jubilation. A nice band played, and the assembled people enjoyed it. Brāhmaṇas chanted Vedic hymns for the good fortune of Kṛṣṇa. During the chanting, Kṛṣṇa was bathed. This bathing ceremony is technically called abhiṣeka, and even today this is observed in all the temples of Vṛndāvana as Janmāṣṭamī Day, or the birthday anniversary of Lord Kṛṣṇa. (Kṛṣṇa Book, Chapter 7)

The New Dvārakā Janmāṣṭamī celebration goes well beyond midnight with twenty-four hour bhajan, kīrtana and reading from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Exotic flowers hang everywhere in the temple, hundreds of food preparations are offered to the Lord from dawn to midnight, including grand elaborate cakes, newly-embroidered jeweled clothing, and a flower-laden garment offered to the Lord. Kṛṣṇa will be covered with sandalwood paste from head to toe and take a long ride in His fresh flower decorated swing. Eager bhaktas arrive from all directions to help swing and bathe Him. The weather is usually warm, so He and his consort Śrī Rādhā are lavishly bathed in fresh fruit purees, molasses, honey, milk, yogurt, ghee (clarified butter), sesame, flower petals and clear water. Outside the temple, guests of Kṛṣṇa’s birthday mingle on a street packed with exhibits, musical entertainment, dance, drama, and opulent prasādam.

Fast Till Midnight

The auspicious appearance day of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Prabhupāda, the founder-ācārya of ISKCON, is on the day following Kṛṣṇa Janmāṣṭamī. Devotees and disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda fast until noon on this day and offer Śrīla Prabhupāda a grand ceremony of puṣpāñjali, abhiṣeka, words of glorification and some favorite food preparations of His Divine Grace. Prabhupāda spent a great deal of his time at New Dvārakā temple translating his books and training disciples, and for this reason New Dvārakā is a sacred, holy dhāma. He practiced Kṛṣṇa worship during his childhood years in Kolkata and even arranged for a small Ratha-yātrā parade there to the delight of His family and neighborhood friends.

Fast Till Noon