Short report on Sri Krishna Janmastami Mahotsav 2003 @ ISKCON Baroda

[Guest guest]

Janmastami Mahotsav at ISKCON Baroda

 

A Short report on the Janmastami festival at ISKCON Baroda by Basu Ghosh Das

 

Crowds started gathering in a ½ kilometer queue (line) for darshan of Sri

Sri Radha Shyamsundar here at ISKCON Baroda at around 4:30 PM. The line was

a continuous crowd of people until midnight!

 

We estimate that 2-3 hundred thousand people had darshan on the Deities, or

between 10-15 percent of the population of Baroda on Janmastami day and

almost an equal number of people came the next day for darshan! This was

the first time in the 4 years since the inauguration of the new temple that

so many people came on both days!

 

It's worth a mention that this year, security was heavily increased by the

local police authorities. All visitors had to pass through one of three

metal detectors installed at both the main entrance to the Mandir and on the

special entrance for life members on the side of the Mandir. Besides local

police, the State Reserve Police (SRP) were posted here in large numbers.

 

On Janmastami day every visitor got a "peda" (sweet) and banana prasad.

Also "maakhan" and "misri" - butter and sugar candy were distributed. After

midnight there was traditional distribution of "panjiri" (traditional in

Gujarat: a sweet powder made from sugar and coriander powder) and

"charanamritam" from the ashishek to all.

 

Also, there was a very simple IYF exhibition, three book stalls, sweet

stall, donation booths, laddu sales counter, and our snack shop and cold

drink shops all did brisk business throughout the day and upto 1 in the

morning!

 

There was special lighting on top of the Mandir, in the garden both in front

and in back of the Mandir, on trees, bushes, etc. A Shenai band played

continuously at the Main Gate of the Mandir.

 

On Janmastami day on a stage in the 1 acre "Hare Krishna Garden" behind the

Mandir several cultural programs were presented for the assembled public.

They included dance, drama and a "bhajan sandhya" (evening of Bhajans) by

local artist.

 

The visitors to the temple would have darshan, take prasad and then either

visit the cultural program or browse the various booths.

 

At midnight, there was a mob in the temple to witness the grand panchamrita

abhishek of Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar. The security guards had a hard time

restraining the crowds who were eager to have a glimpse of the ceremony.

The limited space in front of the 3 altars - about 3000 sq. ft., was

inadequate to accommodate all those who wanted to see the abhishek.

 

On Vyas Puja day there were two separate massive prasad distribution

programs. The first, for life members in the morning and the second for the

general public in the evening.

 

In the morning, just after a Shraddhanjali and Pushpanjali offerings to

Srila Prabhupada, around eight thousand life members and their families took

full prasad in the Hare Krishna garden behind the temple. Again in the

evening, we estimate that 15-20 thousand people took prasad. Prasad was

puri, chole (Punjabi style spicy chick peas), halava in pure ghee (not in

vegetable shortening), kadi (spicy creamed yogurt soup), rice, and salad.

For the life members in the morning there was chick pea burfi ("mohan taal")

instead of halava and there was a special thick moong dal.

 

Again there was a "Bhajan Sandhya" program by Smt. Manju Bhatia and her

party from Bombay. She had earlier performed at ISKCON Moscow on Janmastami

2 years ago, and she has toured and performed at several ISKCON temples in

the USA too.

 

By the mercy of Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar, one donor came forward to sponsor

both of these feasts as well as for the new dresses for Their Lordships. He

donated more than Rs. 4 lakhs (Rs. 400,000 = US$ 8,500.00 or so…) just for

these aspects of the program.

 

Hare Krishna!