Sri Krsna Janmastami was observed by devotees at Govindaji Gardens on 22nd August 2011. Many devotees from Mandya, Mysore, Srirangapatna and Bangalore attended as well as some of our friends from Mexico.
Early in the morning, Srila Narasingha Maharaja sat under the banyan tree in the centre of the asrama and finished the introduction to his commentary on the Bhagavad-gita.
Sri Sri Gaura-Radha-Madhava were dressed in beautiful blue Chinese silk clothes and decorated with flowers by Their pujaris, Gaura-nataraja and Kirtanananda.
Srila Narasingha Maharaja gave class in the morning and spoke on the appearance of Sri Krsna according to the Srimad Bhagavatam and Hari-vamsa. There was simultaneous translations into Kannada and Spanish by Sri Gopala and Marco.
After the class, Srila Guru Maharaja gave initiations to three devotees – Diksita from Mulki, Vraja-lila from Australia and Krsna-kirtana from Mexico. Diksita became Dhruva Dasa and Vraja-lila and Krsna-kirtana maintained their original names.
During the morning the kitchen was a hive of activity as many devotees cooked various preparations for Krsna. Brahmana cooks cooked huge quantities of rice preparations for the many guests who were expected to arrive in the late afternoon.
Meanwhile in the temple, devotees chanted Brahma-samhita and other prayers in glorification of Sri Krsna, and bhajanas were sung throughout the day.
At 3:00pm Giri Maharaja, Gaura-gopala, Gaura-nataraja and Syama-kunda performed a Vedic homa chanting various suktas and the 108 names of Sri Krsna.
The abhiseka of Kaliya-mardana Krsna began at 6:00pm and Srila Guru Maharaja bathed the Lord in many auspicious substances as a nadesvaram band played in the temple room.
After the abhiseka, Sri Sri Radha-Govinda were placed on Their ratha and were taken around the temple amidst nadesvaram, sankirtana and flute. Fireworks were let off from the roof of the studio and the whole atmosphere was surcharged with a joyful mood.
Madhava Maharaja led the devotees and guests in chanting during the sandhya-arati and suddenly the heavens opened. There was a huge downpour of rain, but this did not dampen the spirits of the guests and devotees. Everyone was reminded of the storm that occurred when Vasudeva carried baby Krsna across the Yamuna from Mathura to Vraja-bhumi.
After the rains stopped, a group of professional drummers from Mysore perfromed a traditional style of drumming called 'Dollu Kunitha'. As the troupe danced rhythmically beating their drums with sticks and even making human pyramids, all the spectators cheered enthusiastically. This was followed by a performance by fire-eaters and jugglers.
At 11:30 pujaris carried the 160 preparations to the altar to offer to Sri Sri Radha-Madhava, and at 12:00 midnight, the time of Sri Krsna's divine advent, conches blew and fireworks were let off as the maha-arati was peformed and the devotees chanted the Holy Names together.
From 12:30 till 3:30am in the morning there was a constant flow of devotees and guests honoring the Lord's prasadam.
Sri Krsna Janmastami ki jaya!
