Thousands of devotees pay obeisance at ISKCON Temple
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 24: The ‘City of Temples’ today wore a festive look as people celebrated Krishna Janamashtami with religious fervour, great pomp and fanfare amid chants of ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’.
Devotees thronged to the Shri Raghunath Temple and also at famous Lord Krishna Temple situated at Rani Park area to offer prayers.
However, special security arrangements were made in all the temples in view of the festival.
Enthusiastic people carrying flowers, idols of Lord Krishna visited to the holy places and offered prayers amid chants of ‘Hare Krishna Hare Rama, Hare Rama Hare Hare’. Kite flying also marked the celebration of Janamashtami.
Like every year, a grand function to mark the celebration of “Sri Krishna Janamashtami”, appearance day of Lord Krishna was held at International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Temple, Dream City, Muthi under the supervision and guidance of Navayogandra Swami Ji Maharaj.
Thousands of devotees from every nook and corner of the Winter Capital, thronged the ISKCON temple and took the blessings of Sri Sri Gaur Radha Krishna.
They worshipped to celebrate the festival and offered special ‘Bhog’ on the occasion, waiting in queues outside the temples to have darshan of Lord Krishna.
The temple was beautifully decorated with flowers and lights besides special book stalls were also installed highlighting the teachings of Lord Krishna.
Amid blowing of conch shells and chanting of Vedic hymns, worshippers offered prayers since early morning in temples which wore a festive look. Devotees observed day-long fasts as special delicacies for the occasion remained an attraction.
Earlier the programme started with Mangal Aarti, followed by day long Akhand-Kirtan.
In the evening Gaur Aarti was performed with kirtan and devotees were seen dancing on the bhajans of Lord Krishna.
Children dressed as ‘Krishna’ and ‘Gopikas’ and floats depicting various incarnations of the Lord were the highlights of the celebration.
Students from various schools performed cultural programmes based on Lord Krishna and mesmerized the gathering with their commendable performance.
Addressing the gathering, Temple Manager Nitai Dass highlighted the teachings of Lord Krishna according to Srimad Bhagwat Gita.
After that Maha Abhishek of Lord Krishna was performed with religious fervor and the devotees were seen dancing while going into the state of trance.
At last Falahar Prashadam was served to the devotees where the devotees of Lord Krishna also showed their participation with enthusiasm.
Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana, District President Congress Vikram Malhotra, PDP District President Rajinder Manhas and many others leaders from political and social organizations joined the Krishna Janamashtami celebrations at ISKCON temple and prayed for peace and prosperity in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
To mark the occasion, a colourful Rath Yatra carrying the Holy Idols of Lord Krishna in a well decorated Rath was taken out today. Before taking out Rath Yatra, a traditional Pooja was conducted in the premises of Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, Gandhi Nagar, wherein Kavinder Gupta, former Deputy Chief Minister, Vikram Randhawa, MLC, Corporater Bhanu Mahajan, Corporater Jaideep Sharma along with number of devotees and the President of Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Management Trust, Gulchain Singh Charak, all trustees, special invitees and prominent citizens participated.
The Rath Yatra which started from Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir passed through Mahadev Mandir, Dudhadhari Mandir, Durga Mata Mandir to Apsara Road and via Gole Market culminated back in Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir.
In connection with the celebrations, the Temple complex was given fresh look by decoration befitting to the pious occasion. As part of Shri Krishna Janamashtami celebrations “Shri Bhagwat Geeta Saptah” stands organized from August 20 to 28. The Katha is being conducted by renowned Spiritual Saint, Ajay Saran Maharaj and his team of disciples.
Krishna Janamashtami was celebrated at Shiv Shakti Mandir by Shiv Shakti Mandir Sanastha, Pomposh Colony Janipur. The programme was organized under the supervision of Vedic Guru Jai Krishan Khar, General Secretary, Shiv Shakti Mandir Sanastha. Devotees from all walks of life attended the programme. Two children Aadvik Khajuria (10) along with his sister Sukriti Khajuria (14) recited Bhagwat Geeta during the function and were awarded with trophy by Vedic Guru Jai Krishan Khar. These children recited Bhagwat Geeta under the supervision of Veena Ji Razdan, Stanch Devotee of Lord Krishna. Among others present were JL Bamzai, President of the Sanstha, Subash Sharma Vice President, TS Negi, Chander Chawla, Vijay Kohli, AK Saproo and Anil Shashu.
The birthday of Lord Krishna was celebrated in the Tri-Murti Mandir Janipur Colony with religious fervour. Thousands of devotees drawn from different areas of Janipur participated in the celebration. The temple was beautifully decorated.
To celebrate Janamashtami, a religious procession was taken out in main town Reasi by Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Reasi. The procession started from Chowk Chabutra and after passing though different areas culminated at Shiv Temple Nai Basti. People from all walks of life participated in the procession.
Reports about celebrations of Krishna Janamashtami also poured in from various other districts including Samba, Kathua, Kishtwar, etc.
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