Jhulan Yatra - The Swing Festival
SUNDAY, 11 AUGUST - THURSDAY, 15 AUGUST 2019
This festival honours a pastime of Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani’s eternal love. This sweet pastime is of Them swinging on a beautifully decorated swing during the rainy season in Vrindavana. The festival, which takes place over several days, is celebrated by devotees having the opportunity to personally swing Radha-Krishna Deities along with Their glorification through a beautiful song.
Jhulan Yatra - The Swing Festival
SUNDAY, 11 AUGUST - THURSDAY, 15 AUGUST 2019
This festival honours a pastime of Lord Krishna and Srimati Radharani’s eternal love. This sweet pastime is of Them swinging on a beautifully decorated swing during the rainy season in Vrindavana. The festival, which takes place over several days, is celebrated by devotees having the opportunity to personally swing Radha-Krishna Deities along with Their glorification through a beautiful song.
Balarama Jayanti - The Festival of Strength
Thursday, 15 August 2019
Lord Balarama is the first expansion of Lord Krishna appearing as His elder brother eight days before Krishna’s appearance in this world. While Krishna's complexion is like a dark bluish cloud, Balarama's complexion is like a white autumn cloud. He assisted Lord Krishna in His earthly pastimes of protecting the devotees and ridding the world of the misguided. Whilst Krishna is known for carrying a flute whose beautiful sound enchants His devotees, Balarama holds a plough in His hand that represents His strength. Devotees fast till noon on this day, followed by a feast in His honour
Janmastami - The Festival of the Supreme Person
Friday, 23 August 2019
The birth of Lord Krishna is one of the biggest celebrations of the year, celebrated all over the world. Krishna appeared on earth over 5,000 years ago in Vrindavan, India. Krishna means "the all-attractive one". He is the cause of all causes, the Supreme personality of the entire creation, both material and spiritual, He is the God of all gods, and the Lord within everything and separate from everything at the same time. This is the day devotees celebrate His beautiful pastimes, His presence in their lives, taking time to remember their eternal loving relationship with Him and His presence within all of our hearts. Devotees fast till midnight on this day, followed by a feast in His honour.
Janmastami - The Festival of the Supreme Person
Friday, 23 August 2019
The birth of Lord Krishna is one of the biggest celebrations of the year, celebrated all over the world. Krishna appeared on earth over 5,000 years ago in Vrindavan, India. Krishna means "the all-attractive one". He is the cause of all causes, the Supreme personality of the entire creation, both material and spiritual, He is the God of all gods, and the Lord within everything and separate from everything at the same time. This is the day devotees celebrate His beautiful pastimes, His presence in their lives, taking time to remember their eternal loving relationship with Him and His presence within all of our hearts. Devotees fast till midnight on this day, followed by a feast in His honour.
Janmastami - The Festival of the Supreme Person
Friday, 23 August 2019
The birth of Lord Krishna is one of the biggest celebrations of the year, celebrated all over the world. Krishna appeared on earth over 5,000 years ago in Vrindavan, India. Krishna means "the all-attractive one". He is the cause of all causes, the Supreme personality of the entire creation, both material and spiritual, He is the God of all gods, and the Lord within everything and separate from everything at the same time. This is the day devotees celebrate His beautiful pastimes, His presence in their lives, taking time to remember their eternal loving relationship with Him and His presence within all of our hearts. Devotees fast till midnight on this day, followed by a feast in His honour.
Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance Day -
Saturday, 24 August 2019
This is a very special day for all ISKCON devotees as they joyfully glorify Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, on the anniversary of his appearance in this world. Devotees honour him by reading aloud heartfelt appreciations and homages of his profound influence in their lives and pray for blessings from him. Devotees observe a fast till noon on this day, followed by a feast in his honour.
Radhastami - The Festival of the Divine Female
Friday, 06 September 2019
Srimati Radharani’s glorious appearance on this planet occurred on this day around 5,000 years ago. She is the divine female energy of Lord Krishna, His loving potency, which He is all attracted by. Srimati Radharani is the queen of Lord Krishna’s heart and the queen of all living entities. She is Lord Krishna's eternal love and His dearmost devotee, exemplifying the standard of excellence of love and devotion towards Krishna. Devotees fast till noon on this day, followed by a feast in Her honour
Sharad Purnima - Kartik Full Moon Festival
Sunday, 13 October 2019
Sharad Purnima refers to the full moon of the autumn season. On this day, devotees celebrate Lord Krishna performing a beautiful dance called "rasa lila" with His dear-most devotees, the gopis - the cowherd damsels of Vrindavan. Devotees come to the Temple to take a breathtaking night darshan of the Deities who adorn beautiful outfits, glittering ornaments and fresh flower garlands. An ambience of the starlit, full moon night of Vrindavana, filled with fragrant flower bushes and tender green creepers is created. The enchanting atmosphere surcharged with melodious kirtans is a beautiful experience!
Month of Kartik - The Holiest Month
MONDAY, 14 OCTOBER - MONDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2019
Kartik, also known as the month of Damodara, is a month for deepening one's love for Krishna. It is considered by devotees of Krishna to be the holiest month of the year. During this month, devotees make extra vows, perform extra spiritual activities, and generally worship Krishna in His form as a young boy, Damodara, who was once bound at the waist by His mother, Yashoda, as a punishment for His mischievous childhood pastimes. Every morning (at 7.00am) and evening (at 7.00pm) at the Temple, everyone has an opportunity to show their heartfelt love and devotion to the Lord by offering ghee lamps and singing before Him
Govardhana Puja - Lifting of the Hill
Monday, 28 October 2019
This festival celebrates the pastime of Lord Krishna lifting Govardhana Hill on His little finger for seven days to protect the residents of Vrindavana from torrential rains sent by the demigod, Indra. To celebrate this festival, devotees build a replica of Govardhana Hill made with various opulent foods, worship Lord Krishna as the lifter of Govardhana Hill, worship the hill as His incarnation, and worship the cows and bulls who are dear to Him. After the worship of the hill, the food items that make up the hill is distributed to everyone to relish.
Gita Jayanti - Bhagavad Gita is Spoken
Saturday, 07 December 2019
The Bhagavad-Gita is a sacred text across all Hindu traditions and is considered a summary of all ancient Vedic philosophical texts. The Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna Himself to His best friend Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, 5,000 years ago. The Bhagavad-Gita, literally means "The Lord’s Song" and is understood as a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna but meant for the whole world’s benefit. On this day, devotees gather to recite all 700 verses together remembering this sacred conversation between the Lord and His dear devotee.
Gaura Purnima - The Festival of the Golden Avatar
Monday, 09 March 2020
Lord Chaitanya, also known as Gauranga - the golden coloured incarnation of Lord Krishna - appeared in West Bengal, India, around 500 years ago. Gaura Purnima is the festival of His appearance, taking place in spring. The Lord appeared in His previous incarnations as Lord Krishna, Lord Rama, and Lord Nrsimhadeva. Lord Chaitanya transformed the hearts of everyone He met through singing of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra and re-establishing the Bhakti-yoga tradition that ISKCON continues through its lineage today. Devotees fast till moonrise on this day, followed by a feast in His honour
Rama Navami - The Festival of the Lord of Dharma
Thursday, 02 April 2020
Lord Rama appeared on this planet millions of years ago in Ayodhya, India, and His appearance is celebrated on this day. Lord Rama’s tragic life - the losing of His kingdom, His wife Sita’s kidnapping, and the inevitable war against Her kidnapper Ravana who was King of Lanka - is depicted in the ancient epic scripture called the "Ramayana" - a famous literature read across all Hindu traditions. Lord Rama is known for His adherence to dharma (religiosity) through all situations He faced and is celebrated as the ideal devotee, king, and husband. Devotees fast until noon on this day, followed by a feast in His honour.
Nrsimha Caturdasi - The Festival of the Divine Protector
Wednesday, 06 May 2020
This festival is one of remembrance of the Lord as the protector of His devotees and the remover of all obstacles and difficulties on the path of devotion to the Lord. Lord Nrsimhadeva, an incarnation of Lord Krishna, is known for His appearance in the world in order to save His devotee, a young child Prahlada. Lord Nrsimhadeva is prayed to daily at all ISKCON temples. This prayer is observed as a protection mantra. Devotees fast till dusk on this day, followed by a feast in His honour.