Vrindavan 2016.08.24 (HT): Temples in Vrindavan are all set to celebrate Janmasthami, Lord Krishna’s birthday, on August 25. Devotees are busy preparing for the festival which is one of the grandest in the area. According to temple priests, there is an exquisite charm in Vrindavan during this time of the year, when preparations for Janmashtami are on in full swing.
Vrindavan, located 15 kilometers away from Mathura, has hundreds of temples dedicated to Lord Krishna. Dwarkadhish Temple, one of the oldest temples in Vrindavan, is a hub of activity as workers decorate the temple and prepare for the big day.
“We started preparations 10 days in advance, since everything needs to be perfect. We estimate a footfall of over 2.5 lakh on Janmashtami. Hotels are fully booked and we have gathered a large number of volunteers to help out in the preparations as well,” said Hirendra Kumar Pushkar, member of managing committee at the Dwarkadhish Temple.
Meanwhile at Vrindavan Chandrodaya temple, devotees are busy with the arrangements.
“They are planning different services for the deities starting from the early morning arati, dressing and adornment, the jhulanseva, the bhoga offerings, the palki processions and abhishekam arrangements. The best halwais (cooks) of Delhi, Mathura and Agra have been roped in to prepare the best prasad to be offered to Lord Krishna,” said Sri Suvyakta Narasimha Dasa, senior vice-president of Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir.
The special attraction at the temple will be a silver jhula (swing) in which the deities of Radha and Krishna will be gently swung after midnight arati.
“It will be a grand celebration indeed. Nava Poshak (new dress) and sringar darshan will be held in the morning at 7:15 AM on August 25. Guru Puja will follow this and then the deities will be offered a feast of 56 different kinds of sweets and savories. Then the festival deities will be brought to a beautifully decorated swing for the day-long Jhulan Seva in the temple hall. The Sankirtana team will sing melodious bhajans and kirtans throughout as well,” he said.
Two abhishekam ceremonies have been planned this year – one at 6pm and another at 10 pm.
Various cultural events are planned at the Banke Bihari temple, one of the most renowned temples in Vrindavan.
“Professional artists have been called to give their best performance on the festive season, so that they are showered with the blessings of Lord Krishna. Excerpts from the story of Janmashtami are depicted in the dramas, which are being conducted since August 16 and will go on till August 26 evening,” said Swami Anand Goswami, a priest at Banke Bihari Temple.
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