Devotees across the country flocked to ISKCON temples on Monday to celebrate Shri Krishna Janmashtami, offering prayers to Lord Krishna. Vrajendra Nandan Das, ISKCON National Communications Director and Vice President of the East of Kailash temple, announced that the ‘Maha Arti’ would take place at midnight.
At the ISKCON Temple in East of Kailash, thousands of devotees gathered to celebrate Lord Krishna’s birthday with great enthusiasm and devotion. Special aartis were also performed at ISKCON temples in Dwarka and Chowpatty, as well as at the Shri Lakshmi Narayan Temple, also known as the Birla Temple, in the morning.
Vrajendra Nandan Das shared that ISKCON is celebrating Shri Krishna Janmashtami globally. He mentioned, “As soon as the doors of ISKCON Delhi opened today at 4:30 pm, thousands of devotees thronged the temple to catch a glimpse of the deity. The ‘Maha Abhishek’ will begin at 9:30 pm, followed by the offering of ‘Chhappan Bhog’ to Lord Krishna at 11 pm. The ‘Maha Arti’ will be held at midnight. We expect more than 500,000 devotees to offer their prayers today.”
He urged devotees to follow the teachings of Lord Krishna and the Bhagavad Gita for prosperity and progress. “The youth of today should stay away from drugs and refrain from consuming non-vegetarian food. People should engage in activities that bring happiness to others around the world,” he added.
In Mathura, the Shri Krishna Janmasthan temple held a morning aarti to mark the occasion. Women devotees expressed their joy by chanting songs dedicated to Lord Krishna. Speaking on the security arrangements for Krishna Janmashtami at Mathura’s Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple, Mathura Superintendent (Security) Bajrang Bali Chaurasia stated that over 2,000 security personnel have been deployed in the area. He mentioned that drones are being used to enhance safety measures.
In an interview, Chaurasia detailed the security setup: “More than 2,000 security personnel have been deployed, and the entire region has been divided into three zones, each supervised by an additional SP. Proper parking arrangements have been made, and Gate No. 3 is the designated entry point for devotees. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will also be visiting. Teams from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), commandos, and fire services are also on duty, and drones are being used to ensure security and safety.”
The sound of bells, mridangs, and conch shells echoed through the Radha Krishna campus temples on Monday. In Ahmedabad, large numbers of devotees gathered at ISKCON Temple to celebrate Shri Krishna Janmashtami.
Krishna Janmashtami, celebrated on August 26 this year, is observed nationwide with fasting, and decorating temples and homes with flowers, diyas, and lights. The festival is particularly grand in Mathura and Vrindavan, where it is believed that Krishna spent his childhood and youth.
