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Hans India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
City celebrates ‘Krishnashtami' with devotional fervour
Visakhapatnam: The city soaked in festive spirit as Krishna temples celebrated Sri Krishna Janmashtami organising various events for close to three days consecutively in Visakhapatnam. ISKCON celebrated Sri Krishna Janmashtami with great pomp at the ISKCON temple in Sagar Nagar, Visakhapatnam. As part of the second day of the festivities, mangala aarti, chanting of Harinama, Annamayya kirtans, maha abhishekam with water collected from holy rivers, among other activities, were held. Nitai Seveni Mataji and president of ISKCON Samba Das Prabhu preached Krishna Leela. The idols of Sri Radha, Damodar were decorated with silken robes sourced from Vrindavan and fresh flowers from different parts of the country. The premises witnessed a beehive of activity as thousands of devotees from the people of Visakhapatnam and surrounding areas visited. Traffic congestion was seen at Sagarnagar as many visited the temple. A special Harinama mandapam was set up so that the ardent devotees chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra 108 times before the darshan. Utlotsavam organised in the evening saw participation of thousands of children. Dance competitions and other contests engaged them. Adding to the spiritual fervour, the Hare Krishna Movement in Visakhapatnam celebrated Sri Krishna Janmashtami at Gadiraju Palace. Following an elaborate abhishekam that commenced at 6 am on Saturday, Sri Bala Gopala and Sri Radha Madan Mohan deities were decked up impressively on the occasion. Organised under the leadership of Niskinchana Bhakta Dasa, president of Hare Krishna Movement, Visakhapatnam, the event saw a number of activities. He explained the spiritual significance of Sri Krishna Janmashtami. Here, devotees took part in performing abhishekam to the idols. Thousands of devotees availed the darshan and participated in Julan Seva. Cultural programmes were organised on the occasion. Artistes from Sri Dwaram Thyagaraja Group, Chaitanya Brothers, students from Vidyadhari Music School performed programmes. Utti Mahotsavam, selfie with Krishna, sport the differences, Krishna quiz were the other programmes that entertained the audience. On Sunday, the movement is organising 'Vyasa puja' and 'Nandotsavam'. At One Town Area, the festival celebration reached a crescendo as Arya Vysya Yuvajana Sangham organised programmes on the occasion. Pendurthi MLA and JSP Visakhapatnam rural president Panchakarla Ramesh witnessed various festival activities by visiting temples in the constituency. At Abhayanjaneya temple in the 39th ward, 'annadanam' was served to the devotees. Visakhapatnam south constituency MLA Vamsi Krishna Srinivas Yadav took part in the programme. The MLA highlighted that annually, Krishnashtami is celebrated with fervour in Visakhapatnam. 'Such festivals hold great significance in Hindu traditions and unites people of all sections,' he underlined. As schools declared holiday for the occasion, some of the educational institutions celebrated the day in advance. Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar celebrated the festival with devotional fervour. Bhajans, dance performances, pot-breaking activity, among others, were organised on the occasion. Students, dressed as Radha and Krishna, took part in various devotional programmes organised on the campus. At Vignan's Institute of Information Technology, the festival was celebrated in a grand manner. The importance of Lord Krishna's birth was explained to the students. Institute's Rector V Madhusudan Rao, Principal J Sudhakar, and students took part in the pot-breaking exercise. The Principal and Rector exhorted the students to draw inspiration from the verses of Bhagavad Gita and tread a righteous path. As part of the festivities, SR Digi School students took part in various programmes. Dressed in thematic attire, students celebrated 'Krishnastami' with fervour. Headmistress Y Padmaja, and other teachers took part in the festival programmes. The campus of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Public School transformed into a 'little Vrundavan' as it celebrated Krishnashtami on August 14th. Dressed up as Radha and Krishna along with other characters, students of kindergarten joined the celebrations which included cradling of Krishna, playing of flute, singing devotional songs, pot-breaking activity and arranging the campus with butter pots and other related festive decors that largely focused on yellow as the colour theme.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Sri Krishna Janmashtami celebrated with devotion and fervour in Visakhapatnam
Sri Krishna Janmashtami was celebrated with great fervour and devotion at the ISKCON temple in Sagar Nagar here on Saturday. As per the Vaishnava tradition, August 16 is celebrated as the main day of Lord Krishna's birth and a large number of devotees from across the city gathered at the temple to seek blessings. The day began with the auspicious 'mangala aarti', followed by continuous chanting of the 'Harinama Sankirtan'. Special discourses were delivered by Pujya Nitai Saveni Mataji and Temple president Samba Prabhuji. The idols of 'Sri Sri Radha Damodar' were adorned in exquisite silk garments brought from Vrindavan and decorated with flowers sourced from different regions of the country. After the darshan, devotees participated in the traditional 'Uyya Seva', reverently swinging the 'baby Gopala' in beautifully decorated cradles. A dedicated Harinama Mandapam was set up, allowing devotees to chant the 'Hare Krishna Maha Mantra' 108 times before proceeding for darshan. In the evening, the Utlotsavam attracted large crowds. Children took part in a Radhakrishna fancy event, followed by dance competitions that added a festive charm to the celebrations. The temple authorities conducted the 'Maha Abhishekam', this sacred ritual included the use of holy water collected from various rivers, herbal juices, panchamrita, panchagavya, and fragrant flowers. Following the 'Abhishekam', a grand 'maha aarti' was performed with 1008 lamps, amidst soul-stirring chanting by devotees, creating an atmosphere of divine ecstasy. The event was graced by Mayor Sri Peela Srinivasarao and several other elected public representatives and Police Commissioner Shankabrata Bagchi. Hare Krishna Movement – Visakhapatnam, also celebrated Sri Krishna Janmashtami Celebrations at Gadiraju Palace. The celebrations commenced with the morning abhishekam at 6 a.m. for Sri Bala Gopala and Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan deities. The programme was organised under the leadership of Dr. Nishkrinchin Bhakta Das, President of Hare Krishna Movement, Visakhapatnam.
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Lord, along with siblings, begins annual sojourn amid Jai Jagannath chants in Vizag
There was an air of festivity along the main thoroughfares of the city on Friday as tall 'Rathas' (chariots) carrying the deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Bhalabhadra and Godess Subhadra pulled by devotees moved at a slow pace, with cultural troupes performing before the grand processions, and devotees trying to catch a glimpse of the deities. The annual Jagannath Rath Yatra organised by ISKCON, Hare Krishna Movement, Utkal Samaj and Sri Jagannadha Swamy temple drew devotees in large numbers. Devotees gathered on either side of the road and prayed to the deities. Many devotees took selfies and pictures before the chariots. Some of the artistes and cultural troupes, who came to perform before the chariots, took pictures of their groups. The overcast sky and cool weather provided a welcome relief to those pulling the chariot and the artistes participating in the processions. Traditional dances, bhajans, congregational chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra and chants of 'Jai Jagannath' marked the commencement of the 18th Annual Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra from the Central Park, near the GVMC. The procession began after Mataji Nitasevini broke a coconut and ceremoniously swept the ground in front of the chariot, symbolising service. Visakhapatnam West MLA PGVR Naidu (Ganababu) inaugurated the Rath Yatra. The procession passed through Dabagardens, Jagadamba junction, Ram Nagar Main Road, before culminating at Gurajada Kalakshetram, where special Vedic rituals were performed by priests. The Rath Yatra, organised by Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj, began from the Sri Jagannath temple at Daspalla Hills, after sweeping of the chariot by J.K. Nayak, president of the Samaj. The procession passed through VMRDA Children Arena, AU Out Gate and VUDA Park to reach the Gundicha temple, at Lawson's Bay Colony, where the deities would be in sojourn till July 5. Marwadi Yuva Manch provided drinking water. General secretary of the Samaj, Bimal Kumar Mahanta was present. Scores of devotees participated in the Jagannadha Swamy Radha Yatra from Town Kotha Road to the Turner's Choultry. Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat, and Visakhapatnam South MLA Vamsikrishna Srinivas inaugurated the yatra after the rituals, by pulling the rope. The chariots of Embar Mannar and Sri Kodanda Ramaswamy temples followed the chariot of Sri Jagannadha Swamy. Endowments Commissioner N. Sujata, Assistant Commissioner Annapurna, temple EO T. Rajagopal Reddy were among those who participated in the Rath Yatra. As one side of the road was occupied by the chariots and devotees, vehicles were allowed to ply on the other side causing traffic snarls at a few junctions.
