Nagpur Center of International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Temple, Gate no. 2, Behind Empress Mall, Nagpur will be celebrating the virtual Shri Krishna Janmashtami Festival within the temple premises on August 12, 2020. The program of Janmashtami will start with ‘Mangal Aarti’ at 4.30 am, followed by ‘Shrungar Aarti’ at 7.30 am while Krishna Katha and Aashirvachan will take place at 8 am.
The ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare’, ‘Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare’ …chanting will continue for the entire day. This mahamantra will lead to ‘Akhand Harinam Sankirtan’. After this, Krishna Katha is organized at 6 pm, Abhishek at 9.00 pm, 1008 bhog offerings would be made by devotees and Janmotsav and Mahaarti will be take place at 12.00 pm.
Currently due to Covid-19 and its spread all the programs of ISKCON Nagpur Janmashtami Maha Mahotsav will be performed only by the temple resident devotees. During the programs all the social distancing rules that are framed by the Government of India and Government of Maharashtra will followed strictly. Entry of devotees residing outside the temple is prohibited. All devotees and residents of the city can sit at their places and enjoy the live program of ISKCON Nagpur on it’s YouTube channel and UCN’s Shraddha channel and can participate virtually along with their families in the worship, Aarti and Abhishek of Lord Shri Krishna.
While giving detailed information, ISKCON Nagpur spokesperson Dr. Shyamsunder Sharma said that in this program, ISKCON founder A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Sril Prabhupada’s beloved disciple Sril Loknath Swami Maharaj will make his virtually presence. While living in Pandharpur, with the help of zoom video conferencing he will be presenting Krishnakatha and blessings all devotees from 8 am to 9.30 am.
The kirtan from 12 noon to 12.30 pm will be made live through “Loknath Swami Facebook Page” and Krishna Janmashtami Katha will also be made live from 8 pm to 9.00 pm through a zoom conference by Loknath Swami Maharaj.
Along with this, various online competitions have been organized for children and adults too. These include painting, acting, singing, beauty makeup etc. Apart from this, programs on sports, drama, shloka recitation and Krishna Charitra reading etc. have also been organized on the digital platform on the day of the festival. The entire temple is furnished with beautiful flowers and enchanting decorations.
On the next day of Janmashtami, Nandotsava and the 128th ‘Aavirbhav Diwas’ of Sril Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON will also be celebrated on Thursday, August 13, 2020.
ISKCON Nagpur president has appealed to all the citizens to participate in this divine festival and get darshan and blessings of Lord Sri Radha Gopinath.
To make this event a success, temple president Sachchidananda Das, vice president Ananthesh Das, Nandkishordas, Advaita Acharyadas, Aaradhya Bhagwanadas, Brajendratanaydas Rajesh Joshi, Rajesh Motghare, Mahavir Mansingha, Prashant Garg, Dr. Dasharath Patil Dhanraj Khandelwal, Dr. Tamaskar, Ravi Mehadiya, Sachin Mahajan, Sachin Mahajan Dheeraj Aggarwal, Nitesh Kumar, Ashok Hiranwar, Kamlesh Thavkar, Mahavir Sethia, Kamla Dhande, Rajesh Rackwar, etc. many devotees have been working relentlessly.