In Twin Cities, Sri Krishna Janmashtami Was Fervently Observed
Krishna Janmashtami Celebration
Sri Krishna Janmashtami was enthusiastically observed by the people of the Dharwad area, especially those living in the twin cities of Hubballi and Dharwad. Various organizations and temple committees organized daylong festivities that went late into the night.
After doing puja at Lord Krishna temples, worshippers in some locations also undertook the traditional pulling of ratha (vehicle festival).
Celebrations for Janmashtami were celebrated in other temples as well, and followers offered butter to Lord Krishna. The worshippers pulled the chariots for a distance while shouting slogans like “Govinda…Govinda…”
The great Janmashtami celebrations took place at the ISKCON Hubballi-Dharwad temple in Rayapur, which is halfway between Hubbali and Dharwad. The festivities started at 4.30 a.m. with mangalarati. Numerous ceremonies were carried out throughout the day as devotees flocked to the ISKCON temple in great numbers.
The temple was decked with flowers, giving it a joyful appearance. Both the temple priests and the worshippers conducted various sevas.
The devotees made a massive feast of 108 delicious dishes that were all beautifully adorned and presented to Lord Sri Krishna and Lord Balarama. A massive laddu made with only pure ghee and weighing 151 kg was also presented. Devotees performed vocal and dance shows, as well as singing a variety of devotional tunes.
Kavi Gundu Seetaram Rao of the Yakshagana Mattu Samskriti Sangha, Dharwad, gave a Yakshagana performance titled “Kamsavade” in the evening. The dance groups of the Mayoor Nrutya Academy under the direction of Hema Waghmode and the Natyanjali Kala Kendra under the direction of Sahana Bhat then entertained the audience with energetic performances.
While per usual, Rajiv Lochan Dasa, president of ISKCON Hubballi-Dharwad, gave a religious speech on the occasion while the celebrations and numerous rites went on past midnight. A huge mahamangalarati to Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama marked the end of the festivities.
