ISKCON GREATER NOIDA CELEBRATES SRI KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI IN A GRAND WAY

GREATER NOIDA LOKESH GOSWAMI ISKCON Noida has opened its extension center at greater Noida on July14 2015. We conduct various programs through the center such as Saturday love feast, Sunday Harinaam, House programs, bhakti vrikshas, prahlad school for children and special programs for youth. We also celebrate all major festivals at the center such as upcoming Janmashtami festival. ISKCON Greater Noida is gearing up for the grand celebrations of the auspicious festival of Janmashtami on Sunday, 28th August 2016. ISKCON was established in 1966 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, whose object is to spread Krishna Consciousness all over the world. This year ISKCON is celebrating its 50 thanniversary; therefore this year is being celebrated as Golden Jubilee year. It is ISKCON that today; whole world is chanting the holy name of Lord Krishna. Today ISKCON has over 700 temples, centers, communities, schools, and restaurants. The preparations of Janmashtami are already in full swing and many devotees associated with the Temple are working day and night to organize this glorious festival for the residents of Greater Noida. The Temple is being lit up and decorated with varieties of flowers. The pandal is being specially designed so that everyone gets an opportunity to take darshan of the most beautiful Deity forms of Sri Sri Radha Govind Dev and get Their mercy. Many women devotees are working hard for preparation of the Bhoga for Radha Krishna. Over and above 108 bhogas will be prepared, which includes a variety of sweets, snacks, bakery products and many more continental dishes. As part of the festivities a special Program is planned on August 28th from 5 pm till 9Pm. It will drown the people of Greater Noida in ecstasy. The main attraction of the cultural program will be the famous Govinda’s Rock Show. The Band is known for its Rock Music and people are seen dancing jubilantly on western tunes wherever the Band performs. The Govinda’s Band is a musical group of ISKCON Noida itself and it consists of Hare Krishna devotees. Other than this, there will be many Dances based on Indian Vedic culture. Arrangements are being made to install high-tech equipment, sound and music system to enthrall the audience. On Janmashtami, people can take darshan of Sri Sri Radha Govind Dev from 5pm till 9pm. Renowned Kirtan singers will be performing Harinam Sankirtan from 5pm to 7pm for the pleasure of their Lordships. The special attraction of the day will be Maha Abhishek in the evening followed by Maha Arati and 108 bhoga offering. Maha Abhishek will be followed by enlightening lecture by HH Bhakti Ashray Vaishnav Swami maharaj from Vrindavan. At the end of the program Free Prasad will be distributed to all the visiting people. Last year on Janmashtami over 2thousand visitors took Prasad and this year it is expected that the number will cross 4 thousand. Keeping in mind the large number of people expected at the festival, special arrangements has been made for the safety and security of the temple and the visiting devotees. Special arrangements are also being made for parking of vehicles. Many respectable members of the society are also expected to attend the festival. Shobha Yatra on Saturday, 20th August 2016, 6 pm to 8 pm Ahead of the Janmashtami, the Temple has organized a grand Shobha Yatra on Saturday, 20th August from 6 pm to 8 pm at Jagat farm. Shobha Yatra included a Jhanki consisting of beautifully decorated children as Radha Krishna. These children are from ISKCON Greater Noida’s own Prahlad School. Prahlad School is meant for kids below 15 years, in which Singing, Dancing, playing Music Instruments are taught along with Vedic Culture. Other than this sankirtan party was also part of the procession. Halwa Prasadam was distributed all along the way during the procession. Shobha Yatra ended at temple premises at 8 pm, where sumptuous dinner prasadam was served to all the attendees. Objective of this Shobha Yatra was to invite the residents of Greater Noida to get the blessings of Sri Radha Krishna on the auspicious occasion of appearance day of Lord Krishna – Sri Krishna Janmashtami.