Pioneer News Service
Ranchi
Preparations are in the final stages for the grand Janmashtami celebrations to be organised by ISKCON Ranchi this year. The main event will be held near Swastik ENT Hospital, opposite DAV Hehal at Kathal More.
As part of the celebrations, a five-day Bhagavata Katha will be organised from August 30 to September 3, from 5 pm to 8 pm daily. The discourse will be delivered by ISKCON scholar and senior devotee Lilapurushottam Prabhu, who currently serves as director at IIT Mandi and BhaktiVedanta University, Vrindavan. The sessions will focus on the divine pastimes and teachings of Lord Krishna, accompanied by devotional bhajans. Bhandara will also be arranged for devotees.
ISKCON Ranchi president Madhusudan Mukund Das said the celebrations are being organised on a large scale and more than two lakh devotees from across Jharkhand are expected to attend. Arrangements for parking, prasad, drinking water, toilets and ambulances are being made to ensure the convenience of visitors.
The main Janmashtami programme will be held on September 4 from 4 pm to 1 am. The venue will be decorated on the theme of Krishna’s Gokul pastimes, with tableaux depicting various episodes from his life. Flower decorations, bhajans, kirtans, dramas and dance performances will add to the festivities. A special cradle will also be arranged for devotees to swing Baby Krishna.
The celebrations will feature the ceremonial abhishek of Lord Krishna with 108 substances and an offering of more than 1,008 delicacies. Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar and other public representatives are expected to attend the event.
