Patna: More than 450,000 devotees visited the ISKCON temple in Patna on Thursday to mark the start of the New Year, in one of the largest religious gatherings the city has seen in recent years.
From early morning, crowds queued for hours to catch a glimpse of Lord Krishna, as the temple complex echoed with the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha mantra. Continuous kirtan performances by a group from ISKCON’s headquarters in Mayapur set a devotional tone, with worshippers singing, clapping and dancing in the courtyard.
The temple deity was decorated with elaborate floral arrangements and ornaments, while special offerings brought from different parts of the country were presented during the celebrations. After darshan, devotees were served mahaprasad, which was distributed throughout the day.
Temple authorities said extensive arrangements had been made to manage the large turnout, including measures to ensure crowd control, safety and smooth movement within the premises. Volunteers and staff were deployed across the complex to assist elderly visitors and families.
Officials from ISKCON Patna described the New Year gathering as both a religious observance and a social event, reflecting the growing number of people turning to spiritual spaces at the start of the calendar year. The organisation said it would continue its efforts to promote spiritual values, peace and positive consciousness through its activities in the city.
