Patna: Patna is set for an elaborate Janmashtami celebration at ISKCON temple, where devotees will mark the festival with grand rituals and international participation. The two-day event, announced by spokesperson Nand Gopal Das, will take place on August 16 and 17. While the first day honours Lord Krishna’s birth, the second commemorates the birthday of ISKCON’s founder, Prabhupada, as part of the Prabhupada Avirbhaav Mahotsav.
At midnight on August 16, a special Mahabhishek ritual will take place, during which the deity will be anointed with 251 silver urns and conches. The temple’s sanctum sanctorum, or darbar, will be decorated with flowers sourced from eight countries, including Russia and Ukraine. Adikta Das, co-chairman of ISKCON’s management, said that the floral arrangements reflect the event’s international character. A grand offering of 501 dishes, known as Maha Bhog, will be prepared, with three additional priests assigned to distribute the Prasad.
Devotees from eight countries such as Russia, Ukraine, England and South Africa are expected to attend. The temple premises have been enhanced with a waterproof pandal, while clothes for the deity have been specially brought from Vrindavan and Mayapur, key pilgrimage sites in India.
In light of the anticipated large turnout, security measures will include barricading from Maurya Lok and the General Post Office (GPO) areas. Separate queues for men and women will be organised, with no overnight stay permitted within the temple grounds. Volunteers and private security personnel will manage crowd control to ensure smooth entry and exit during darshan.
