Hyderabad: Sri Govardhana Puja and Karthika Deepotsavam were celebrated with grandeur at the Hare Krishna Golden Temple on Wednesday, drawing devotees and visitors for a day of devotion, joy, and festivities.
The highlight of the celebrations was a spectacular replica of Govardhan Hill, accompanied by an Annakuta offering of 56 varieties of traditional sweets and savories. The day began with the sacred Gau Puja, where Krishna Prasadam was offered to cows and calves in the temple goshala. Later, devotees performed darshan and parikrama around the Govardhan Hill display.
Evening events featured melodious kirtans, the “Pallaki Utsavam” honoring Srila Prabhupada and Sri Radha Govinda, and a discourse by Sri Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa Prabhuji on the significance of Lord Krishna’s Govardhana Lila as described in the Srimad Bhagavatam.
The Karthika Deepotsavam commenced with the lighting of the Karthika Deepam and Damodara Arati, with devotees offering ghee lamps and circumambulating the Govardhan Hill. A video animation of Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill captivated the audience, followed by the distribution of Annakuta Prasadam.
Speaking on the occasion, Sri Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa Prabhuji highlighted Lord Krishna’s boundless mercy, attainable through devotion and chanting His Holy Names, regardless of caste, race, religion, or nationality.
The celebrations concluded with dinner prasadam and well-organized arrangements for visitors’ convenience.
