Main Gate of ISKCON Baroda

Grand Observance of Sri Krishna Janmastami in Baroda
By Basu Ghosh Das

CHAKRA (Baroda, India) - August 24, 2000: On Wednesday, 23 August, 2000, the auspicious observance of Sri Krishna Janmastami was observed in a grand way by ISKCON at Hare Krishna Dham, Gotri Rd., Baroda.

An official of the "Tops" security agency, who was supervising a special security detail of 25 guards estimated that between one and a half to two lakhs (150,000 to 200,000) citizens of Baroda visited ISKCON's Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar Mandir to have the darshan of Lord Sri Krishna on the famous day of his appearance in this world 5,000 years ago.

The Mandir was specially decorated both inside and without by flowers, balloons and lights. Crowd control arrangements by the management of ISKCON insured that the members of the public all had the change for a peaceful darshan on the auspicious day. Crowds queued up from the gate of the Mandir for almost 1/2 a kilometer onto the main Gotri Road.

Sri C.V. G. Shamugavelu and his "Nadaswaram" band came specially from Bombay and performed their famous brand of traditional Karnatik (South Indian) music on top of the attractive "pravesh dvar" (entrance gate) of the mandir, from 5:00 PM until after midnight and the sound created a festive atmosphere for all the visitors.

Behind the Mandir, on a hugh 10 foot high stage erected on the spacious 1 acre large "Hare Krishna Garden" lawn at the back of the Mandir, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, a group of children performed a Krishna lila drama. From 7:30 to 8:30, His Holiness Rasananda Swami of Brazil spoke on the transcendental life and message of Lord Sri Krishna. He also described the progress of the ISKCON, Hare Krishna movement in South America and the USA. His speech was translated into Gujarati for the benefit of the public.

Then from 8:30 to 9:00 PM, Sumiti Waghela and her group performed various Krishna lila dances. From 9:00 PM Sri Yatin Bhavsar and party performed Krishna Lila dances and also some traditional Bharat Natyam dances.

Then at the hour of midnight, a the auspicious time of Lord Krishna's appearance in this world, there was a grand "abhishek" of the Lord in the Mandir. There was a tremendous rush of devotees at that time. All were eager to have the darshan of Lord Krishna at that moment. The event was also covered live by the local "Jay TV" and "VNM TV" crews and was watched by many thousands more citizens of Baroda at home on their television sets.

A large detail of more than 20 traffic police headed by Inspector Joshi and PSI Chauhan insured that the heavy traffic infront of the Mandir did not affect the flow of devotees into the Mandir. The Congress Party and the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh both erected booths to distribute cold drinking water to the public visiting the Mandir for darshan of the Lord.

Yours in the service of ISKCON Baroda and Lord Sri Krishna,

 Basu Ghosh Das President

© CHAKRA 26-August-2000

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