Since this nectar-filled festival falls on Good Friday this year, we are planning a gigantic celebration of Lord Caitanya's Appearance.

Gaura Purnima celebrations

We've got a solid line up of special guests and events over the weekend. Bhanu Swami and Devamrta Swami will be in Melbourne for the occasion. The feast menus are all prepared.

Prabhupada's Disappearance

This year Prabhupada's Disappearance falls on the actual solar calendar day itoccurred in 1977. Our celebration of the event takes place mostly in the evening. There will be a puspanjali, Guru-puja and arati at midday.

• 12.30 pm Puspanjali and arati
• 1.00 pm Feast
• 6.00 pm Readings and Homages
• 7.00 pm Arati in Prabhupada's Room

Damodara Lila

The first day of the month of Kartika is officially tomorrow, Pratipat. We will be offering candles in honour of Lord Damodara's childhood pastimes at 7.00 am and 7.00 pm every day throughout the whole month till Sunday 24th November.

Worshipping Govardhana Hill

It usually means a long kirtana topped off with sumptuous prasadam from the hill.

• 4.30 pm Arati
• 5.00 pm Circumambulation of Giri Govardhana
• 6.00 pm Feast
• 7.00 pm Arati and offering of lamps

The Homecoming of Lord Rama

This year Diwali and GovardhanaPuja are to be held on Saturday and Sunday respectively. It's going to be a big weekend.

• 4.30 pm Arati
• 5.00 pm Class
• 6.00 pm Feast
• 7.00 pm Candle Lit Arati and offering of lamps

On the most auspicious day of Sri Radhastami, September 20, 2007, the transcendental appearance day of Srimati Radharani, ISKCON at Punjabi Bagh in the Western part of New Delhi performed the "pranpratishtha" of Their Lordships Sri Sri Krishna Balaram and Sri Sri Radha Radhika Raman.

Senior ISKCON devotees who attended the Deities installation were ISKCON New Delhi GBC HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj, current ISKCON GBC Chairman HH Bhanu Swami, HH Radharaman Swami, HG Mahaman Prabhu, HG Bhima Prabhu, HG Makhanlal Prabhu, Basu Ghosh Das, HG Bhaktivinode Prabhu, Umapati Prabhu, President of ISKCON Nairobi, Kenya, Srestha Prabhu, Co-President of ISKCON Vrindavan and HG Sarvabhauma Prabhu.

The installation of the Deities was performed by Sriman Shitalanga Gauranga Prabhu of Bangalore and he was assisted by Sriman Sevatulya Das of ISKCON Juhu, Bombay and ISKCON Noida temple President Sriman Vraja Bhakti Vilas Prabhu.

After performing the "pranprathistha" at eight in the morning on Sri Radhastami day, the Deities were brought in front of the altar for a grand abhishek "bathing" ceremony that started at 9:00 AM, after a short lecture, and continued until 11 AM. After dressing the Sri Murties and offering them a grand feast of almost one thousand items, the inaugural arati was performed by HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj and HH Bhanu Swami at 12:45 PM.

Large crowds of pious local residents jammed the temple room and a mandap (tent) erected just outside the temple during the opening. Various cultural programs like Bharat natyam dances and a dance by students were performed. Ecstatic kirtan was continuously performed by ISKCON Punjabi Bagh devotees and youth forum members in the temple room from 9:00 AM onwards, until 2:00 PM. Afterwards, a sumptuous feast of prasad, consisting of several "panir" preparations, was served to "one and all". Almost 10,000 persons came and went from the function and 8,000 plates of prasad were served.

The Deity installation program began on September 16 and continued for four days until Sri Radhastami. Vaasudeva Punyaaha Kalasha staapanam (installing of auspicious vessels), Vaastu homa (fire sacrifice to purify the place), Vaishnava homa (fire sacrifice to great devotees), Shilpi dosha snaanam (bathing to purify the Sri Murties of carving defects), nethronmilanam (opening of the eyes), Vandaapaana (offering of auspicious items), Nyasaadi homa (fire sacrifice to the limbs of the Lord), Shyanaadivaasa (laying down of the Sri Murities in purified water), were the main ceremonies performed according to the Pancharaatrika vidhi (directives for Deity installation in Agama shastras).

New Delhi State Government Ministers, including Health Minister Sri Yoganand Shastri and Industries Minister Sri Mangatram Singhal attended the opening ceremony on Sri Radhastami as Chief Guests, on behalf of New Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Sheila Dikshit, who was unable to be personally present. Both of them spoke very nicely and praised ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada's contribution to spreading Indian culture worldwide.

ISKCON Founder-Acharya Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada had written in a letter to the temple president of ISKCON New Delhi back during 1975 that "I wish to construct a grand temple for Sri Sri Krishna Balaram at New Delhi".

This letter was an inspiration to HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj, who had already developed the grand ISKCON temple at East of Kailas, to establish another grand temple at New Delhi. In turn, he encouraged and inspired, through a series of meetings, the large congregational group of ISKCON devotees residing in the Punjabi Bagh area to purchase this new property.

Krsna-balarama

Abhiseka

Puspa abhiseka

Juices

Middle of abhiseka

Sesame paste

Krsna abhiseka

Radharani abhiseka

Jhulana Yatra finishes tonight. If you want to have a last swing of Radha-krsna then tonight's the night. We are also celebrating Lord Balarama's birthday today so come early for the lecture by Devamrta Swami at 5.00 pm and then the feast at 6.00pm. Gopala Guru is cooking his last feast before he returns to Kiwi.

These shots were taken a couple of nights ago by Rasanandini.

We are also starting the second month of Caturmasya which means spinach pies are back on the menu but yoghurt is off.

Up

Up

Dear Aniruddha Prabhu, Pamho. AgtSP. Herewith sending some wedding pictures of Satananda and Yasoda for your pleasure. Your servant, Adi Purusa Krsna dasa

Jayapataka Swami and Bhaktisiddhanta Swami

Purna-huti

Family shot

Yasoda with her Sister and Mother

Serious instructions to be followed

Exchanging garlands