Devotees performing abhishek at the event.

Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm at his birthplace in Kolkata. Situated in Tollygunge under a jackfruit tree is where Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, was born on September 1, 1896, at around 4 pm. This humble location in Kolkata has become a foundation stone in the spiritual enlightenment of the world, as the birthplace of the spiritual leader who spread the teachings of Krishna consciousness across the globe.

Many devotees of ISKCON Kolkata attended the Appearance Day celebrations, including Temple President Dayaram Das and Vice-Presidents Radharaman Das and Ananga Mohan Das. The event featured an abhishek of  Srila Prabhupada’s murti, lectures by Sankarshan Das and Hari Sauri Das, glorification by other senior devotees, and gifts from some Russian devotees who had traveled from Mayapur. The program concluded with kirtan and prasadam.

“This is a divine place,” said Sankarshan Das, a disciple and nephew of Srila Prabhupada. He recounted how on the afternoon of Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance Day, his father, Gaur Mohan De, and mother, Rajani Devi, were joined by his aunt Lakhimoni Devi, who also served as the midwife during the birth.

Eight months after his birth, the traditional first grain ceremony was held in the family home. During this ritual, a variety of objects, including toys, fruits, clothes, and a copy of the Bhagavad-gita, were placed before the infant Srila Prabhupada. “Srila Prabhupada touched the Bhagavad Gita,” said Sankarshan Das. “This simple gesture was an indication of his divine mission, which he would later fulfill by spreading the teachings of Lord Krishna around the world.”

Srila Prabhupada had entrusted Sankarshan Das with a special letter stating his deep desire for all his followers to see his birthplace. In 1976, as his health declined and he was going to Bhubaneshwar, he emphasized the importance of honoring his birthplace and asked Sankarshan Das for updates about the same. He was surrounded by close disciples like Tamal Krishna Goswami, Jayapataka Swami, Acyutananda Swami, Revatinandana Swami, Jananivas Das, and others.

Srila Prabhupada’s birthplace in Tollygunge holds deep spiritual significance. Sankarshan Das said, “Srila Prabhupada’s birth in such a spiritually charged place is no coincidence. When I was young, the sacred Ganga river used to flow through this area, infusing the land with spiritual energy and purity.”

Sankarshan Das pointed out that Srila Prabhupada’s birthplace is also close to Sahanagar, a place where a hand press was established by Srila Prabhupada’s spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, who instructed him to preach Krishna Consciousness in the West and print books if he had the means. This connection holds deep symbolic significance, connecting his mission to his spiritual master’s vision and highlighting his key role in spreading spiritual knowledge through transcendental literature.

Hari Sauri Das, in his glorification, shared a few pastimes of Srila Prabhupada. He said, “This is a very special day for all the devotees connected with ISKCON all around the globe. Hundreds and thousands of devotees are worshiping him. He was extraordinary. Whatever he said and did was always for the benefit of others.”

One of the devotees, Mitra Vrinda Haripada Devi Dasi, who attended the event shared, “I am very happy that through the devotee association here, I got to know so much that I never knew before. I feel so happy to be here today. The joy I feel today is truly beyond words.”

Another devotee, Sadrita Halder, said, “We saw the jackfruit tree outside where Srila Prabhupada was born, as well as the letter he had written about preserving this place. Witnessing the devotees’ dedicated service was truly inspiring. We offered flowers to Srila Prabhupada. It was a beautiful gathering of devotees.”

The joy and devotion expressed by all attendees reaffirmed the importance of Srila Prabhupada’s birthplace. It serves to ensure that his vision and teachings will continue to inspire future generations. The future plan is to build a memorial at his birthplace to honor his legacy.

For more information about the birthplace of Srila Prabhupada, please visit the website
To watch the entire Abhishek ceremony and glorifications by devotees, watch the video here.