Some of the 15,000 guests who attended the Janmashtami celebrations in the new ISKCON of DC Temple in Potomac, Maryland.

From Mayapur to Melbourne, Brazil to Bangkok, New York to New Delhi, hundreds of thousands of Krishna devotees gathered at ISKCON temples and centers worldwide to celebrate Sri Krishna Janmashtami. ISKCON devotees first celebrated the festival with Srila Prabhupada at the New York storefront in 1966. Here are some highlights from reports shared with ISKCON News from Dublin, Finland, Juhu, Mayapur, London, Sandton, South Africa, and Washington, DC.

Janmashtami commemorates the earthly appearance of Lord Sri Krishna over 5,000 years ago, described in India’s sacred writings as God Himself. During this auspicious time, Krishna’s devotees immerse themselves in various spiritual practices, including chanting His holy names, singing devotional songs, reading about His divine pastimes, preparing offerings of food for His delight, worshipping His deity form, and fasting until midnight when a sumptuous feast is enjoyed.

ISKCON Dublin, Ireland

Abhishek Ashish, who manages media for ISKCON Dublin, shared that his community booked a local auditorium and “transformed it into a sacred haven of devotion, joy, and divine love,” where over 1,500 people gathered to celebrate Janmashtami. Around 150 volunteers, led by Sugat Achyuta Das, made the event possible.

The gathering began with a video presentation of the seven principles of ISKCON. Next, the heartfelt recitation of three of Krsna’s pastimes were narrated by Abhay Giriraj Dasa, Praghosa Das, and Sudarshan Vasudev Das, each drawing the audience into the divine mysteries of Krishna’s life. During the presentation of the lilas, donors had the opportunity to participate in an abhishek ceremony. Classical dance, shloka recitation, soul-stirring kirtans, and a drama entitled “Krishna-Sudama Leela,” performed by the ISKCON Dublin Drama Team, were also part of the gathering. A presentation on the New Temple Project by temple president Manu Das and an interactive session with Praghosa Das followed. Finally, a Maha Abhishek of the Radha-Krishna deities with kirtan and the Maha Aarti at midnight brought everything to a powerful conclusion. “It was a spiritual yatra that left an indelible mark on every soul present there, inspiring all to carry the love and teachings of Lord Krishna in their hearts, not just for the day, but for a lifetime,” noted Abhishek Ashish.

To follow the ongoing service at ISKCON Dublin, visit their website, and follow their Facebook and Instagram accounts. You can subscribe to their newsletter for more details about their Janmashtami celebrations.

ISKCON Helsinki, Finland

ISKCON Helsinki witnessed once again a record-breaking Sri Krishna Janmastami celebration in Finland with over 3,500 guests. Last year, the count was 2,000.

Tapo Divyam Dasa, Temple President of ISKCON Helsinki and Regional Secretary of ISKCON Finland, said, “We were prepared for a slight rise in the number of visitors due to active marketing and Sri Krishna Janmastami being a trademark event in ISKCON Helsinki. But this year’s success really went beyond our expectations. That is wonderful to witness. We could see a long queue from the main road to the temple for many hours to take darshan. It is happy to see many residents of Finland taking part in Srila Prabhupada’s movement.”

In addition to darshan, within the temple from 4 pm to midnight, there was a wide range of outdoor activities. Guruttama Dasa, Festival & Communications Manager of ISKCON Finland, said, “On the main stage, we had kirtan, lectures, and various cultural performances by the congregation. There were also various devotional activity stalls, such as Laddu Gopal Ji Jhula (swing), Srila Prabhupada tent, food stalls, devotional shops, a kid’s play area, and more. In the end, an auspicious fire yajna to glorify Lord Sri Krishna was conducted, and a tasty multi-preparation prasadam feast was served.” 

The festival audience was greeted by the new Ambassador of India to Finland, Mr. Hemant Kotalwar. In his speech, Mr. Kotalwar thanked ISKCON for the nice arrangements for the festival. He pointed out the importance of being connected with the tradition while living abroad. Also the local law enforcement showed their support in organizing the festival.

“All the thanks for this successful event goes to our temple personnel, active congregation, volunteers, and donors. It is only through their active, selfless service that we are able to arrange annual growing festivals and serve the community better. By the mercy of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Srila Prabhupada, more and more people are taking part in the temple activities.” said Guruttama Dasa.

Readers are invited to follow ISKCON Finland’s journey by visiting their website, and following them on Facebook, Instagram, and Instagram. A special thanks to Tarun Kumar, Krisangi-lila Devi Dasi, and Sudhanshu Verma for the additional photos that can be viewed on the temple’s social media.

ISKCON Juhu

Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi, a Staff Writer for ISKCON News, reported from India, sharing details from Juhu and Sri Mayapur Dham: “At ISKCON Juhu, the appearance of Lord Krishna was celebrated with tremendous enthusiasm and devotion. The festivities began early in the day, with a special lecture delivered by Bhima Das, which attracted a large gathering of devotees eager to deepen their spiritual understanding. His discourse centered on the glories of Lord Krishna, emphasizing the significance of Janmashtami and the timeless teachings of the Bhagavad-gita.

“The celebrations culminated in a spiritually enriching seven-day katha, during which various esteemed speakers shared their insights on Lord Krishna’s life and pastimes. Each day leading up to Janmashtami, the temple was filled with the sound of kirtans, the chanting of the holy names, and the profound teachings of the scriptures. Devotees participated in these sessions with great enthusiasm, immersing themselves in the divine atmosphere.”

ISKCON Mayapur

“Each year, the devotees of ISKCON Mayapur come together to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna with a variety of spiritual activities, including elaborate deity worship, kirtans, discourses, and dramatic performances,” noted Kulavati Krishnapriya, “Over the years, these celebrations have grown in scale and significance, attracting pilgrims and devotees from all corners of the world.

“This year, there was a drama titled “Kamsa Daman Lila,” which was enacted by devotees and showed how Lord Krishna killed Kamsa. The performance showcased various key moments, from Kamsa’s sinister plots to Krishna’s miraculous birth and eventual victory over the wicked king. The devotees’ enthusiasm and commitment to their roles deeply moved the audience, making the evening a spiritually uplifting experience. The celebrations continued with kirtans, elaborate offerings, and a grand abhishek or bathing of the Lord.”

ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor

In London, over 65,000 people attended Janmashtami celebrations at the Bhaktivedanta Manor in Watford over the weekend. Due to its overwhelming popularity, the festival has become a ticketed event.

Madhavi Gopi Devi Dasi, Media Relations Manager for the Manor, shared some details with ISKCON News: “Among the new additions to the Temple’s attractions was a striking 30-foot reclining Krishna sculpture, positioned at the centre of the lake, surrounded by fountains and a newly created boathouse for artists.”

“Another popular attraction was offered by the Manor’s youth group called Pandava Sena, which captivated audiences with a play based on ‘The Lord of the Flies,’ with every performance sold out over the two days,” said Madhavi Gopi Devi Dasi.

Keshava Swami and other devotees spoke with the BBC about the meaning of the celebration. You can listen to the interview here.

Vishaka Devi Dasi, Temple President at Bhaktivedanta Manor, said of the event, “This year’s two-day Janmashtami festival at Bhaktivedanta Manor was splendid. The festival was exceptionally well organised, the weather was ideal, the spirit amongst the attendees was joyous and spiritually uplifting, the volunteers collaborated well, the Deities were stunningly beautiful, and the devotees used great creativity in their presentations.”

Sandton, South Africa

ISKCON News Staff Writer Atma Tattva Das, based in South Africa, shared this Janmashtami summary from Vibhu Chaitanya Das, Temple president at ISKCON Sandton, “Our Sri Krishna Janmashtami festival was a vibrant celebration, beginning with a three-part series on Balaram Purnima, followed by Gita Week, bonfire storytelling, and a Janmashtami morning filled with devotion as thousands offered prayers. Throughout the day, thousands of devotees participated in kirtan, purchased spiritual books, and enjoyed free prasadam. The morning also featured an inspiring enactment of The Lord’s pastimes, while the ‘Fun to See’ kids activity brought joy to the young ones.

“In the evening, about 400 devotees remained for the midnight darshan, making it a day of profound spiritual connection and community.”

ISKCON of DC, Potomac, Maryland

Finally, in the United States capital, ISKCON of DC‘s Communications Officer Sonia Chopra shared this from their festival, “At ISKCON of DC, we saw our biggest celebration in 50 years.” Their Janmashtami celebration was attended by approximately 15,000 people, who waited patiently in long lines to take darshan of Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan in their newly built temple.

“The day was buzzing with activities and visitors since the 4:30 am Mangal Aarti. Outdoors there were children’s activities, a Vrindavan village display, and more,” noted Sonia. “Several officials from the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC, joined us. Among them, the recently appointed Indian Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, and his wife, Mrs. Pooja Kwatra, attended the evening aarti before the crowds. Mr. Rajiv Mishra, Counsellor for the Political Wing, and Mr. Jigar Raval, First Secretary for ITOU, joined us with their families. Mr. Venkatnathan, who has also very recently been appointed here as the Principal Director of Audit, came to seek the blessings of Lord Krishna along with his wife, Sukumari.”

“Montgomery County Sheriff, Sheriff Maxwell Uy joined us in the evening and was astounded to see the thousands who had come to celebrate this auspicious occasion. Montgomery County Executive, who was out of town on official travel, sent some of his representatives. Ms. Kate Chance, faith liaison for community partnerships from the County Executive’s office, joined us with her colleague, Yi Shen, the Asian liaison. They both were in awe and addressed the crowd after taking darshan and wished Krishna’s blessings upon the families of all gathered.”

“Later in the evening, Delegate Neil Parrott, a State Delegate in Maryland’s General Assembly and a candidate for Congress, came with his wife and daughter to celebrate with our community.”

Sonia concluded, “The celebration culminated with an ecstatic aarti at midnight. The newly built temple was still packed with thousands admiring the deities and altars beautifully decorated with fresh flowers, and the stunning beauty of the Lord captivated everyone’s hearts. It was a blissful experience for all.”