Kathmandu: The Nepal International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) held a grand celebration of the Shri Krishna Janmashtami festival on Bhadra 10, 2081, at the Shri Shri Radha Govindhari Temple in Budhanilkantha. Lord Krishna, revered as the Supreme Being and the source of all incarnations, was celebrated with great spiritual and cultural significance, marking the day of His divine appearance on Earth to establish righteousness.
The festival, which honors the teachings and virtues established by Lord Krishna, including His divine discourse in the Bhagavad Gita to His beloved devotee Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, has deep spiritual importance in Nepal. Devotees of the Hindu Sanatan Dharma celebrated the occasion with joyous chanting, worship, and a festive atmosphere.
A special spiritual and cultural awakening session was held during the festival, led by the globally renowned spiritual leaders, Revered Swami Patridas and Revered Rupeshwar Gaur Das, specifically aimed at inspiring the youth.
Distinguished guests, including Honorable Chief Justice Bishwambhar Prasad Shrestha, former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Defense Minister Honorable Manbir Rai, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Honorable Badri Prasad Pandey, Minister of Forests and Environment Honorable Aain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, Minister of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Honorable Deepak Khadka, Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal Liladevi Gadtoula, and Inspector General of Police Basant Bahadur Kunwar, participated in the darshan, aarti, and abhishek of the deity.
The event, which commenced at 4:30 AM, saw a massive turnout of devotees who engaged in the chanting of the holy name, distribution of divine texts narrating the pastimes of Lord Krishna, and partaking in the sacred prasad. Devotees, adorned in traditional attire, gathered with joyous hearts to seek the blessings of Lord Krishna for community harmony, love, and peace.
The celebration concluded with a devotional play based on the life and teachings of Shri Krishna, along with the distribution of delicious prasad prepared with love and devotion. The festival highlighted the global importance of preserving and promoting Nepalese cultural values, and the Shri Krishna Janmashtami celebration took another step forward in fulfilling this need.
