Bangalore: Every year special prayers are held at the ISKCON Temple on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami. The idols decorated with flowers and ornaments are a sight to behold. Bhajan sessions go on from dawn to dusk. This festival attracts visitors from all over the globe, who come to witness the grandeur of ISKCON.
Cops in full swing!
Even as devotees thronged by the thousands to catch a glimpse of Shree Radha Krishna at the ISKCON Temple at Hare Krishna Hill, the Bangalore City Police and the Bangalore City Traffic Police had a tough time managing the situation. While the entire junction was blocked due to the immense traffic right from the noon, the number of people on the road waiting for their entry into the temple worsened the situation further.
The situation was so bad that the police did not even have time to respond to our queries, in the fear that people may become restless or unruly in that short span of time. Occasional arguments were seen between the devotees and the police, as they struggled to enter the temple premises.
Dual Treatment
Separate fast-lane entrances were made for pass holders and VIPs, which angered some of the people waiting in long queues at the general counter. However, the arrangements were top notch, and with the help of several volunteers guiding the queues, the entire Darshan process went on quite smoothly.
Modern Prasadam!
Prasadam counters were in full swing, with people shopping for satvik delicacies which included a huge variety of dishes like Russian Sandwich, Rasmalai, Laddus, Bajjis, Pakodas, Dhoklas, Pastries, Bread Rolls, Puffs, French Fries, Sweet Corn, Lime Soda, Softees and much more, all without onions, garlic, egg or any non-vegetarian produce! A volunteer at the counter stated that all these items were first offered to the lord, and thus considered as prasadam. All these were offered to the devotees at reasonable prices.
Apart from food, the sales counters offered a variety of Puja items and merchandise including bags, shawls, keychains, etc. People were seen shopping like there was no tomorrow! Ivan, a foreign traveller says “The entire aura surrounding this place is amazing. I’ve never seen such a huge crowd, which is orderly at the same time. The prasadam here is delicious; I’ve also bought myself a few memorabilia to take back home”.
Even as they guided the people around the temple, the volunteers were seen chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, with beads in their hands. “It is a privilege to be serving the Lord. The blessings we get here by doing seva is much more valuable than anything else” says Shanmugham, a volunteer.
As the ‘guided darshan’ of the temple came to an end, free prasadam in the form of a sweet preparation was served to the devotees in a leaf bowl. As the devotees left the temple with a contented heart, the cops were again seen busy at work trying to control the traffic and crowd outside.
