Tampa:
Srimad Bhagavata Saptah
With the blessings of our Sri G’s grace this year the janmashtami Utsavam was started with the Srimad Bagavatha Sapthagam . It went for 7 days. All the days we had almost 20 devotees joining and also lots of them signing up for lots of athyaya with enthusiasm. Most of them were beginners but with our Guruji’s grace and our Takurji’s abundant love and blessings most of us read atleast 3 to 5 chapters. The 7th day we had the Janavasam of our Takuji and Radha Rani. All our devotees lifted our Takurji and radha Rani around the garden and almost 50 devotees participated and all ended up with Radha kalyanam and Divyanamam on 8th day with almost 80 people joined the mahotsavam.
Raleigh, North Carolina:
With the grace of Gurunathar and the blessings of Premikavaradhan and Madurisaki, we were fortunate to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami in a truly divine manner. The event was graciously hosted by Ranjani Ji and Rajshekhar Ji at their residence. We began with a 45-minute chanting of the Holy Mahamantra, followed by reading the Krishna Jananam Parayanam from Srimad Bhagavatam (Canto 10, Chapter 3), where each of us took turns reciting the shlokas. Afterward, we celebrated Nandotsavam with Kolattam, sang Madhurageetams, and concluded with Mangala Arati.
As part of the Krishna Janmashtami celebrations, we also organized a Bhagavatham Saptaham, during which we chanted the 10th Canto and concluded the same on 25th Aug 2024.
Namadwaar, Atlanta:
Janmashtami was celebrated in a very grand manner over four days at Atlanta Namadwaar, starting from 23rd August to 26th August. The celebrations began on 23rd with Divyanamam program. Our Sundara Vittalan and Radhai looked resplendent in pink. Our own Namadwaar singer Gayatriji sang Madhurageetham pertaining to Kannan Narthanam. Kids and Adults danced around Vittalan. The joy in the faces of all devotees reflected the bliss. The second day was purappadu for our dear Madhuri Sakhi and Sri Premika Varadan Thakurji. Before the purappadu, Nama and Pancha Geetham were chanted by all devotees. The purappadu started outside with Govinda gosham and the madhurageethams followed. Our Thakurji was shining so much that it competed with the sun’s rays. All devotees were dancing to the songs and participated with so much enthusiasm.
Our Thakurji and Madhuri Sakhi looked radiant and enjoyed the purappadu with the outside nature. On third day, Atlanta Namadwaar had two hours of Mahamantra chanting. We had around 100 devotees join the session. On the fourth and Janmashtami day, the celebrations began with Thirumanjam for our Sri Madhurisakhi Sametha Sri Premikavaradhan Takurji in the morning. The evening started out with Nama chanting by all the devotees. Then Smt Shobhaji lead the recitation of Krishna Jananam chapters. This was followed by a beautiful pravachan from Smt. Jeya Kishore, where she transported us to our kutty Krishna’s descent. We had our satsang kids, Darshana and Chinmayi dance to “Avadharithan Kannan” madhurageetham. And rightly afterwards, Nandotsavam started. Nandotsavam was the celebration of our Lord Krishna’s birth in a very grand and pompous style by Nanda Maharaj and Yashoda devi. The enactment started with Vasudevar carrying our Krishna in a basket and giving it to Nanda Maharaj. Then we had Nanda Maharaja, dressed in luxurious clothing, placing our baby Krishna in the cradle.
He distributed sweets and butter to everyone who had gathered in Atlanta Namadwaar. All the devotees, dressed up in grand attire were singing, dancing and rejoicing. There were many little kids dressed up as Gopas and Gopis that it took a moment to realize we are in Atlanta. The celebration continued outside with “Uriadi”; breaking pots of butter tied to ropes on a high level. There was a small dance from Darshana and Chinmayi for uriadi that left the audience wanting to try breaking the uri. Kids and Adults enjoyed the games. We had close to two hundred devotees attend on Janmashtami day. Prasadam was served on all days of Utsavam. As a gratitude, Atlanta Namadwaar also gave all families a token gift with sweets and savories. Atlanta Namadwaar also hosted the virtual Bhagavatha Saptham that started on 23rd and concluded on Aug 29th. Truly a memorable event for everyone !!
Highlights from the 4 day Utsavam
https://youtu.be/0j1MJaYcfr8?si=r-CV_FlSUbyi8B9d
https://youtu.be/060T_MMKIVk?si=pdqDiyi3jM9yMuBZ https://youtu.be/Tr0K8n5kMCQ?si=04IYRVsLliPOVdMX
https://youtu.be/wpfjF73stI8?si=IucSXhaxlVw3RAeQ
https://youtu.be/tmR2Sz0UQpw?si=Rw13BiClCInUyGp0 https://youtu.be/Nl1g9C9Dxeg?si=h_ZdN4DUr7X83EcM https://youtu.be/l_ft_7VnwKc?si=QskNJ8XoU6bHCdHh https://www.facebook.com/share/grthWyyDA2GxCGVk
Namadwaar, Virginia:
By the immense grace of His Holiness Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara SwamiJi and the abundant grace of Sri Madhuri Sakhi Samedha Sri Premika Varada TakurJi, Namadwaar Virginia celebrated Janmashtami from Aug 11th – Sep 1st. Devotees were blessed to celebrate Sri Krishna Janmashtami through Srimad Bhagavatha Parayanam – a recital of 18,000 slokas from Nama Purana Srimad Bhagavatham, beautifully expounds the sweetest lilas of Lord Krishna. Around 30 devotees enthusiastically participated in the Parayanam. On August 24th, devotees offered Bhagavata Poorthi to Sri SwamiJi and TakurJi. The Poorthi concluded with Vishnu sahasranama, 12th chapter of Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Kaliyayum bali kollum kirtan and Maha Arti. The next day on August 25th, devotees celebrated Sri Krishna Janmashtami Utsav at Namadwaar Virginia. The satsang started with Mahamantra Nama Sankirtan. This was followed by Guru vandanam, with many Guru kirtans. Madhurageethams on Nama Mahima, Krishna and Radha were rendered. The devotees then recited slokas from Srimad Bhagavatham tenth canto, Sri Krishna Janananm. The devotees showered our dear Sri Madhuri Sakhi Samedha Sri Premika Varada TakurJi with flowers and ‘Gopala’ nama. Then the devotees celebrated Nadotsavam, which means enacting how (anukaranam) our little Krisha was carried in a basket to Gokulam. While a devotee as Vasudevar, was taking Krishna, devotees rendered avathara Madhurageethams. A beautifully decorated swing was ready to rest our little Krishna. He was offered milk and variety of snacks made with love by all the devotees. Periya azhwar pasurams on Nandostav was recited. The gopas and gopis had divya nama , dancing and singing namavallis around Krishna. Then prayer kirtans to be ever blessed with satsang was rendered. The devotees felt blessed to attend the satsang. The satsang concluded with Kaliyayum bali kollum kirtan and Maha Arti. Dinner Maha prasad was served. Around 30 devotees participated in the Janmashtami day Utsav.
Utsav continues with Akhanda Mahamantra Nama Sankirtan till Aug 31st and a grand Radhe Madhav Vivah and Anjaneya Utsav will be celebrated on Sunday, Sep 1st.
Boston, MA
Janmashtami utsav celebrated at Padhuka Dham, Hopkinton for 7 days with bhagavatha parayanam – dasama skandham. Stated with Krishna jananan and 7th day with Radha Kalyanam by rendering all ashtapathis Link – https://youtu.be/5O2Mj1lBwIA?feature=shared
