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The celebration of Sri Krishna Janmashtami took place with great grandeur at Sri Sathya Sai Vaatsalyam. The first Janmashtami at the Ashram featured the Maha Abhishekam to Sri Venugopala Swami in the morning, and an elaborate Govardhana Giri Utsavam in the evening.
The morning celebrations began with the grand unveiling of Sri Venugopala Swami in the Sadashivam hall, accompanied by divine music from the Tavil-Nadaswaram-Saxophone troupe. Following this, a Gau puja took place, where the cows were adorned with garlands and angavastram, and they were fed bananas and food, followed by an aarti.
Subsequently, children enjoyed breaking pots, filling the air with laughter and playfulness as they shattered hanging pots while spraying water at each other. White pigeons were released, symbolizing freedom.
Morning Programme
The sankalpam offering of the Bhattachaarya priests initiated the periya thirumanjanam Abhishekam of the beautiful Venugopala Swami on the dais. The snapana thirumanjanam (celestial bath with aromatic ingredients) filled the atmosphere with a divine fragrance. Abhishekam was performed meticulously with water, milk, curd, golden honey, tender coconut water on the golden idol of Sri Venugopal, who was then adorned with various flower garlands, such as arali and tulasi, and worshipped with dhoopam and aarti. The atmosphere was filled with bliss during the turmeric, sandanam, and kumumamabhishekam and alankaram that followed. As bhajans and music played, the curtains closed and then revealed the alankaram of Sri Venugopala Swami with beautiful vastram, aabharanam, and pushpam, creating a magnificent sight to behold.
The Janmashtami tiru aaraadanai concluded with naivedyamprasadam and mangala aarti to seek the blessings of Lord Krishna.
Evening Programme
The evening programme was marked by the Govardhana Giri Utsavam, celebrating the glory of Lord Krishna, who held the Govardhana hill on his little finger for 7 days to protect his devotees. On the 8th day, various prasadam offerings were collectively presented to the Lord. The annakoototsavam of Govardhana Giridhara, a beautiful creation of Sri Krishna holding the Govardhana hill on his little finger, was displayed on the dice with chitranna, dry fruits, and various fruits as a form of devotion to Sri Krishna to celebrate this event.
The atmosphere resonated with the offerings of veda, naada, and geeta as the pushpa yaagam commenced. The pushpa yaagam is a prayer meant to rectify any mistakes made during the puja to the Lord. Twelve types of flowers, including Tulasi, marigold, roses, lotus, kanakaambaram, and champaka, were choreographically offered one by one to the Lord, with the Nadaswaram-Saxophone troupe playing ragas such as Kalyani, Sindu Bhairavi, Kamboji, Arabi, and spirited bhajans, keertanam, and Madhava Panchakam in between each offering. Veda and shlokas, such as Yajur veda, filled the air with spiritual fervor. A beautiful sight unfolded as Sri Venugopala Swami was covered with flowers up to the neck. The completion of the pushpa yaagam was marked by the bhuta nivedanam consisting of milk, honey, curd, butter, paanagam, aval, bhakshanam, and dry fruits offered to the Lord.
The evening event was made even more special and captivating by the children who adorned themselves as little Krishnas and Radhas, stealing the spotlight with their adorable costumes. Their presence added a delightful and festive touch to the occasion, spreading joy and leaving lasting memories for everyone in attendance.
The divine celebration captivated all the devotees present, allowing them to witness the significant charm of Sri Krishna during this festival. The fragrance of flowers, the soothing aroma of sambrani, and the ringing of the Ashram bell filled the evening air.
The Krishna Janmashtami programme concluded with the Mangala aarti and Puliohara prasadam distributed to all the devotees present.
