Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Aug 16: The Gopalakrishna Public Trust (GPT) has commenced the grand two-day celebrations of Sri Krishna Janmashtami and Vitla Pindi festival at the renowned Gokul complex in Sion, Maharashtra, which holds the fame of being 'Mathura of Maharashtra'. The festivities, filled with devotion and enthusiasm, were inaugurated this evening with the chanting of ‘Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum’.
Marking the centenary year of Gokul, the festival began with temple priest Vedamurthy Srinivasa Bhat Dharegudde leading the rituals by opening the temple, offering prayers, and performing mangalarti. This was followed by a silver kalashabhisheka with 108 silver pots for Lord Krishna and other special pujas performed by chief priest Ganesh Bhat along with fellow priests. Devotees, along with their families, participated in the rituals and received silver kalashas as prasadam. The chief yajamans of the event were GPT executive-trustee Dr Suresh S Rao Karkala and his wife Vijayalakshmi Suresh Rao, along with trustee-secretary A P K Pothi and his wife Dr Sahana A Pothi.
As part of the celebrations, 108 varieties of laddus—symbolizing the 108 divine names of Lord Krishna—were specially prepared, including Krishna’s favourites like chakkuli, nippattu, and avalakki laddu. The Gokul Bhajana Mandali Sion presented devotional bhajans, Harish Poojari and team performed a saxophone recital, and Vidushi Nandini Rao Gujar’s troupe rendered devotional songs, creating a spiritual ambience.
The night-long rituals included recitation of Vishnu Sahasranama, Sri Krishnashtottara, midnight Janmashtami puja, arghya seva, and distribution of tirtha prasada, formally launching the annual Sri Krishna Janmashtami festivities.
The event witnessed the participation of several dignitaries including senior advocate Prakash L Shetty (NIA special counsel and member of Kapasam advisory committee), P S Karanth (Vapi), GPT honorary trustees B Ramananda Rao, Krishna Acharya, Shailini A Rao, K C Kumar, R L Bhat (Jerimeri), Madhusudan Agarwal, Anil Gupta, as well as BSKBA vice-presidents Vaman Holla and Avinash Shastri, treasurer C A Haridas Bhat, joint secretary Chitra Melmane, Y Mohanraj, joint treasurer Ganesh Bhat, office-bearers, members, and a large number of devotees.
108 unique laddus for devotees
In a special offering, 108 types of laddus, ranging from groundnut, cashew, sesame, dry fruit, wheat, millet, and rice varieties, to fruit-based, herbal, and traditional sweets like motichoor, Tirupati laddu, boondi, and mysore laddu were prepared. GPT executive-trustee Dr Suresh Rao Karkala and honorary trustees explained that the laddus were made available at nominal prices—much lower than their actual cost—so that devotees could savour them. The laddus include a wide range such as peanut, cashew, sesame, pistachio, hazelnut, dry fruit, coconut, ragi, poha, apple, strawberry, mango and pineapple, herbal varieties like Brahmi and Dhanvantari laddu, and even symbolic ‘Mathura Laddu’, all available at Gokul. Devotees have been requested to collect them on demand.