Rons Bantwal
Mumbai, Sep 5: The Gokul complex in Sion East came alive in a vibrant celebration of devotion, tradition and culture on Saturday as the Gopalakrishna Public Trust and Bombay South Kanara Brahmins Association (BSKBA-Gokul) marked Sri Krishna Janmashtami with grand Vitla Pindi and Krishna Leelotsava festivities at the newly consecrated stone shrine of Sri Gopalakrishna.
Jagadguru Sri Madhwacharya Moola Maha Samsthanam (Udupi Sri Puthige Mutt) pontiff Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji visited Gokul in the afternoon, offered prayers and arati to Lord Gopalakrishna and blessed the devotees gathered at the shrine.
Addressing the devotees, Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji said Sanskrit was the language of the gods and an international language, making it the foremost language of worship and a means of approaching the divine. He called upon devotees to learn and study the language and said those who understood Lord Krishna’s Bhagavad Gita were among the most exalted devotees.
“Lord Krishna has made his abode at Gokul in Sion, Mumbai, and has given rise to these celebrations. This is the good fortune of the devotees gathered here,” he said.
BSKBA president Shailini A Rao, along with Dr Arun Rao and other office-bearers, accorded Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji a traditional purna kumbha welcome and received him at the Gokul shrine. They also performed padapuja for the pontiff.
Former BSKBA vice-president Vaman Holla welcomed the gathering and compered the programme, while Anantha Padmanabhan K Pothi proposed the vote of thanks.
BSKBA president Shailini A Rao, immediate past president Dr Suresh S Rao Kateel, vice-president K Rajaram Acharya, who is also working president of the Ashraya Senior Care Centre Committee, honorary secretary Anantha Padmanabhan K Pothi, honorary treasurer Ganesh Bhat, coordinator of the Conservation Management Committee, honorary joint secretaries Prashanth R Herle, joint secretary of Ashraya, and advocate Elluru Gururaj Bhat, women's wing coordinator Smitha A Bhat, youth wing coordinator Sri Lakshmi S Udupa, Gokul Bhajana Mandali Committee and media coordinator I K Prema Subrahmanya Rao, Food Committee and Gokul Cultural Training Centre coordinator Dr Sahana A Pothi, Gokul Kalavrinda coordinator advocate Geetha L Bhat, Vidyanidhi and School Adoption Committee coordinator Vidya Rao Khar, Zonal Activities and Ashraya Committee coordinator Chandravathi K Rao, Library and Archives Committee coordinator K Subbanna Rao, Information Technology and Social Media Committee coordinator Karthik S Udupa, Membership Committee coordinator Chandrashekar Bhat, special invitees Ramaprasad Rao and Jagadish G Acharya, priest Gurupasad Bhat of Ghansoli, Gopal S Rao, and Gopalakrishna Trust honorary trustees B Ramananda Rao, Krishna Acharya, J C Kumar and R L Bhat Jerimery were among those who participated in the celebrations.
Office-bearers and members of both organisations joined the annual Ashtami festivities, while a large number of devotees visited the shrine, offered special prayers and sought the blessings of Sri Gopalakrishna.
The Janmashtami festivities began on Friday evening with 108 silver kalashabhishekas to Lord Krishna, saxophone recital, devotional music by renowned classical and devotional singers, a Devaranama concert, Vishnu Sahasranama and Krishnashtottara recitations. The annual observance formally commenced with the midnight Janmashtami puja and arghya pradhana during the Nishitha period.
Saturday morning saw further silver kalashabhisheka and Mahapuja, followed by Janmashtami Maha Anna Prasada, which was served to devotees.
The afternoon Krishna Leelotsava brought a burst of colour, with a grand pallakki procession featuring participants in Karivesha, Yakshagana and other traditional costumes. The festivities continued into the night with Mangalarati, Mahapuja, distribution of Theertha Prasada and refreshments.
Gokul chief priest Vedamurthy Srinivasa Bhat Dharegudde, priest Prasanna Bhat, Ramavithal Kalluraya and other priests conducted the various rituals and offered their blessings.
A grand Dahi Handi celebration was organised under the sponsorship of B R Shetty (Udupi), managing director of the B R Hotels Group, drawing enthusiastic participation from Krishna devotees in the traditional curd-pot breaking event.
The Vakratunda music troupe presented a flute recital, while the Gokul Bhajana Mandali performed bhajans and the Art of Living group presented devotional songs.
Adding a cultural finale to the festivities, Gokul's artistes staged the Yakshagana ‘Kanakangi Kalyana’, directed by Geetha L Bhat.
The annual Sri Krishna festival concluded with the completion of the day's religious rituals, devotional programmes and cultural celebrations at Gokul.