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X-WR-CALNAME:ISKCON Punjabi Bagh,
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for ISKCON Punjabi Bagh,
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DTSTART:20260101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260803
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260804
DTSTAMP:20260419T215639
CREATED:20260216T063629Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260216T063629Z
UID:48580-1785715200-1785801599@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Disappearance Day of Srila Gopala Bhatta Goswami 3rd Aug 2026
DESCRIPTION:Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami appeared in Sri Rangam\, South India. Lord Caitanya once stayed four months in his home\, & converted the family to Gaudiya Vaisnavism. A mere boy at this time\, Gopala personally served the Lord.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/disappearance-day-of-srila-gopala-bhatta-goswami-3rd-aug-2026/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Srila-Gopala-Bhatta-Goswami.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260806
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260807
DTSTAMP:20260419T215639
CREATED:20260216T063800Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260216T063800Z
UID:48582-1785974400-1786060799@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Disappearance Day of Srila Lokanatha Goswami 6th Aug 2026
DESCRIPTION:Lokanatha Goswami was a personal associate of Lord Caitanya. Lord Caitanya ordered him and Bhugarbha Goswami to find the lost holy places of Vrndavana. Years later\, the six Goswamis came to Vrndavana and continued this work.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/disappearance-day-of-srila-lokanatha-goswami-6th-aug-2026/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Srila-Lokanatha-Goswami.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260807
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260808
DTSTAMP:20260419T215639
CREATED:20260216T064006Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260216T064006Z
UID:48584-1786060800-1786147199@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:The Incorporation of ISKCON in New York 7th Aug 2026
DESCRIPTION:Srila Prabhupada founded ISKCON\, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness\, in 1966.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/the-incorporation-of-iskcon-in-new-york-7th-aug-2026/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Prabhupada.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260809
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260810
DTSTAMP:20260419T215639
CREATED:20260216T070117Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260216T070117Z
UID:48586-1786233600-1786319999@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Kamika Ekadashi 9th Aug 2026
DESCRIPTION:The saintly king Yudhisthira maharaj said\, “Oh Supreme Lord\, I have heard from You the glories of fasting on Deva-sayani Ekadashi\, which occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Ashadha. Now I would like to hear from You the glories of the Ekadashi that occurs during the dark fortnight (krishna paksha) of the month of Shravana (July – August). Oh Govindadeva\, please be merciful to me and explain its glories. Oh Supreme Vasudeva\, I offer my most humble obeisances unto You.” \nThe Supreme Lord\, Shri Krishna\, replied\, “Oh King\, please listen attentively as I describe the auspicious influence of this Holy fast (vrata) day\, which removes all sins. Narada Muni once asked Lord Brahma about this same topic. ‘Oh regent of all beings\,’ said Naradji\, ‘Oh you who sit upon a water born lotus throne\, please tell me the names of the Ekadashi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the sacred month of Shravana. Please also tell me which Deity is to be worshipped on that Holy day\, the process one must follow to observe it\, and the merit it awards.’ \n“Lord Brahma replied\, ‘My dear son Narada\, for the benefit of all humanity I shall happily tell you everything you wish to know\, for just hearing the glories of the Kamika Ekadashi bestows merit equal to that obtained by one who performs a horse sacrifice. Certainly\, great merit is attained by one who worships\, and who also meditates on the lotus feet of the four-armed Lord Gadadhara\, who holds conchshell\, disc\, club and lotus in His hands and who is also known as Shridhara\, Hari\, Vishnu\, Madhava\, and MadhusUdana. And the blessings achieved by such a person / devotee\, who worships Lord Vishnu exclusively are far greater than those achieved by one who takes a sacred bath in the Ganges at Kashi (Varanasi)\, in the forest of NaimishAraNya\, or at Pushkara\, which is the only place on the planet where I am formally worshipped. \nBut one who observes this Kamika Ekadashi and also worships Lord Shri Krishna achieves greater merit than one who has darshana of Lord KedAranAtha in the HimAlayas\, or one who bathes at Kurukshetra during a solar eclipse\, or one who donates the whole Earth in charity\, including its forests and oceans\, or one who bathes in the Gandaki River (where the sacred Shaligrams are found) or the GodAvari River on a full moon (purnima) day that falls on a Monday when Leo (Simha) and Jupiter (Guru) are conjoined (conjunct). \n“Observing Kamika Ekadashi bestows the same merit as donating a milk-cow and her auspicious calf\, along with their feed. On this all auspicious day\, whosoever worships Lord Sri Shridhara-deva\, Vishnu\, is glorified by all the devas\, Gandharvas\, Pannagas\, and NAgas. \n“Those who are afraid of their past sins and completely immersed in sinful materialistic life should at least observe this best of Ekadashis according to their ability and thus attain liberation. This Ekadashi is the purest of all days and the most powerful for removing sins of the native. Oh Narada ji\, Lord Shri Hari Himself once said about this Ekadashi\, “One who fasts on Kamika Ekadashi attains much more merit than one who studies all the spiritual literatures.” \n“Anyone who fasts on this particular day remains awake throughout the night will never experience the anger of Yamaraja\, the king of death personified. It has been seen that whoever observes Kamika Ekadashi will not have to suffer future births\, and in the past too\, many Yogis of devotion who fasted on this day went to the spiritual world. One should therefore follow in their auspicious footsteps and strictly observe a fast on this most auspicious of Ekadashis. \n“Whosoever worships Lord Shri Hari with Tulasi leaves is freed from all implication of sin. Indeed\, he lives untouched by sin\, as the lotus leaf\, although in the water\, is untouched by it. Whosoever offers Lord Shri Hari but a single leaf from the sacred Tulasi tree (occillium basilcum sanctum) attains as much merit as one who gives away in charity two hundred grams of gold and eight hundred grams of silver. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is more pleased by one who offers Him a single Tulasi leaf than by one who worships Him with pearls\, rubies\, topaz\, diamonds\, lapis lazuli\, sapphires\, gomedA stones (gomaz)\, cat’s eye gems\, and coral. \nOne who offers Lord Keshava newly grown maNjari buds from the Tulasi plant gets rid of all the sins he has committed during this or any other lifetime. Indeed\, mere darshana of Tulasi on Kamika Ekadashi removes all sins\, and merely touching her and praying to her removes all kinds of disease. One who waters Tulasi devi need never fear the Lord of death\, Yamaraja. One who plants or transplants Tulasi on this days will eventually reside with Lord Shri Krishna in His own abode. To Srimati Tulasi devi\, who awards liberation in devotional service\, one should therefore daily offer one’s full obeisances. \n“Even Chitragupta\, Yamaraja’s secretary\, cannot calculate the merit obtained by one who offers Shrimati Tulasi-devi a perpetually burning ghee lamp. So dear is this sacred Ekadashi to the Supreme Personality of Godhead that all the forefathers of one who offers a bright ghee lamp to Lord Shri Krishna on this day ascend to the heavenly planets and drink the celestial nectar there. Whoever offers a ghee or sesame oil lamp to Shri Krishna on this day is freed from all his sins and enters the abode of Surya\, the Sun-god\, with a body as bright as ten million lamps. This Ekadashi is so powerful that if one who is unable to fast simply follows the practices as mentioned herein\, s/he is elevated to the heavenly planets\, along with all their forefathers. \n“Oh Maharaj Yudhisthira\,” Lord Shri Krishna concluded\, “…these were the words of prajapathi Brahma to his son Narada Muni concerning the incalculable glories of this Kamika Ekadashi\, which removes all sins. This sacred day nullifies even the sin of killing a Brahmana or the sin of killing an unborn child in the womb\, and it promotes one to the spiritual world by making one supremely meritorious.\nOne who kills the innocent\, i.e.\, a brahmin (Brahmana)\, a child in the womb\, a pious and spotless woman\, etc.\, and then later hears about the glories of Kamika Ekadashi will be relieved of the reaction to one’s sins. However\, one should NOT think beforehand that one can kill a Brahmin or other innocent folk and then go unpunished simply by hearing of this Ekadashi. Such knowing commission of sin is an abomination. \nWhosoever hears these glories of the Kamika Ekadashi with faith becomes free of all sins and returns home\, back to Godhead – Vishnu-loka\, Vaikuntha. \nThus ends the narration of the glories of the Shravana-krshna Ekadashi\, or Kamika Ekadashi\,\nfrom the Brahma-Vaivarta Purana.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/kamika-ekadashi-9th-aug-2026/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming event
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260816
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260817
DTSTAMP:20260419T215639
CREATED:20260307T090159Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T064405Z
UID:49329-1786838400-1786924799@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Disappearance Day of Srila Raghunandan Thakura 16th Aug 2026
DESCRIPTION:Raghunandan Thakura was the son of the great devotee Mukunda Dasa.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/disappearance-day-of-srila-raghunandan-thakura-16th-aug-2026/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Sri-Raghunandan-Thakura.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260816
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260817
DTSTAMP:20260419T215639
CREATED:20260307T090637Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T064419Z
UID:49331-1786838400-1786924799@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Disappearance Day of Srila Vamsidasa Babaji 16th Aug 2026
DESCRIPTION:Vamsidasa Babaji Maharaja was a paramahamsa devotee who sometimes lived in Navadvipa at the time of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/disappearance-day-of-srila-vamsidasa-babaji-16th-aug-2026/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Sri-Vamsidasa-Babaji.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260823
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260824
DTSTAMP:20260419T215639
CREATED:20260307T091128Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260307T091128Z
UID:49333-1787443200-1787529599@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Pavitropana Ekadashi 23rd Aug 2026
DESCRIPTION:Shri Yudhisthira Maharaja said\, “Oh Madhusudana\, Oh killer of the Madhu demon\, please be merciful to me and describe to me the Ekadashi that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Shravana (July-August).” The Supreme Lord\, Sri Krishna\, replied\, “Yes\, Oh king\, I shall happily narrate its glories to you\, for just by hearing about this sacred Ekadashi one attains the merit of performing a horse sacrifice. \n“At the dawn of Dvarpara-yuga there lived a king by the name of Mahijita\, who ruled the kingdom of Mahismati-puri. Because he had no son\, his entire kingdom seemed utterly cheerless to him. A married man who has no son gains no happiness in this life or the next. \nThe Sanskrit word for ‘son’ is putra. Pu is the name of a particular hell\, and tra means ‘to deliver.’ Thus the word putra means ‘a person who delivers one from the hell named Pu.’ Therefore every married man should produce at least one son and train him properly; then the father will be delivered from a hellish condition of life. But this injunction does not apply to the serious devotees of Lord Vishnu or Krishna\, for the Lord becomes their son\, father\, and mother. \nFurthermore\, Chanakya Pandita says\, \nsatyam mata pita jnanam\ndharmo bhrata daya sakha\nsantih patni ksama putrah\nsadete mama vandhavah \n“The truth is my mother\, knowledge is my father\, my occupational duty is my brother\, kindness is my friend\, tranquillity is my wife\, and forgiveness is my son. These six are my family members.” Among the twenty-six leading qualities of a devotee of the Lord\, forgiveness is the topmost. Therefore devotees should make an extra endeavour to develop this quality. Here Chanakya says “forgiveness is my son\,” and thus a devotee of the Lord\, even though he may be on the path of renunciation\, may observe Putrada Ekadashi and pray to attain this kind of “son.” \nFor a long time this king tried very hard to obtain an heir\, but to no avail. Seeing his years advancing ever onwards\, King Mahijita became increasingly anxious. One day he told an assembly of his advisers: ‘I have committed no sin in this life\, and there is no ill-gotten wealth in my treasury. I have never usurped the offerings to the demigods or brahmanas. When I waged war and conquered kingdoms\, I followed the rules and regulations of the military art\, and I have protected my subjects as if they were my own children. I punished even my own relatives if they broke the law\, and if my enemy was gentle and religious I welcomed him. Oh twice-born souls\, although I am a religious and faithful follower of the Vedik standards\, still my home is without a son. Kindly tell me the reason for this.’ \n“Hearing this\, the king’s brahmana advisers discussed the subject among themselves\, and with the aim of benefiting the king they visited the various ashrams of the great sages. At last they came upon a sage who was austere\, pure\, and self-satisfied\, and who was strictly observing a vow of fasting. His senses were completely under control\, he had conquered his anger\, and he was expert at performing his occupational duty. Indeed\, this great sage was expert in all the conclusions of the Vedas\, and he had extended his life span to that of Lord Brahma himself. His name was Lomasa Rishi\, and he knew part\, present\, and future. After each kalpa passed\, one hair would fall out of his body ( One kalpa\, or twelve hours of Lord Brahma\, equals 4\,320\,000\,000 years.) All the king’s brahmana advisers very happily approached him one by one to offer their humble respects. \n“Captivated by this great soul\, King Mahijita’s advisers offered obeisances to him and said very respectfully\, ‘Only because of our great good fortune\, Oh sage\, have we been allowed to see you.’\n“Lomasa Rishi saw them bowing down to him and replied\, ‘Kindly let me know why you have come here. Why are you praising me? I must do all I can to solve your problems\, for sages like me have only one interest: to help others. Do not doubt this.’ \nLomasa Rishi had all good qualities because he was a devotee of the Lord. As stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (5:18:12)\, \nyasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akinchana\nsarvair gunais tatra samasate surah\nharav abhaktasya kuto mahad-guna\nmanorathenasati dhavato bahih \n“In one who has unflinching devotional service to Krishna\, all the good qualities of Krishna and the demigods are consistently manifest. However\, he who has no devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead has no good qualifications because he is engaged by mental concoction in material existence\, which is the external feature of the Lord.” \n“The king’s representatives said\, ‘We have come to you\, Oh exalted sage\, to ask for your help in solving a very serious problem. Oh sage\, you are like Lord Brahma. Indeed\, there is no better sage in the entire world. Our king\, Mahijita\, is without a son\, though he has sustained and protected us as if we were his sons. Seeing him so unhappy on account of being sonless\, we have become very sad\, Oh sage\, and therefore we have entered the forest to perform severe austerities. By our good fortune we happened upon you. Everyone’s desires and activities become successful just by your darshana. Thus we humble ask that you tell us how our kind king can obtain a son.’ \n“Hearing their sincere plea\, Lomasa Rishi absorbed himself in deep meditation for a moment and at once understood the king’s previous life. Then he said\, ‘Your ruler was a merchant in his past life\, and feeling his wealth insufficient\, he committed sinful deeds. He traveled to many villages to trade his goods. Once\, at noon on the day after the Ekadashi that comes during the light fortnight of the month of Jyeshtha (Trivikrama – May-June)\, he became thirsty while traveling from place to place. He came upon a beautiful pond on the outskirts of a village\, but just as he was about to drink at the pond a cow arrived there with her new-born calf. These two creatures were also very thirsty because of the heat\, but when the cow and calf started to drink\, the merchant rudely shoved them aside and selfishly slaked his own thirst. This offense against a cow and her calf has resulted in your king’s being without a son now. But the good deeds he performed in his previous life have given him rulership over an undisturbed kingdom.’ \n“Hearing this\, the king’s advisers replied\, ‘Oh renowned rishi\, we have heard that the Vedas say one can nullify the effects of one’s past sins by acquiring merit. Be so kind as to give us some instruction by which our king’s sins can be destroyed; please give him your mercy so that a prince will take birth in his family.’ \n“Lomasa Rishi said\, ‘There is an Ekadashi called Putrada\, which comes during the light fortnight of the month of Shravana. On this day all of you\, including your king\, should fast and stay awake all night\, strictly following the rules and regulations. Then you should give the king whatever merit you gain by this fast. If you follow these instructions of mine\, he will surely be blessed with a fine son.’ \n“All the king’s advisers became very pleased to hear these words from Lomasa Rishi\, and they all offered him their grateful obeisances. Then\, their eyes bright with happiness\, they returned home. \n“When the month of Shravana arrived\, the king’s advisers remembered the advice of Lomasa Rishi\, and under their direction all the citizens of Mahismati-puri\, as well as the king\, fasted on Ekadashi. And on the next day\, DvAdasi\, the citizens dutifully offered their accrued merit to him. By the strength of all this merit\, the queen became pregnant and eventually gave birth to a most beautiful son. \n“O Yudhisthira\,” Lord Krishna concluded\, “the Ekadashi that comes during the light fortnight of the month of Shravana has thus rightfully become famous as Putrada [“bestower of a son”]. Whoever desires happiness in this world and the next should certainly fast from all grains and legumes on this holy day. Indeed\, whoever simply hears the glories of Putrada Ekadashi becomes completely free of all sins\, is blessed with a good son\, and surely ascends to heaven after death.” \nThus ends the narration of the glories of Shravana-sukla Ekadashi\, or Putrada Ekadashi\, from the Bhavishya Purana.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/pavitropana-ekadashi-23rd-aug-2026/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Ekadashi.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260823
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260824
DTSTAMP:20260419T215639
CREATED:20260307T094204Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260307T094204Z
UID:49335-1787443200-1787529599@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Radha Govinda Jhulan Yatra Begins 23rd Aug 2026
DESCRIPTION:The swing festival of Radha-Krsna. The Deities ride on an elaborately decorated swing. \nDeities in the temples are swung on a swing. Some of the main temples that this festival is celebrated at are the Banke Bihari Temple and the Radha-Raman Temple in Vrindavana\, the Dwarkadish temple in Mathura\, and the Larily Lal Temple in Varsana. \nIn our Iskcon temples we observe for five days in accordance with Srila Prabhupada’s instructions. So whether one observes for the four days or for the seven\, or thirteen days\, the same festival is put on for the pleasure of the Lord and His loving associates. \nThis is a wonderful ceremonial function of Lord Krishna’s pastimes that reflects practically how we are to render service to the Lord for His pleasure. \nAt the time of the Jhulan Yatra festival it is Monsoon in India and the air is thick\, heavy and humid with the heat and the rains. In the midst of the rainy season\, when fields and jungle have turned shades of lush green and flowers are blossoming all around\, the festival of Hariyali Teej is celebrated. \nThese festivals are not in any way mere rituals\, as they all have practical service functionality to invoke loving servitude of the devotees for the Lord. Lord Sri Krishna is the Supreme enjoyer and doesn’t have to work hard like us in this world. Everything He does is pleasurable\, and He organises many situation in which He can incorporate us\, His separated parts and parcels into His loving service which is our natural condition in the spiritual realm. \nWhen Sri Krishna had his pastimes in rural Vrindavan with His cowherd friends together they lovingly tended the cows\, and wandered in the pastures playing\, frolicking\, and feasting. Throughout the various seasons they all continuously enjoyed being part of Sri Krishna’s pastimes\, and rendering loving service to Him as best they could. \nOver the past few months as the climate had changed from Vasant Panchami (Spring festival) where everyone dresses in yellow and goes to the fields\, performs fertility rites\, and plants new crops\, etc.) to Dola Purnima where scented powders and flowers are thrown on the body of the Lord playfully\, and singing and dancing goes on for His pleasure. Similarly all the other different festivals were observed where the friends of Lord Krishna would look after His express comforts or pleasure\, go to the forest with Him\, serve Him and have fun. \nAs the temperature rises toward Summer the Chandan Yatra is performed where from the Akshaya Tritiya for a period of 21 days the body of the Lord is anointed with scented sandalwood mixed with camphor\, musk\, saffron. As the sandalwood is applied to the body it immediately cools\, but then there is a natural cycle that also follows with the heat naturally there is some perspiration\, and as the perspiration again mixes with the sandalwood it is dried and cooled by even the slightest breeze creating a pleasant feeling like being covered with Talcum powder. \nHowever\, as the temperature increases just to be anointed with something cooling is not enough therefore on (or from for some sampradayas or temples) the Snan Purnima in the month of Jyestha (Trivikram Vaishnava mase) there is the ceremonial bathing of the Lord called Snan Yatra. Although it has become especially festive in Jagannath Puri the actual event originates in Vrindavana with the devotees bathing Krishna\, and Balaram for their pleasure and then taking bath themselves too. Actually at this time there is no other solace than to bathe in some kind of pleasing water. All the temples of Vrindavan follow this festival\, and many devotees follow a trail of pilgrimage from one temple to the next from early morning to late evening when the temperature lowers to about 35-40 degrees centigrade absorbed in the Snan rasa. \nThe next major interactive event is Rathyatra where the devotees symbolically bring Lord Krishna (Jagannath) His brother Balaram and Subhadra maharani on high chariots\, with beautiful flapping canopies\, back to rural Vrindavan after their spell in Kurukshetra. \nAfter this comes the Jhulan Yatra festival. Starting on the ekadasi of waxing moon of Sridhara month\, many temples in Vrndavana celebrate Krsna’s swing festival\, some for one day\, others for more days. Traditionally many of the Deities of the Lord wears various clothing with green in it over this period until the Balaram Purnima. Again it is a practical festive service that the devotees provide for the Lord. Monsoon is so humid\, and the temperature is still so hot despite the cooling rains. With so much water coming from the sky\, on the ground\, and just about everywhere the last thing that anyone wants is more water to cool off. The opulence at this time is to find a breeze\, as the air is heavy with the humidity of the rains. So the devotees arrange for the pleasure and satisfaction of Krishna\, Balaram\, and Srimati Radhika by placing them on a swing (Jhulan) and creating their own breeze from the motion. \nIt is a most pleasing and satisfying festival\, with the swings often highly decorated with forest creepers\, Jasmine (Malati) that has newly blossomed in the season\, and streamers of garlands. Sometimes they use a fine spray of rose water and direct it toward the Divine couple of Radha and Krishna on Their swing. \nToday in Iskcon temples all over the world by the mercy of his Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad all the devotees and the congregational members get the opportunity to come forward after purifying their hands and remember these loving interactions of Sri Krishna with His devotees\, and also assist in the direct personal service of the Lord by applying themselves to pushing the swing. \nOn the last day of the Jhulan\, on the Purnima (full moon) this comes Lord Balaram’s appearance day festival. \nJhulan references:\n“Regarding Jhulanayatra Ceremony\, during these five days the Deities’ clothing should be changed everyday\, and there should be nice Prasadam distribution and Sankirtana as far as possible. If you are able to do it\, a nice throne may be constructed on which the Deities can be placed. This throne may be swung gently during Kirtana. That will be very good\, and surely the Deities will enjoy the function.” (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.1st August. 1969. Letter to Jayapataka Swami. Letters book pg. 977.) \n“So we have to practice this Krsna consciousness. Here\, in this material world\, we have to work. Without work\, you cannot maintain even your family\, your body. That is not possible. Sarira-yatrapi te na prasiddhyed akarmana-. Krsna says (to) Arjuna that without karma you cannot maintain even your body. So you have to work. Sarira-yatrapi te na prasiddhyed akarmana-. And this material world means you have to maintain by working. And spiritual world means na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. There is nothing to work\, as Krsna has nothing to work. He is simply enjoying What is called? Swing. So Krsna is enjoying\, and Krsna’s associates are enjoying. They have nothing to work. That is spiritual world. Cintamani prakara sadmasu kalpa vrksa: that is a different world. There is no material body. Therefore there is no need of the material body. That is a different world. But in this material world we have to work. Trt’ya-karma-samj \n“Radha and Krsna may be swung in this way\, but you may avoid swinging Lord Jagannatha like that.”(A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 5th Jan. 1973. Letter to Jagdish. Letters book p.2220.) \nA pastime of Srimati Radharani and Sri Krishna’s:\nAs stated Jhulan-yatra is very dear to Krsna\, He likes it very much\, now from another perspective you will see why !!!. From a cultural perspective in India during this period\, all daughters go to their father’s house to stay there for some days and enjoy the swing festival – a custom celebrated even up to this day. \nEvery year Srimati Radharani used to go to Varshana to her parents’ house and have a very nice time there with her Gopi friends and Krsna\, whom She could freely meet (because Jotila and Kotila were not around). \n‘One time Radharani was waiting for her brother Sridam to come and take her to her fathers’ house. She was waiting\, waiting\, and waiting\, but there was no sign of Sridam and She became so sad. One day a person from Varsana was there. She asked the man to ask her father\, “Why have they have forgotten Me?” She then started to cry bitterly. The person went to Varshana and told Vrsabhanu Maharaja about the condition of his daughter. Hearing this news\, Vrishabhanu Maharaja immediately sent Sridam to Varshana to get Radharani. \nSrimati Radharani’s Mother Kirtida packed many presents for Jotila to send with Sridam\, knowing that if she did not do this\, Jotila\, being harsh of character sometimes would not send Srimati Radharani to Varshana. \nMeanwhile\, day and night Srimati Radharani was staring at the road coming from Varshana. One day\, She saw Sridam and when he finally arrived at the front gate they embraced each other. She was weeping\, “Oh brother you had forgotten Me?; My father and mother too?; Everyone forgot Me?” \nAt first Jotila refused to let Srimati Radharani go. “No no\, She cannot go. She has so much work to do here\, and there is so much danger there because of that black boy. She cannot go.” \nThen Sridam gave Jotila all the presents given by Kirtida ma. Seeing this\, she said\, “Alright\, she can go\, but only for a few days.” \n“Then Srimati Radharani and Sridam went on a cart pulled by four bullocks to Varshana. Seeing the palace of her parents on the hilltop\, feeling great happiness Radharani started weeping and even more weeping when She saw Her father and mother face to face.\nAt that time Jhulan-yatra had already started and Srimati Radharani started swinging with Her sakhis (friends) during periods in the day and night\, but She was not satisfied alone\, without Krsna there. Knowing this\, Krsna sometimes came in disguise to the palace. Sometimes He dressed as a Gopi selling bangles or beautiful garlands. Or He appeared in any other form and made an appointment for Them to meet each other somewhere in a very secret place in the forest. \nOnce\, Srimati Radharani was seated on the Jhulan and Krsna was pushing the swing very gently. Suddenly Krsna put so much force in pushing the swing that Srimati Radharani became fearful and started crying out\, “O Krsna\, save Me\, save Me!” That transcendental trickster Sri Krsna climbed on the swing and She firmly embraced Him\, giving Him so much pleasure. Why so much pleasure? Because normally He has to do so many tricks so that Radharani will embrace Him\, but in this instance She embraced Him out of Her own will\, without much effort on His part. Therefore He is so fond of these swing pastimes. \nSome meditations on Sri Jhulan Yatra in Sri Vrindavan Dham. \nThe Jhulan time is very intense. In general the Shravana masha have an exceptional mood\, it is raining all the time\, Yamuna Mayi became very wide\, flooded and there is a fresh atmosphere for devotees who move daily to whorship and take the lila-darshan which is performed in diverse temples in Vrindavan. As an example\, in Jai Sing Geera\, the lilas are performed during the whole week: every morning Gauranga-lila and at the evening Krishna-lila’s theatre is played. \nDevotees tell that some time ago a king\, who was a great devotee of Sri Radha-Raman used to came to Vrindavan in the Shravana month to assist that performances which started out of his own desire. The rasa-lilas and theatre performance of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Sri Krishna lilas was very dear to him and surely to Sri Radha Krishna also because since that time it now takes place as a yearly event. \nIn each of Vrindavans’ temples a wonderful swing-kunja is to be found\, each with singular features along with the swinging mood and the always happy “Jay Sri Radhe! Jay Sri Radhe!”. There took place also the golden swing darshan of Sri Banka Bihari ji\, which occurs once yearly. It happen the first day of Jhulan in which streets are completely crowded\, any vehicles\, like cars\, even Auto-rickshaws transit is very much restricted and Rikshaws can move only in the main roads. Some devotees wait until the midnight special aratis to get darshan because during the day it’s just ridiculous to try and get in with the hundreds of thousands of villages who descend on Vrindavan township to be absorbed in this wonderful festival. \nThere’s a good business made by devotees engaged in making the huge amounts of garlands that are used in all the temples\, by all the devotees wanting to offer garlands\, and to decorate the temples and Jhulan(s) during the whole week. It’s a perfect example how everyone benefits\, both economically – financially\, socially\, spiritually etc.\, simply by rendering some simple service for the pleasure of the Lord. Vast amounts of prasadam is cooked and offered to the Deities\, and sold for a small donation; the hotles\, dharmshallas\, guest-houses etc\, Rickshaws\, taxis\, everyone\, all are happy and satisfied knowing that simply by serving the Lord\, the root of everything all their needs will be taken care of.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/radha-govinda-jhulan-yatra-begins-23rd-aug-2026/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Jhulan.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260824
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260825
DTSTAMP:20260419T215639
CREATED:20260309T060641Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260309T060641Z
UID:49358-1787529600-1787615999@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Disappearance Day of Srila Rupa Goswami 24th Aug 2026
DESCRIPTION:Rupa Goswami is known as bhakti-rasacarya\, the expert in the tastes of pure devotional service. He and his elder brother\, Srila Sanatana Goswami\, left high posts in the government of Nawab Hussein Shah to join Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/disappearance-day-of-srila-rupa-goswami-24th-aug-2026/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Srila-Rupa-Goswami.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260824
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260825
DTSTAMP:20260419T215639
CREATED:20260309T060904Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T064535Z
UID:49361-1787529600-1787615999@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Disappearance Day of Srila Gauridasa Pandita 24th Aug 2026
DESCRIPTION:Gauridasa Pandita is considered the emblem of the most elevated devotional service in love of Godhead. He sacrificed everything for the service of Lord Nityananda. Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda personally appeared as Deity forms in his home.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/disappearance-day-of-srila-gauridasa-pandita-24th-aug-2026/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Gauridasa.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260828
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260829
DTSTAMP:20260419T215639
CREATED:20260309T064858Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260309T064858Z
UID:49363-1787875200-1787961599@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Jhulan Yatra Ends 28th Aug 2026
DESCRIPTION:The swing festival of Radha-Krsna. The Deities ride on an elaborately decorated swing. \nDeities in the temples are swung on a swing. Some of the main temples that this festival is celebrated at are the Banke Bihari Temple and the Radha-Raman Temple in Vrindavana\, the Dwarkadish temple in Mathura\, and the Larily Lal Temple in Varsana. \nIn our Iskcon temples we observe for five days in accordance with Srila Prabhupada’s instructions. So whether one observes for the four days or for the seven\, or thirteen days\, the same festival is put on for the pleasure of the Lord and His loving associates. \nThis is a wonderful ceremonial function of Lord Krishna’s pastimes that reflects practically how we are to render service to the Lord for His pleasure. \nAt the time of the Jhulan Yatra festival it is Monsoon in India and the air is thick\, heavy and humid with the heat and the rains. In the midst of the rainy season\, when fields and jungle have turned shades of lush green and flowers are blossoming all around\, the festival of Hariyali Teej is celebrated. \nThese festivals are not in any way mere rituals\, as they all have practical service functionality to invoke loving servitude of the devotees for the Lord. Lord Sri Krishna is the Supreme enjoyer and doesn’t have to work hard like us in this world. Everything He does is pleasurable\, and He organises many situation in which He can incorporate us\, His separated parts and parcels into His loving service which is our natural condition in the spiritual realm. \nWhen Sri Krishna had his pastimes in rural Vrindavan with His cowherd friends together they lovingly tended the cows\, and wandered in the pastures playing\, frolicking\, and feasting. Throughout the various seasons they all continuously enjoyed being part of Sri Krishna’s pastimes\, and rendering loving service to Him as best they could. \nOver the past few months as the climate had changed from Vasant Panchami (Spring festival) where everyone dresses in yellow and goes to the fields\, performs fertility rites\, and plants new crops\, etc.) to Dola Purnima where scented powders and flowers are thrown on the body of the Lord playfully\, and singing and dancing goes on for His pleasure. Similarly all the other different festivals were observed where the friends of Lord Krishna would look after His express comforts or pleasure\, go to the forest with Him\, serve Him and have fun. \nAs the temperature rises toward Summer the Chandan Yatra is performed where from the Akshaya Tritiya for a period of 21 days the body of the Lord is anointed with scented sandalwood mixed with camphor\, musk\, saffron. As the sandalwood is applied to the body it immediately cools\, but then there is a natural cycle that also follows with the heat naturally there is some perspiration\, and as the perspiration again mixes with the sandalwood it is dried and cooled by even the slightest breeze creating a pleasant feeling like being covered with Talcum powder. \nHowever\, as the temperature increases just to be anointed with something cooling is not enough therefore on (or from for some sampradayas or temples) the Snan Purnima in the month of Jyestha (Trivikram Vaishnava mase) there is the ceremonial bathing of the Lord called Snan Yatra. Although it has become especially festive in Jagannath Puri the actual event originates in Vrindavana with the devotees bathing Krishna\, and Balaram for their pleasure and then taking bath themselves too. Actually at this time there is no other solace than to bathe in some kind of pleasing water. All the temples of Vrindavan follow this festival\, and many devotees follow a trail of pilgrimage from one temple to the next from early morning to late evening when the temperature lowers to about 35-40 degrees centigrade absorbed in the Snan rasa. \nThe next major interactive event is Rathyatra where the devotees symbolically bring Lord Krishna (Jagannath) His brother Balaram and Subhadra maharani on high chariots\, with beautiful flapping canopies\, back to rural Vrindavan after their spell in Kurukshetra. \nAfter this comes the Jhulan Yatra festival. Starting on the ekadasi of waxing moon of Sridhara month\, many temples in Vrndavana celebrate Krsna’s swing festival\, some for one day\, others for more days. Traditionally many of the Deities of the Lord wears various clothing with green in it over this period until the Balaram Purnima. Again it is a practical festive service that the devotees provide for the Lord. Monsoon is so humid\, and the temperature is still so hot despite the cooling rains. With so much water coming from the sky\, on the ground\, and just about everywhere the last thing that anyone wants is more water to cool off. The opulence at this time is to find a breeze\, as the air is heavy with the humidity of the rains. So the devotees arrange for the pleasure and satisfaction of Krishna\, Balaram\, and Srimati Radhika by placing them on a swing (Jhulan) and creating their own breeze from the motion. \nIt is a most pleasing and satisfying festival\, with the swings often highly decorated with forest creepers\, Jasmine (Malati) that has newly blossomed in the season\, and streamers of garlands. Sometimes they use a fine spray of rose water and direct it toward the Divine couple of Radha and Krishna on Their swing. \nToday in Iskcon temples all over the world by the mercy of his Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad all the devotees and the congregational members get the opportunity to come forward after purifying their hands and remember these loving interactions of Sri Krishna with His devotees\, and also assist in the direct personal service of the Lord by applying themselves to pushing the swing. \nOn the last day of the Jhulan\, on the Purnima (full moon) this comes Lord Balaram’s appearance day festival. \nJhulan references:\n“Regarding Jhulanayatra Ceremony\, during these five days the Deities’ clothing should be changed everyday\, and there should be nice Prasadam distribution and Sankirtana as far as possible. If you are able to do it\, a nice throne may be constructed on which the Deities can be placed. This throne may be swung gently during Kirtana. That will be very good\, and surely the Deities will enjoy the function.” (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.1st August. 1969. Letter to Jayapataka Swami. Letters book pg. 977.) \n“So we have to practice this Krsna consciousness. Here\, in this material world\, we have to work. Without work\, you cannot maintain even your family\, your body. That is not possible. Sarira-yatrapi te na prasiddhyed akarmana-. Krsna says (to) Arjuna that without karma you cannot maintain even your body. So you have to work. Sarira-yatrapi te na prasiddhyed akarmana-. And this material world means you have to maintain by working. And spiritual world means na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. There is nothing to work\, as Krsna has nothing to work. He is simply enjoying What is called? Swing. So Krsna is enjoying\, and Krsna’s associates are enjoying. They have nothing to work. That is spiritual world. Cintamani prakara sadmasu kalpa vrksa: that is a different world. There is no material body. Therefore there is no need of the material body. That is a different world. But in this material world we have to work. Trt’ya-karma-samj \n“Radha and Krsna may be swung in this way\, but you may avoid swinging Lord Jagannatha like that.”(A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. 5th Jan. 1973. Letter to Jagdish. Letters book p.2220.) \nA pastime of Srimati Radharani and Sri Krishna’s:\nAs stated Jhulan-yatra is very dear to Krsna\, He likes it very much\, now from another perspective you will see why !!!. From a cultural perspective in India during this period\, all daughters go to their father’s house to stay there for some days and enjoy the swing festival – a custom celebrated even up to this day. \nEvery year Srimati Radharani used to go to Varshana to her parents’ house and have a very nice time there with her Gopi friends and Krsna\, whom She could freely meet (because Jotila and Kotila were not around). \n‘One time Radharani was waiting for her brother Sridam to come and take her to her fathers’ house. She was waiting\, waiting\, and waiting\, but there was no sign of Sridam and She became so sad. One day a person from Varsana was there. She asked the man to ask her father\, “Why have they have forgotten Me?” She then started to cry bitterly. The person went to Varshana and told Vrsabhanu Maharaja about the condition of his daughter. Hearing this news\, Vrishabhanu Maharaja immediately sent Sridam to Varshana to get Radharani. \nSrimati Radharani’s Mother Kirtida packed many presents for Jotila to send with Sridam\, knowing that if she did not do this\, Jotila\, being harsh of character sometimes would not send Srimati Radharani to Varshana. \nMeanwhile\, day and night Srimati Radharani was staring at the road coming from Varshana. One day\, She saw Sridam and when he finally arrived at the front gate they embraced each other. She was weeping\, “Oh brother you had forgotten Me?; My father and mother too?; Everyone forgot Me?” \nAt first Jotila refused to let Srimati Radharani go. “No no\, She cannot go. She has so much work to do here\, and there is so much danger there because of that black boy. She cannot go.” \nThen Sridam gave Jotila all the presents given by Kirtida ma. Seeing this\, she said\, “Alright\, she can go\, but only for a few days.” \n“Then Srimati Radharani and Sridam went on a cart pulled by four bullocks to Varshana. Seeing the palace of her parents on the hilltop\, feeling great happiness Radharani started weeping and even more weeping when She saw Her father and mother face to face.\nAt that time Jhulan-yatra had already started and Srimati Radharani started swinging with Her sakhis (friends) during periods in the day and night\, but She was not satisfied alone\, without Krsna there. Knowing this\, Krsna sometimes came in disguise to the palace. Sometimes He dressed as a Gopi selling bangles or beautiful garlands. Or He appeared in any other form and made an appointment for Them to meet each other somewhere in a very secret place in the forest. \nOnce\, Srimati Radharani was seated on the Jhulan and Krsna was pushing the swing very gently. Suddenly Krsna put so much force in pushing the swing that Srimati Radharani became fearful and started crying out\, “O Krsna\, save Me\, save Me!” That transcendental trickster Sri Krsna climbed on the swing and She firmly embraced Him\, giving Him so much pleasure. Why so much pleasure? Because normally He has to do so many tricks so that Radharani will embrace Him\, but in this instance She embraced Him out of Her own will\, without much effort on His part. Therefore He is so fond of these swing pastimes. \nSome meditations on Sri Jhulan Yatra in Sri Vrindavan Dham. \nThe Jhulan time is very intense. In general the Shravana masha have an exceptional mood\, it is raining all the time\, Yamuna Mayi became very wide\, flooded and there is a fresh atmosphere for devotees who move daily to whorship and take the lila-darshan which is performed in diverse temples in Vrindavan. As an example\, in Jai Sing Geera\, the lilas are performed during the whole week: every morning Gauranga-lila and at the evening Krishna-lila’s theatre is played. \nDevotees tell that some time ago a king\, who was a great devotee of Sri Radha-Raman used to came to Vrindavan in the Shravana month to assist that performances which started out of his own desire. The rasa-lilas and theatre performance of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Sri Krishna lilas was very dear to him and surely to Sri Radha Krishna also because since that time it now takes place as a yearly event. \nIn each of Vrindavans’ temples a wonderful swing-kunja is to be found\, each with singular features along with the swinging mood and the always happy “Jay Sri Radhe! Jay Sri Radhe!”. There took place also the golden swing darshan of Sri Banka Bihari ji\, which occurs once yearly. It happen the first day of Jhulan in which streets are completely crowded\, any vehicles\, like cars\, even Auto-rickshaws transit is very much restricted and Rikshaws can move only in the main roads. Some devotees wait until the midnight special aratis to get darshan because during the day it’s just ridiculous to try and get in with the hundreds of thousands of villages who descend on Vrindavan township to be absorbed in this wonderful festival. \nThere’s a good business made by devotees engaged in making the huge amounts of garlands that are used in all the temples\, by all the devotees wanting to offer garlands\, and to decorate the temples and Jhulan(s) during the whole week. It’s a perfect example how everyone benefits\, both economically – financially\, socially\, spiritually etc.\, simply by rendering some simple service for the pleasure of the Lord. Vast amounts of prasadam is cooked and offered to the Deities\, and sold for a small donation; the hotles\, dharmshallas\, guest-houses etc\, Rickshaws\, taxis\, everyone\, all are happy and satisfied knowing that simply by serving the Lord\, the root of everything all their needs will be taken care of.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/jhulan-yatra-ends-28th-aug-2026/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Jhulan.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260828
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260829
DTSTAMP:20260419T215639
CREATED:20260309T065721Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260309T065721Z
UID:49365-1787875200-1787961599@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Appearance Day of Lord Balarama 28th Mar 2026
DESCRIPTION:Lord Balarama is the first personal expansion of Lord Krsna\, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All other incarnations expand from Him. In Lord Krsna’s pastimes\, He plays as Krsna’s older brother. Together Krsna and Balarama enact many pastimes as cowherd boys in the land of Vrndavana. \nWho is Lord Balarama?\nThe Supreme Personality of Godhead\, Krishna\, is the fountainhead of all incarnations. Lord Balarama is His second body. They are both one and the same identity. They differ only in form. Balarama is the first bodily expansion of Krishna\, and He assists in Lord Krishna’s transcendental pastimes. He is the source of the entire spiritual world and is the adi-guru\, the original spiritual master. \nHe assumes five other forms to serve Lord Krishna. He Himself helps in the pastimes of Lord Krishna\, and He does the work of creation in four other forms called the catur-vyuha (four armed) forms known as Vasudeva\, Sankarshana\, Pradyumna and Anirudha. He executes the orders of Lord Krishna in the work of creation\, and in the form of Lord Sesa He serves Sri Krishna in various ways. In all the forms He tastes the transcendental bliss of serving Krishna. No one can approach Krishna without first getting the mercy of Baladeva. \nDescent of Balarama\nWhenever Krishna appears in the material world\, He is accompanied by His associates and paraphernalia. Five thousand years ago when Krishna descended into the material world\, He was first preceded by Baladeva. Only after Baladeva give His mercy did Krishna descend\, such is the intimate relationship between Krishna and Baladeva. \nWhen Baladeva appeared as the seventh child in the womb of Devaki\, she could understand that this was a divine child and this made her all the more concerned about His safety. Even Kamsa could sense His potency and he became fearful\, thinking he may have been tricked by the prophecy that he will be slain only by the eight child of Devaki. At this time Krishna instructed Yogamaya\, His internal potency\, to transfer the unborn child from the womb of Devaki to that of Rohini\, one of the other wives of Vasudeva\, who was hiding from Kamsa in the house of Nanda Maharaja in Gokul. \nIn this way Balarama was born in Gokul under the protection of Nanda Maharaja. Garga Muni the venerable kulguru (family priest) of the Yadu dynasty revealed to Rohini that the child she was carrying was indeed that of her husband Vasudeva. At the time of the name-giving ceremony he named the child Rama\, one who gives all pleasures. Referring to the immense strength of the child\, Garga Muni predicted that He will also be known as Balarama (bala meaning strength). Since He was forcibly attracted from the womb of Devaki to that of Rohini\, He was also be called Sankarshana. As the son of Rohini He was known as Rohini-nandan and as the elder brother of Krishna He was also called Douji. \nThe form of Lord Balarama\nPowerful Lord Balarama is sixteen years old\, full of the luster of youth and has a fair complexion the color of crystal. He wears blue garments and a garland of forest flowers. His handsome hair is tied in a graceful topknot. Splendid earrings adorn His ears and His neck is splendidly decorated with garlands of flowers and strings of jewels. Splendid armlets and bracelets ornament Douji’s graceful and very strong arms and His feet are decorated with splendid jeweled anklets. \nLord Balarama’s beauty is enhanced by the earrings touching His cheeks. His face is decorated with tilaka made from musk\, and His broad chest is ornamented with a garland of gunja. Balarama’s voice is very grave and His arms are very long\, touching His thighs \nThe splendor of Lord Balarama’s transcendental form eclipses many millions of glistening rising moons\, and the slightest scent of His boundless strength is sufficient to destroy many armies of demons. Although He knows the supernatural power of His younger brother\, Krishna\, still\, out of love for Him\, He never leaves Krishna alone in the forest even for a moment. Balarama is Sri Krishna’s dearest friend and is a great reservoir of the nectar mellows of many kinds of transcendental pastimes. \nSpecific Pastimes of Lord Balarama\nBalarama slays Dhenukasura\nDhenukasura was a powerful demon who had assumed the form of an ass. With his demon friends he was occupying Talavana\, one of the twelve forests of Vrindavana. Out of fear of these demons no one could approach Talavana and enjoy the numerous flowers and fruits in the forest. Balarama\, induced by His cowherd friends\, entered the forest desiring to kill the demons. He began shaking the fruit trees\, making a big noise. Dhenuka\, furious at the intrusion\, attacked Balarama with his rear legs\, but Balarama easily picked him up by his legs and whirled him around until he died. As the other demon friends of Dhenuka rushed to attack\, Krishna and Balarama picked them up and threw them on trees\, killing them. Soon the forest was free of all demons\, and it appeared that the bent trees were being directed by Balarama to pay obeisances to Krishna. \nBalarama kills Pralambasura\nOnce when Krishna and Balarama were playing with the cowherd boys\, a demon named Pralamba entered their midst\, disguised as a cowherd boy. Understanding the invincible potency of Krishna\, he instead decided to abduct Balarama. At the end of the game\, as the losing party he was supposed to carry Balarama on his shoulders. Carrying the Lord on his shoulders he ran swiftly\, but Balarama realizing the true identity of demon began to make himself heavier and heavier. Unable to bear the weight\, the demon assumed his original form which was like a huge dark effulgent cloud\, decorated with golden ornaments. Balarama then bought His fist down the head of the demon splitting it into two and causing him to give up his life. \nBalarama glorified by Krishna\nAs the elder brother of Krishna\, Balarama was the object of His love and respect. Once when walking in the forest of Vrindavana\, Krishna observed the trees bending down as if paying obeisances. He glorified the lotus feet of Balarama as being the object of devotion even for the demigods. He said that the trees\, which were impersonalists in previous life times\, witnessing the personal form of Balarama were now praying for His devotion. At other times when Balarama would get tired by playing\, He would lie down the lap of one of the cowherd boys and Krishna would personally massage His feet\, fan Him and give Him service. Such was the sweet reciprocation of love between Krishna and Balarama. \nYamuna devi chastised\nOnce Lord Balarama\, Who was at the time living in Dwarka\, came back to stay in Vrindavana for two months. At this time He enjoyed pastimes with His gopi friends (who were different from the gopis of Krishna). Enjoying such pastimes on the bank of Yamuna at Rama-ghata\, the Lord summoned Yamuna so that He could sport in the waters. When Yamuna devi did not respond. Lord Balarama took up His favorite weapon\, His plow\, and began to drag Yamuna in a hundred streams. Understanding the position of Balarama\, Yamuna devi personally appeared and offered her obeisances to the Lord with many prayers in His glorification. Thus appeased the Lord entered and bathed in the waters of the river. \nKauravas chastised\nSamba\, the darling son of Jambavati and Krishna\, kidnapped Laksmana the daughter of Duryodhana from the assembly were she was supposed to choose her husband. The furious Kauravas after a prolonged fight\, finally arrested Samba by sending in six of their greatest warriors. When the Yadavas heard of this they prepared for battle but Lord Balarama pacified them\, preferring to find a peaceful solution. However when He requested the Kauravas to return Samba and Laksmana\, the Kauravas responded by insulting Him and the Yadava dynasty. Understanding them to be ignorant in their false prestige\, Balarama took His plow and began to drag Hastinapura into the Ganges. The terrified Kauravas now surrendered to the lotus feet of Balarama\, begging for His mercy. They immediately returned Samba and Laksmana and had them married ceremoniously with many opulent gifts. \nBalarama marries Revati\nIn Satya yuga there was a King named Raivata whose daughter Revati was excellent in all respects. Unable to find a match suitable for her\, the king took her to the court of Brahma for his advise. After waiting for some time when the king met with Brahma\, he was shocked to learn that in the short time he spent in the Brahmaloka\, millions of years had already passed on Earth and at the time Dvapara yuga was concluding. However Lord Brahma informed King Raivata that present at this time was Lord Balarama Who was more than qualified to be the husband of Revati. \nKing Raivata returned and approached Balarama to accept Revati as His wife. However Revati belonged to an earlier yuga when people were much larger physically. So Lord Balarama placed His plow on her head until she shrunk to an appropriate size and accepted her as His wife. \nBalarama and Mahabharata\nIn general Balarama was equally affectionate to both the Pandavas and the Kauravas. He accepted both Duryodhana and Bhima as His disciples in the art of mace-war. As a teacher He appreciated the superior technique of Duryodhana as opposed to the raw strength of Bhima. At the time of Mahabharata\, He refused to take sides and instead went on an extended pilgrimage to the holy places. In the battle between Bhima and Duryodhana\, He became angry at Bhima for killing Duryodhana by trickery\, but was appeased by Sri Krishna. \nKilling of Romaharshana\nTowards the end of Dvapara yuga thousands of sages assembled on the banks of Naimyasharana to perform a thousand year yajna in an effort to reverse the onset of Kali yuga. They appointed as their leader Romaharshana\, one of the main disciple of Vyasadeva\, who was also present when Sukadeva Goswami narrated Srimad Bhagavatam to King Parikshit. \nWhen Lord Balarama entered the assembly\, understanding Him to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead\, all present rose to offer Him respect. However Romaharshana\, proud at occupying the position of the leader did not get up. Lord Balarama could understand that even though Romaharshana was a an expert Vedantist\, he had not yet realized these teachings. Considering him unqualified to lead the ceremony\, Balarama touched him with a blade of grass causing him to die. He then instituted Suta\, the son of Romaharshana as the leader of the assembly and continued with His pilgrimage. \nMercy of Lord Balarama\nLord Balarama exemplifies the service attitude to Krishna. His only mission is to please Krishna by rendering service to Him\, whether it is in the creation of the material worlds\, maintaining the spiritual world or as His personal paraphernalia. \nLord Balarama is the eternal companion of Sri Krishna. He came as Lakshmana with Rama and later as Nityananda Prabhu with Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is the original spiritual master\, and any one desiring to make spiritual progress must first get the mercy of Lord Balarama.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/appearance-day-of-lord-balarama-28th-mar-2026/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming event
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260829
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260830
DTSTAMP:20260419T215639
CREATED:20260309T065951Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260309T065951Z
UID:49367-1787961600-1788047999@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Second Month of Caturmasya Begins 29th Mar 2026
DESCRIPTION:Second month: No yoghurt (if one requires it for health\, it can be mixed with water) \nCaturmasya stands for ‘four months’. It is the period between sayana and uttana ekadasis. The scriptures refer to this period as the duration of Lord Visnu’s sleep in this universe. \nThe main goal of observing Caturmasya is to decrease attachment to material things and to increase devotion to Krishna. \nSrila Prabhupada writes in Caitanya Caritamrta\, “Caturmasya should be observed by all sections of the population. It does not matter whether one is a grihasta or a sanyasi. The observation is obligatory to all ashramas.” He further explains how to observe the vow:  “This is not very difficult. In the month of Sravana one should not eat spinach (green leafy vegetables of the nature)\, in the month of Bhadra one should not eat yogurt (yogurt used as binding agent for cake is allowed)\, and in the month of Asvina one should not drink milk (milk sweets\, milk by-products are fine). \nOne should not eat fish or other non-vegetarian food during the month of Kartik. Masura dal and urad dal being high in protein is also considered non-vegetarian.” Thus during caturmasya one should practice to give up all food intended for sense enjoyment. However\, maha-prasad\, though containing restricted item can be honoured! \nIt is stated in Hari Bhakti Vilasa 15/113 that ‘after properly praying to the Supreme Lord near Him\, one should properly take a vow to follow the proper rules and regulations and process of caturmasya to increase one’s devotion to Lord Sri Krishna.’ \nSo please take this opportunity and engage yourself yourselves in the service of the Lord with much enthusiasm and make your life sublime.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/second-month-of-caturmasya-begins-29th-mar-2026/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Second-Month-of-Caturmasya-Begins-4th-August-2020.jpg
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260829
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260830
DTSTAMP:20260419T215639
CREATED:20260309T070625Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260309T070625Z
UID:49369-1787961600-1788047999@www.iskconpunjabibagh.com
SUMMARY:Srila Prabhupada’s Departure for the USA 29th Mar 2026
DESCRIPTION:On this day in 1965\, Srila Prabhupada left Calcutta aboard the steamship Jaladuta.
URL:https://www.iskconpunjabibagh.com/event/srila-prabhupadas-departure-for-the-usa-29th-mar-2026/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming event
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