Past Events › Other Festivals

Srila Prabhupada once explained the festival this way: "Krishna was just a toy in the hands of the Gopis, so one day the Gopis decided that we shall decorate Him. Pusya abhisheka means a ceremony to decorate the deity profusely with flowers, ornaments, cloths. After there should be lavish feasting and a procession through the streets, so that all the citizens should see how beautiful Krishna appears."

The Sun enters the Makara raasi (the zodiac sign of Capricorn - the goat), on Sankranti day, signifying the onset of Uttarayana Punyakalam. Many a traditional folk form add glory to the festive scenario. The following has been translated from an article in Sadachara Vybhavam of the great Vaishnava devotee Sripad Madhvacharya. Today is "Makara Sankranti"  which is celebrated when the Sun begins the northward journey, marking the beginning of the "uttaraayana punyakaalam". Sun enters the sign of "Makara", (Capricorn) from…

Ganga Sagar Mela is a festival observed especially at the confluence of the Ganges and the Bay of Bengal. Kapilasrama, the asrama of Lord Krsna’s incarnation as Kapiladeva, the son of Devahuti, is located at this place. The festival commemorates King Bhagirathi’s bringing the River Ganges down from the celestial planets to the ocean and the lower worlds.