Recently we visited Vrindavan and also visited to some of the popular temples out of 5000+ temples in Vrindavan. Iskcon Temple was the first we explored inside the Vridavan Market. It was time for evening pooja inside the Iskcon Temple and Photo Journey is trying to share some of the interesting moments...
Above two photographs show people enjoying amazing music inside the main Temple of Lord Krishna. This music fun at Iskcon temple is unmatchable and one feels like dancing there for long hours. Lot of folks keep joining the group to sing 'Hare Krishna.. Hare krishna..' in different tones and various choruses. Different groups of families, ladies and boys join in for dance. A wonderful experience to be there inside Iskcon Temple during evening Aarti.
Here is a part of Iskcon Temple Vridavan, which is dedicated to founder of Iskcon Temples - Srila Prabhupada ! In 1965 at the age of 69, Srila Prabhupada traveled by ship to America and, once there, began teaching people about the Vaishnava tradition. Between 1966 and 1968 temples were established in several American cities. The first Ratha-yatra, a traditional festival that Srila Prabhupada had copied as a child, was held in 1967 in San Francisco.
To know more about Prabhupada, please check out - http://www.radhadesh.com/en/about-us/who-we-are/srila-prabhupada-founder-of-iskcon
Here is first view of Iskcon Temple at Vridavan, which we see after entering into the Temple campus from Market. It's a huge temple made up of white marble stones. As you can notice, most of the parts of this temple are decorated with flowers and everyday these flowers are changed. Some of the temples are multistory and folks can have view of main temple area from ground floor as well as galleries on second floor.
Here is a photograph showing some fireworks in the background of the Iskcon Temple at vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India. We are not sure if this is something related to evening pooja inside the temple or India had won some cricket match :) ... Anyways, fireworks happened for quite some time and then some palakis entered into the temple.
Here is a photograph showing galleries around second floor of the temple, which is just at the entrance of Iskcon Temple, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India.
During evening Pooja, core temple area is decorated with Flowers and lot of colorful flowers are hanged to make a flower-roof on top of open area inside the campus. Above photograph shows dense placement of 3-5 feet long flower trails hanging down to make a flower-roof !
Folks working inside Iskcon Temple to decorate the temple with flower and proceed with Aarti Process.
Here is a photograph showing lot of folks standing just in front of Lord Krishna's Temple and enjoying bhajans. Most of the folks were dancing. Although there were lot of people inside the temple, but everyone was generous enough to ensure that all the folks get appropriate space to enjoy this environment.
ISKCON stands for The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple ! Inside the temple there are some counters/shops from where people can buy some religious books and some other relevant stuff for home and friends.
Different groups of people were entering into the temple with their musical instruments and bhajans. They kept coming at regular intervals until the main Aarti started. Although we missed the main Aarti because we had to leave early for some reasons, but overall it seemed extremely exciting to all of us
Locally in Vrindavan, Iskcon Temple is also known as 'Angrez Mandir'. Probably the reason is huge follower-ship of Iskcon temples by people from outside India. No doubt that Iskcon is one of the most popular temple among foreigners.
Here is moment when a Palaki enters into the Temple of Lord Krishna.
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