It is said that the love of the Gopis, the cowherd damsels of Vrindavan, for Krishna is the topmost love. It is without a tinge of selfishness and material motivation. The Gopis are the embodiment of the highest expression of the soul’s love for God, because pleasing God is their exclusive aspiration of life.
Sharad Purnima is celebrated on the full moon night of Sarad-ritu (October). This is the night when Lord Krishna performed the Rasa dance. This dance represents the most perfect intimacy between the infinitesimal soul and the Supreme soul, free of any material tinge of selfish desire, but charged with intense bliss. In reciprocation with the love of the Gopis, Krishna expanded Himself to dance with each Gopi in their eternal spiritual bodies. Devotees celebrate this full-moon night of love and affection by dressing Their Lordships with magnificent dresses and glittering ornaments. The entire altar is decorated with flowers. An ambience of the starlit, full moon night of Vrindavan, filled with fragrant flower bushes and tender green creepers is created. The enchanting atmosphere surcharged with melodious kirtans is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Festival Schedule:
6:00pm Kathak Dance by Kumaari Janaki Mehta
7:00pm Damodarastakam & offering of lamps
7:30pm Class on Kartik Meditations
8:30pm Bhajans
9:00pm Shayan Arati & Special Darshan
If you are unable to make it you can tune in online on www.iskcon.london/temple-broadcast or London channel on www.mayapur.tv.
Sponsorship Opportunities:
If you would like to help support the festival, you can make a donation online at https://rldb.info/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=8. Alternatively it can be made at the Temple shop, Radha’s Boutique by visiting in person or calling on +44 (0)207 437 3662.
We thank you in advance for your contribution.
Come along to celebrate the full moon night of Radha Krishna’s rasa dance and a once-in-a-year special darshan of Their Lordships.
