Sri Krishna Janmastami 2021 Festival Guide

 Dear Friends

We are happy to share the 2021 Janmastami Festival Guide with you. While we are unable to celebrate together in our usual festive style, we are confident the live-streamed events will nourish your hearts. We are pleased to announce that the Temple will be open for walk-through darshan. The necessary measures to maintain COVID-19 safety will be in place. Please adhere to the guidance from the volunteers and security. Ensure that you are wearing your mask properly (covering your nose and mouth) and do not socialize. If you are feeling unwell, please remain at home. The Temple access is limited to the demarcated darshan path in the temple room only. The public toilets are closed. If you would like to volunteer for service, please contact Balaram 082 881 4521 or Alanath 083 775 2760.

We wish you a happy and safe Janmastami.

Changes to Note

Govinda’s Pop-up Takeaway
In the Main Parking
Govinda’s will be offering a limited menu of light meals, snacks, a selection of sweets, and drinks only.
Festival Trading Times
Sunday 29 August 9:30am-4pm
Monday 30 August 9:30am-6pm
Tuesday 31 August 9:30am-1pm

Book Tent/Reception & Radhanath’s Gifts
You will find a good selection of devotional paraphernalia and books at the Book Tent. Festival operating times are the same as Govinda’s.

Reminder
Sri Krishna Janmashtami Maha Abhishek
You are invited to render personal service to Sri Sri Radha Radhanath by sponsoring the Maha Abhishek. Sponsorships can be booked online here or contact Bhakti Katha 061 464 5327 (WhatsApp only) • psdgbhakti@gmail.com

Janmastami Festival Guide
The links to watch the ONLINE festival on MayapurTV or Facebook

Sunday 29 August
Temple Walk-through Darshan
9am-4pm
The Temple will facilitate fruit and flowers for devotees to offer to the Deities. You are welcome to bring Lord Sri Krishna birthday gifts. Preferred gifts: ghee, butter & raw nuts for the Deities.
There will be pre-packed prasada served in the Temple Foyer on your exit.

Monday 30 August
Sri Krishna Janmastami
Fast until midnight (break with Ekadasi prasad)
Temple Walk-through Darshan
9am-6pm
The Temple will facilitate fruit and flowers for devotees to offer to the Deities. You are welcome to bring Lord Sri Krishna birthday gifts. Preferred gifts: ghee, butter & raw nuts for the Deities.
There will be pre-packed prasada served in the Temple Foyer on your exit.

ONLINE Festival Part 1
4:30am Mangala Arati – Darshan of Sri Sri Radha Radhanath in Their 1st new outfit
7:15am Guru-puja to Srila Prabhupada
7:30am Greeting of Sri Sri Radha Radhanath in Their 2nd new outfit
7:45am Class by His Holiness Bhakti Caitanya Swami
1:00pm: Initiation by His Holiness Bhakti Caitanya Swami (Facebook @bhakticaitanyaswami)

ONLINE Festival Part 2
This event will also be hosted on ZOOM here. The link is at the bottom of this mail. Meeting ID: 874 9763 6398 • Passcode: 5b12qC
7:00pm Gaura Arati & Kirtan
8:00pm Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Maha Abhisek (bathing ceremony)
8:45pm Recorded Class by His Holiness Partha. Sarathi Das Goswami
9:00pm Bhajans
9:30pm “Getting to KNow Krishna” – a quiz hosted by Kirtanuity Youth Group
10:15pm Abhay Charan – Video clip
10:45pm Class by Bhakti Caitanya Swami
Midnight Darshan of Sri Sri Radha Radhanath in Their 3rd new outfit
Arati & Kirtan

Tuesday 31 August
Sri Vyasa-puja of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
125th Anniversary of His Divine Grace’s Appearance
Fast until midday
Temple Walk-through Darshan
9am-1pm
The Temple will facilitate fruit and flowers for devotees to offer to the Deities. You are welcome to bring Lord Sri Krishna birthday gifts. Preferred gifts: ghee, butter & raw nuts for the Deities.
There will be pre-packed prasada served in the Temple Foyer on your exit.

ONLINE Festival Part 1
4:30am Mangala Arati
7:15am Guru-puja to Srila Prabhupada
7:30am Greeting of Sri Sri Radha Radhanath in Their new outfit & kirtan

ONLINE Festival Part 2
5:00pm Srila Prabhupada Maha Abhishek
5:45:pm: Talks by senior devotees – Bhakti Caitanya Swami and His Grace Ramanujacharya Dasa
7:00pm: Puspanjali & Guru-puja to Srila Prabhupada

How to Connect to the Temple?
031 403 3328
temple@iskcondurban.net

Week Ahead 19-25 August 2021

 Message from our co-Temple Presidents: His Grace Ramvijay Das and His Grace Swarup Damodar Das

Dear Friends

Please accept our respectful greetings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

We were requested to serve as co-Temple Presidents at our Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple. For about a decade, His Grace Vibhu Caitanya Prabhu inspiringly guided and developed the activities in ISKCON Durban. Recently Vibhu Caitanya Prabhu decided to focus more on other aspects of his responsibilities and while this has meant him stepping back from his leadership service here, it has facilitated a welcome addition of his leadership to the Gauteng yatra, more specifically, ISKCON Sandton. We are confident that he will add quality and enthuse the community there.

Your dedication to Sri Sri Radha Radhanath has proved to be amazingly surrendered and generous for many decades. We look forward to continuing to enhance the Temple’s initiatives that you all have contributed to. We are also inspired to refresh the management structures here and encourage the participation of younger devotees, facilitate diversity, and include various sections of our temple community. Eventually, we hope to establish a leadership that will carry through Srila Prabhupada’s vision for South Africa for many decades. We look forward to engaging with you to realize these important goals.

We are thankful for this opportunity to serve all of you. Together and with the grace of Srila Prabhupada, we can relish serving Sri Sri Radha Radhanath, take care of each other, and introduce many new people to Their loving service.

Over a month ago, in response to the precarious situation in Durban, we felt it necessary to relocate our large Deities to a more secure location. After much advice and consideration, we are gratified and relieved to welcome our beloved Deities back to Their sacred altar. On Saturday evening, 21 August 2021, the eve of the appearance of Lord Balaram, starting at 6:45 PM we will host a special welcoming program. This program will be broadcast live on Facebook @DurbanKrishna and on His Holiness Bhakti Caitanya Maharaj’s platforms. Let us as a community lovingly receive the Deities back into Their home.

Thank you. Hare Krishna.

Your servants,
Ramvijay Das
Swarup Damodar Das

Week Ahead
Note: All events are broadcast live on Facebook @DurbanKrishna here

Friday 20 August
4:15pm Jhulana Yatra

Saturday 21 August
4:15pm Jhulana Yatra
6:45pm Welcome Ceremony for Sri Sri Radha Radhanath

Sunday 22 August
Sri Balaram Purnima: Appearance Anniversary of Lord Balaram
Fast until midday
Second month of Chaturmasya begins – fast from yoghurt for one month.

Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple Darshan
Darshan times: Sunday 9am-1pm
Note: There is a limit of 20 visitors in the temple at a time. Since this is a walk-through darshan only, you are welcome to rejoin the darshan queue as many times as you like. Strict COVID-19 safety protocols will be maintained. The public toilets are CLOSED.

Watch the morning program on Bhakti Caitanya Swami’s social media here.
11:30am Class by Bhakti Caitanya Swami
On Maharaja’s platforms or ZOOM
Meeting ID: 377 799 6957 • Passcode: 242315
6:00pm Class by Bhakti Caitanya Swami 

Monday 23 August
Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s departure for the US.
Gita Week Begins – The Pastimes of Sri Krishna
Class every evening at 6pm with Bhakti Caitanya Swami followed by Gaura Arati at 7pm.

Reminders

Sri Krishna Janmashtami Maha Abhishek
You are invited to render personal service to Sri Sri Radha Radhanath by sponsoring the Maha Abhishek. Sponsorships can be booked online here or contact Bhakti Katha 061 464 5327 (WhatsApp only) • psdgbhakti@gmail.com

Govinda’s Takeaway
Monday – Saturday 9:30am-4:00pm
Sundays & Public Holidays 9:30am-1:00pm
CLOSED on Wednesdays, except when Ekadasis and public holidays.
Takeaway only. The sit-down restaurant remains closed for now.
WhatsApp 078 849 4291

Radhanath’s Gifts
Trading times:
Fridays & Saturdays 9:30am-4pm
Sundays 9:30am-1pm

How to Connect to the Temple?
031 403 3328 or WhatsApp 062 526 3606
Or email temple@iskcondurban.net
Kindly note: The WhatsApp Hotline is temporarily down due to technical issues. Kindly call the reception for any queries.