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Sitting in the temple room the early afternoon of Janmastami day, devotees prepare flower garlands for the festival later that night. In the background, a life-size image of ISKCON's founder Srila Prabhupada looks towards New Goloka's altar. |
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Preparations continue outside as well. Here devotees are setting up the children's tent. |
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Hundreds of people will attend the festival and eat prasadam, ritually consecrated food. Cooking for so many guests is an all-day activity. |
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Night arrives and hundreds of people fill New Goloka's grounds. |
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For many attendees, Janmastami is an opportunity for socializing and cultural enrichment as well as religious devotion. |
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Attendees enjoy prasadam. |
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Janmastami is a celebration of Krishna's birthday. Here, a troup of children perform a play about Krishna's life. |
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Musicians perform traditional devotional songs. |
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New Goloka's spiritual leader, Bir Krishna Goswami converses quietly with another swami as the crowds surround them. |
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Under the temple's pavilion, a crowd of people await the central ritual activity of Janmastami: the puja (bathing) of the images of Radha-Golokananda. |
