SRI Gaura-purnima the divine appearance of sri CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU.
March 2007. Photographs taken by Ishanuga Devi Dasi.
| 5am and the Mangal Arati begins this very special day... |
| Many of the devotees arrive early to celebrate as well as to prepare for the festival... |
| ...with the flowers to cut for the garlands...and continual cleaning up to keep everything orderly... |
| ...the blooms are laid out and strung... |
| ...as heaps of vegetables are chopped in preperation... |
| ...for the ever busy cooking crew. |
| Chaitanya das helps with the big clean up afterwards. On such a day as this, the devotees are in good spirits! |
| Throughout the day Sripad Bhakti Virgraha Nyasi Maharaj and Sriman Devashis Prabhu sing kirtans and give talks about Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's wonderful qualities and pastimes... |
| ...taking the devotees, who had fasted all day, happily up to the time of moon rise and Sri Gaura Arati. |
| The Deities shine resplendently in their beautiful new outfits which were designed and made by Lilavati Devi Dasi who was helped by other devotees. |
Mahaprabhu's and Radha Shyamasundar's Pujari, Vraja Kishore Prabhu, offers the Arati...
| ...and a wonderful feast, created with love and imagination, is offered for their Lordship's satisfaction. |
All the devotees very happily chant and dance in the Arati before honouring anu kalpa prasadam. Sri Gaura Avirbhava Tithi Maha Mahotsava Ki Jaya! Sri Jagannath Misra Ki Jaya! Sri Sachimata Ki Jaya! Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Shyamasundar Giridharijiu Ki Jaya! Nitai Gaura Premanande! |