In November 1973, the founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada said – “So we are worshiping Krishna. His simple business is, as we have described, Radha Madhava, He is lover of Srimati Radharani. Krishna means lover. This very word Krishna means all-attractive. You can attract (Krishna) by your love, not by anything else”. He also instructed his disciples, including the current head pujari Jananivas prabhu, to celebrate festivals related to the pastimes of the Sri Sri Sri Radha-Krishna in a grand way in Sri Dham Mayapur
Generally the first major festival of the English year in Sri Dham Mayapur is Sri Krishna Pushya abhishek. For devotees this is a festival of joy, as every year we get a chance to offer some personal service to our dearest Sri Sri Radha Madhava, and it is truly a glimpse into what it may be like in the spiritual realm. It brings us close to the mood of Sri Vrindavan Dham!
On this day hundreds kilos of fragrant flowers are lovingly prepared by the devotees and offered to Sri Sri Radha Madhava and Ashta Sakhis (the eight gopis) through the most colorful abhishek of flowers! In this period Mayapur is surrounded by the festivals atmosphere because Gaura Purnima is coming soon, together with many others celebrations.The community devotees gather the day before the Pushya abhishek to start the preparations for the upcoming festival. It requires a big endeavour to make the abhishek very successful. More than two hundred devotees participate in the preparation of this unique festival. This is a very unique and special opportunity for the community to come together and perform service for the pleasure of Sri Sri Radha Madhava and Ashta Sakhis.
The devotees sit around, plucking out tender petals from different kind of flowers. There are around five types chandra-mallika, three types of marigold, dopati and dalia flowers and thousands of roses. All the flowers are coming from different parts of India.The preparation looks as festive as the festival itself. Even in the night some devotees remain awake to finish the services.The flowers collected are not used only for the abhishek, but also to make an
astounding dress out of multi-coloured flowers that will be offered to the Deities just after the blissfull Mangala arati.
Each year, the flower dress has its own unique design and flower choices. Sri Madhava also has a uniquely special flower outfit which is made and cut to perfectly fit His Tribhanga form, as well as flower jewellery and flower mukut pieces for His turban. Srimati Radhika and the eight Gopis have their own full outfit of a flower skirt, top and veil, complete with flower jewellery from head-to-toe. Last year for the skirts alone, the devotees use over five thousand flowers per skirt! This is exactly what Srila Prabhupada wanted- “pushya abhishek means a ceremony to decorate the Deity profusely with flowers, ornaments, cloths”.
On the day of the Sri Krishna Pushya abhishek a big gathering of devotees eagerly await the blissful darshan of Sri Sri Sri Radha Madhava just after the Mangala arati, to receive their merciful shower of mercy. All the collective efforts and services of the devotees in Sri Mayapur are recorded by the eyes of the Deities, full of compassion and always ready to reciprocate with Their unconditioned mercy. This festival is not to be missed at all! Sri Krishna Pushya Abhishek Ki Jay!
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