Hyderabad: Hare Krishna Golden Temple celebrates Panhati-Chida Dahi festival

The celebration featured a drama by Gurukul children, a spiritually uplifting special pravachan, and a visually enchanting boat festival.

Hyderabad: The Hare Krishna Movement celebrated Panihati Chida-Dahi annual festival (chipped rice festival/Danda Mahjotsav) of Gaudiya Vaishnavas tradition, at Hare Krishna Golden Temple, Banjara Hills, with great devotion and festive spirit.

The Panihati Chida-Dahi festival commemorates a very special pastime between Lord Natyananda Prabhu and Srila Raghunatha dasa Goaswami, which took place around 500 years ago in Panihati, a village north of Kolkata, West Bengal.

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The festivities at Hare Krishna Golden Temple began with Japa Yajna, Nagar Sankirtan and an initiation ceremony for new devotees. The celebration featured a drama by Gurukul children, a spiritually uplifting special pravachan, and a visually enchanting boat festival.

A special abhishekam was performed to the deities of Sri Nitai Gauranga with Panchamrita, Panchagavya, fruit juices, fragrant flowers, auspicious herbs (aushadhis), and Navaratnas (nine gems), all amidst the melodious chanting of Vedic hymns.

Speaking on the occasion, Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa Prabhu, president, Hare Krishna Movement, said “Panihati Chida-Dahi festival teaches us that the surest way to receive Lord’s blessings is by serving his devotees. This festival inspires us to participate joyfully in devotional service and experience divine peace and prosperity.”

The celebrations concluded with the special pravachan followed by distribution of sumptuous dinner prasadam to all attendees.