International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Visakhapatnam chapter will celebrate Govardhan puja on a grand scale on October 27 from 5.30 p.m. at its Sagarnagar premises.
According to president of the chapter Samba Das, 5,000 years ago, Lord Sri Krishna lifted the Govardhan hill to protect the inhabitants of Vrindavan from heavy rain on this day and ISKCON will make a replica of Govardhanagiri with ten quintals of cooked rice to commemorate the occasion. ‘The Govardhan Sila has been brought from Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh for this special occasion. Gomata (cows) will be worshipped at our Goshala. There will be bhajan, kirtan, and discourse on Govardhan puja followed by dinner to all participants,” he said.
Annakuta with as many as 54 items would be prepared with pure cow ghee offered to Govardhan Hill and distributed to the devotees. According to puranas, those who circumulate even the replica of Govardhanagiri on Govardhan puja day would not face natural calamities, he stated.
Mr. Samba Das also announced that New York-born Swami Jagjivan Das, whose original name is John Gilbakian would be visiting the chapter for the puja. The American is also ISKCON governing body commissioner for Peru, Bolivia and South America and a noted preacher of Bhagawad Gita. He would deliver discourses on Gita in different places in Visakhapatnam city under the aegis of local chapter.
ISKCON would distribute 5,000 plates of prasadama to the needy on the occasion in various areas of the city like MVP Colony, Jalaripeta, Kurupam Market and Purna Market.
The chapter would also observe the 30th disappearance day of its founder AC Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada on Oct. 30, Mr. Samba Das said.
