Deepotsava at ISKCON Chandigarh — Festival of Lamps
ISKCON temples in Chandigarh celebrate Deepotsava with great enthusiasm, offering hundreds of lamps nightly during the sacred Kartika season.
ISKCON temples in Chandigarh celebrate Deepotsava with great enthusiasm. Each evening during Kartika, hundreds of lamps are offered, turning the temple into a sea of golden light. The programme begins at 7 PM with an introduction to the festival, followed by an uplifting arati and the melodious singing of the Damodarashtaka prayer. Afterward, every visitor has the chance to personally offer a lamp to Lord Damodara.
The sight of hundreds of lamps brightly lit together is a divine experience, as it reflects the collective devotion of everyone present. The evening ends with the shayana pallakki utsava.
At ISKCON Chandigarh, the celebrations are organised every evening at 7 PM. Devotees and visitors alike come together to offer lamps, sing, and take part in the festival. At ISKCON, Hare Krishna Dham, the program begins at 7 PM at the Sri Sri Radha Madhav Temple with arati and lamp offerings.
You can join the festival at ISKCON Chandigarh temple, or you can celebrate at home by offering a simple ghee lamp daily during Kartika. Inviting friends, family, or neighbours to participate makes the celebration even more meaningful.
ISKCON Chandigarh also offers opportunities for you to be part of the festival through seva (service). You can sponsor:
- Annadana seva — feeding thousands of visitors with delicious vegetarian meals
- Gau seva — supporting the care and protection of cows
- Pushpalankara seva — decorating the Deities with flowers
- Vishesha Naivedya seva — preparing and offering special dishes to the Lord
The image of Lord Krishna being bound by Mother Yashoda's love teaches us that the Supreme Lord becomes conquered only by pure devotion. The sight of countless lamps glowing together reminds us that even the smallest service, when offered in devotion and united with others, can spread the light of Krishna consciousness throughout the world.
Deepotsava is not just a festival — it is an invitation. An invitation to light a lamp, sing a prayer, share a meal, and experience the joy of devotion with your family and community. Hare Krishna!
