Hare Krishna Mandir, Bhadaj celebrated Gaura Purnima Mahotsav on March 12, 2017 marking the auspicious appearance day of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (who is also known as Gauranga due to His golden complexion), and this year is the 532nd anniversary of His appearance. This festival also marks the beginning of the new year for Gaudiya Vaishnavas & devotees fasted till moon rise on this day. The Supreme Lord Sri Krishna wanted to personally inaugurate the sankirtana movement and teach us how to perform devotional service through His personal example. So He appeared as a devotee (bhakta rupa) accepting the mood of Radharani (the top-most devotee of the Lord). His appearance day is celebrated as Gaura Purnima.
Harinama sankirtana was performed for the whole day by different teams of devotees highlighting the mission of Lord Chaitanya who spread the chanting of Lord Krishna’s holy names all over India. The spiritual sound vibrations of the Hare Krishna mantra filled the air and spiritually enlivened the devotees, intensifying their devotion to the Lord.
The Utsava Deities of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga i,e Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda Prabhu were carried on a flower-bedecked palaki along the processional route within the temple precincts. The atmosphere resounded with the loud chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra accompanied by musical instruments.
An elaborate abhisheka was performed to Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga after the palaki utsava. Their Lordships were bathed with various items such as milk, curd, ghee, honey, jaggery water, fruit juices and sacred water of 7 holy rivers from 108 kalashas. The abhisheka ceremony also includes a special arati accompanied by the Gaura Arati song. This is followed by 108 varieties offering of food stuff and shayana arati. A grand Maha Mangala Arati was performed to the lordships at the end of the festival.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s father Jagannatha Mishra arranged a grand feast on the next day of his son’s birth. This celebration is commemorated by preparing a grand feast for devotees on the day following Gaura Purnima.
