After 109,512 arotikas, 328,560 sticks of incense, and over half a million food preparations offered, Sri Sri Radha Madana-mohana marked the 50th anniversary of Their installation in a grand 3-day festival in Vancouver, Canada.

On Saturday morning, courtesy of Golden Dancer (Caitanya Mahaprabhu) Tours, devotees took a historical bus tour of the early temple locations in Vancouver.

At the site of one of the first temples in Vancouver, Bala Krsna Dasa related how sankirtan history began here with ISKCON’s first traveling sankirtan party. The first harinam was held at the legendary corner of Georgia and Granville, where it has continued since the late 1960s. Devotees also visited the location of the Raymur Street temple which was  formerly dilapidated and surrounded by a junk yard in 1969. Kala related how he and his wife drove there for the free feast on one cold dark evening. He took one look at the building and said, “There is not way I am going in there.” Shortly after, he received some of Prabhupada’s books on the street and ironically moved into that ramshackle location the next year.

During the afternoon and evening, many Vaishnavis spent hours making flower outfits for all the Deities, including flower makut pieces that appeared to be from the spiritual world itself. Meanwhile, cascading flower decorations were prepared for the altar.

In the evening, eight of Prabhupada’s disciples, who made significant contributions to the beginnings of ISKCON in Vancouver, shared their memories with the gathered devotees. They included Ananda Maya, Paratparah, Varaha Rupa , Mahidhara, Kala, Partha, Uttama, and Radhika.

A new japa garden with 108 beautifully decorated stepping stones was opened with the Utsava deities leading the way on Their flower palanquin.

A slide show was presented of the many early dedicated servitors of Sri Sri Radha Madana-mohana and how their efforts, inspired by Srila Prabhupada, helped bring a small but bustling temple in a house where over 30 devotees lived on 16th and Burrard in Vancouver to its current location in Burnaby, Vancouver. Now, over 10,000 come to Janmastami, and 500 regularly visit the Sunday feast.

Sunday morning, the assembled devotees were stunned to see elaborate flower clothing and decorations. During the day, there was a kirtan mela, culminating in the evening with a Puspa abhiseka performed with the petals of 4,000 roses.

On Monday, the actual anniversary day of the momentous installation ceremony of Sri Sri Radha Madana-mohana in 1974, the Deities were dressed in an exquisite new set of garments. In the evening, after a day of kirtan and cooking, the abhiseka was performed. This ceremony was followed by a drama, a slide show of the different temples the Deities have resided in, and a description of the very personal and intimate relationship Srila Prabhupada had with Sri Sri Radha Madana-mohana and Their servitors.

Meanwhile, the Deities were changed into a gorgeous new night outfit, and the evening concluded with the offering of 50 cakes and a grand candlelight arotika, during which their Lordships were offered a wide variety of ghee lamps.

In the evening as the event was ending there was a constant stream of congregation members expressing their appreciation for the festival, the decorations, the Deities and the devotees who through the years served Radha Madana-mohana. Many words of gratitude mixed with tears were expressed for how this was all made possible by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

To follow the ongoing service and events at the ISKCON Vancouver temple, please visit their website and follow them on Facebook.