This March 11, ISKCON devotees in Ludhiana, Punjab, celebrated the appearance of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who founded Gaudiya Vaishnavism in the fifteenth century.

The festival, popularly known as Gaura Purnima, drew a large, enthusiastic crowd of devotees and congregational members. A traditional aratik ceremony was offered to deities of Sri Chaitanya and his associate Nityananda prabhu, resplendent in colorful costumes and seated on a flower-bedecked altar. The two were also honored with an Abhishekha bathing ceremony.

Delhi visitors and local residents chanted the Hare Krishna maha mantra propagated by Sri Chaitanya, after which the flower ceremony Pushpa Holi was observed. Devotees and visitors waited in long lines to pay their personal respects to the deities.

Following a talk on Chaitanya’s life and times by temple president Rajasuya Dasa, a vast array of vegetarian dishes was offered to the deities. Devotees and guests, many of whom had spent the day fasting in honor of the event, then tucked in to the feast.

For more pictures of the event, visit www.iskconludhiana.com.