The ISKCON temple at Vrindavan celebrated the boat festival on 28 March 2011. The inner courtyard of the temple was filled with water and created a water pool. The pool was covered with variety of flowers artfully decorated. The floral decorations were wonderful, nobody wouldn’t have suspected a soft bottom below the flower carpet.A child jumped in to play with the flowers, but was rescued from the water. Crowd gathered even hours before to grab a seat in front to witness the festivity.

The festival began with Hare Krishna mahamantra kirtan at 5.00 PM placing Radha Shyamasundar on a beautiful boat shaped like a decorated swan. The temple atmosphere was vibrant with enchanting kirtan and it continued loud until 7.00PM. A large gathering arrived to witness the festivity. The temple and Deity decorations were a feast to the eye and the floral outfits exemplified Their glory. Varieties of delicious prasadams were distributed to all devotees assembled and thrills of joy were heard from all around the courtyard.

Gopal Krishna Swami presided the festivity and blessed all participants. Prabodhananda Saraswati Swami, Bhakti Rasamrta Swami and Bhuvaneshwar Das were also among the dignitaries present. The kirtan was led by Panchagauda Das, Janardan Das and Bhakti Baibhava Swami. The coordinated efforts of all temple devotees were visible to make the festivity a grand event.

On 26 March 2011, a boat festival was organised at the Yamuna river to commemorate the boat festivity of the Lordships. The boat carried by the Lordships was surrounded by devotees on many boats and they made floral tributes to the Deities from the surrounding boats. The procession began from the Prabhupada Samadhi at ISKCON Temple and moved through the main seven Goswami Temple Road and the colourful event was held at the Kumbhamela area at Vrindavan on the bank of Yamuna. The main organiser of the event was Deena Bandhu Das. A colourful fire show concluded the event at the sunset. Devotees from all over the world arrived at Vrindavan to witness the glorious event.

The boat festival marks the symbolic event occurred between Radha and Krishna 5000 years ago at Raj Ghat on the River Yamuna. According to the Bhakti Ratnakara, an 18th century work, the Gopis (cowherd girls) often carried the milk products from Vrindavana and sold at Mathura to earn their living. Krishna was waiting for them as a boatman. There were wonderful pastimes between Him and the Gopis as He helped them across the violent river.