After the recent private opening of the George Harrison memorial Garden by Olivia Harrison (the wife of the of the late Beatle) and British TV presenters Monty Don and Peter Owen Jones, the garden is now open to the public at the grand Krishna festival held at Bhaktivedanta Manor.

During the festival of Janmashtami at Bhaktivedanta Manor, which is expected to attract over 60,000 people on Wednesday 28^th August and Sunday 21^st September, the devotees will be celebrating 40 years since the mansion house and estate was donated by the George Harrison.

Throughout the festival field there will be tents carrying themes relating to the 40^th Anniversary of the Manor. For example, the will be a special ‘40^th’ tent with exhibitions and videos. 40 children will have their faces painted blue, many carrying flutes and wearing peacock feathers in their hair, dressing like Lord Krishna as part of the festive spirit.

Also the Young Indian Vegetarian Society will be seeking to make 40 new vegetarians over the festival period.

Another highlight will include a flowered walkway through the spiritual gardens and woodland. Visitors will journey through the life and pastimes of Lord Krishna climaxing with a glimpse of the spectacular deity of Krishna decorated with thousands of flowers.

 The entire festival is managed and run by 1,200 volunteers from the community who gather every evening after work for a month prior to the event and put in countless hours of hard work for the occasion. 

NOTES:

It is exactly 40 years ago this month when the popular deities of Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda were installed there by Srila Prabhupada.

In celebration of its 40^th Anniversary, so far this year the Manor put on a grand fire ceremony (yajna) with four separate kinds (pits), a special function at the House of Lords, the opening of the George Harrison Garden, a colourful boat ceremony on the Manor’s lake during Ramanavami, a new outfit for the Deities made locally and a complete renovation of the entire altar area.