Hare Krishna Temple to host colourful Krishna Janmashtami celebrations

ON AUGUST 16, the Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple (Hare Krishna Temple in Chatsworth) will transform into a vibrant hub of colour, music, devotion and cultural celebration to commemorate Sri Krishna Janmashtami – the joyous appearance day of Lord Krishna. 

This annual festival draws thousands of devotees and visitors from across the province to experience a day and night filled with spirituality, family prayer and community spirit.

This year also marks a special milestone for the temple itself – it is the 39th Sri Krishna Janmashtami observance at this landmark, as the temple prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary in October.

Over the decades, the temple has become a cultural and spiritual beacon for thousands, drawing visitors from across the globe and serving as a place of worship, community service, and interfaith harmony.

Janmashtami commemorates the divine birth of Lord Krishna over 5 000 years ago in the ancient town of Mathura, India. The festival is observed with fasting, chanting, cultural performances, and a special midnight arati – marking the exact moment of Lord Krishna’s birth.

A spiritual build-up to the festival

This year, Gita Week will be observed with a difference.  An all-female led Gita Week, where women from Iskcon will share insightful discourses on the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita. This will also tie in with the celebration of Women's Month and aptly present the vision of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada for encouraging women to offer spiritual discourse. 

On August 13, the temple will host a special senior citizens programme, honouring the wisdom and contributions of elders in the community. On August 15, a Learner Cultural Programme will showcase the talents of school pupils through music, dance, and drama.

Janmashtami; August 16

The celebrations begin at 4.30am with the auspicious Mangal Arati and will continue throughout the day. Guests can participate in fruit and flower worship, enjoy the interactive Janmashtami Challenge – a walk-through experience of Lord Krishna’s enchanting pastimes – and explore the youth activities zone filled with games, music, and creativity.

Families will delight in the children’s birthday party for Lord Krishna, complete with cake, songs, and festive joy.  At the children’s arena – there will be swing boat rides available. Throughout the day, free vegetarian meals will be served to all visitors, in keeping with the temple’s tradition of offering prasadam as an act of service and love.

The cultural stage will host a line-up of bhajans, kirtan, and dance performances. A highlight of the day will be a Bhagavad Gita discourse by His Grace Prema Bhakti Dasa from Ujjain, India, offering insights into Lord Krishna’s teachings. The pinnacle of the festival is the Midnight Arati, a moving and spiritual ceremony marking the exact moment of Lord Krishna’s appearance. The temple comes alive with chanting, dancing and the joy of devotees offering their heartfelt devotion.

What is Sri Vyasa Puja?

On August 17, the Hare Krishna Temple will host the Vyasa Puja celebration of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Vyasa Puja is a special day dedicated to honouring the spiritual teacher, or guru, for their role in imparting sacred knowledge.

It is also the birth anniversary of the founder-acharya. This year’s Vyasa Puja holds historic significance as it marks 50 years since Srila Prabhupada first arrived in South Africa, sowing the seeds of Krishna consciousness and establishing a legacy of spiritual education and cultural preservation that continues to inspire generations. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Krsangi Radhe dasi: Director, Iskcon Communications SA

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