Brahmotsava – Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga 4th Anniversary Festival – 2025 – 2026

Brahmotsava i.e. Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga 4th Anniversary Festival – 2025 – 2026 was celebrated at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata on 9^th and 10^th May 2026. On both the days program was in the evening from 4 pm – 8 pm. In this two-day festival hundreds of devotees participated.

9^th May Brahmotsava Program

On 9^th, just before the start of the program, there was a heavy downpour, it appeared as if the rain God, Indra, was carrying a desire to perform abhishek of the Lord and also wanted to sanctify the temple premise. The rain and the cool wind did not dampen the spirit of the devotees. Hundreds thronged to the temple to celebrate the festival.

The program began with melodious kirtan followed by drama on the life of Srila Prabhupada and spiritual talk by HG Sri Nitai Prabhu. There was Iskcon Youth Forum (IYF) presentation and CDMC presentation on congregation preaching.

They showed how preaching is going on in various prominent educational institutes and how today’s youths along with their academics are also interested in pursuing spiritual life. CDMC devotees gave a report on congregation preaching. Many congregation devotees have taken to Krishna Consciousness and are connected to Iskcon Newtown Kolkata. They are also actively engaged in many services in the temple.

After the presentation, prizes were given to devotees for distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books.

The program concluded with Gaur Arati. After Gaur Arati devotees honoured delicious Krishna prasadam.

10^th May Brahmotsava Program

On 10^th May too large number of devotees came for the program.  Program started with kirtan followed by abhishek of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga.

After the abhishek, HG Acharyaratna Prabhu addressed the devotees. Prabhuji said that we are very fortunate because we have got an opportunity to serve in Kolkata which is the birthplace of Srila Prabhupada.  

Quoting a verse from Srimad Bhagavatam 11.27.49, Prabhuji said that although Lord is present everywhere but because of our impurity, we cannot see him everywhere, but we can definitely see him in the temple. So, it is important that we come to temple, take darshan of the Lord and serve the Lord. If we do so then we can perfect our life.

“By worshiping Me through the various methods prescribed in the Vedas and tantras, one will gain from Me his desired perfection in both this life and the next.” Srimad Bhagavatam 11.27.49

There was offering of “Annual Report: May 2025 – April 2026” to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga. The report was offered by HG Mukund Lila prabhu and HG Gauranga Smaranam prabhu.

After offering the report, there was presentation by various departments of the temple. In front of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga, Srila Prabhupada and the assembled devotees, it was shown how the temple performed in 2025-2026. The presentation covered Iskcon Youth Forum, CDMC, Well Wisher Forum, Kitchen, Deity, Sankirtan, Annakshetra, Value Education Program.

Presentation also covered the visit of prominent disciples of Srila Prabhupada like HH Jaypataka Swami Maharaja, HH Bhakti Chaitanya Swami Maharaja, HH Devamrita Swami Maharaja, HH Radhanath Swami Maharaha, HH Subhag Swami Maharaja to Iskcon Newtown Kolkata.

Felicitation of Devotees

Those devotees who been helping temple financially were thanked and appreciated on this auspicious day.   

Dharma Siromani, Dharma Raksha and Dharma Adikari devotees were called on the stage and given special gifts.

After honouring the devotees, there was presentation on Abhay Tirtha project. When the presentation was going on, HH Subhag Swami Maharaja, a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada, arrived giving joy to all the devotees.

In front of Maharaja a special video on Abhay Tirtha was shown. The video showcased how the Abhay Tirtha project is gradually manifesting and it is just a matter of time that we will have very gorgeous temple for the Lord at Iskcon Newtown.

There are devotees who have been helping financially in the development of Abhay Tirtha. These devotees were felicitated by Maharaja.

After felicitation, there was a class by Maharaja. Maharaja is around 86 years old but still he travels all around the world to preach the message of Krishna Consciousness. Maharaja had a busy day, immediately after landing in Kolkata, he had come for the class. Maharaja’s class was inspiring, motivating, touching, and also humorous. Everyone could connect with what he spoke.

Below is what is Maharaja said:

Remain spiritually joyful twenty-four hours a day

We are bound by the three modes of material nature — goodness, passion, and ignorance. Since birth, we do not possess real spiritual knowledge. ISKCON teaches us this knowledge and guides us toward a spiritual life.

Devotional life begins with simple but powerful practices: rising during brahma-muhurta, keeping ourselves clean, applying tilak while chanting the holy names of the Lord, honoring prasadam, and associating with devotees.

We do not need to reject the world; rather, we should use everything in the service of the Lord, just as Maharaja Ambarisha did.

“Golokera prema-dhana hari-nama-sankirtana” — the congregational chanting of the holy name is the treasure of divine love descending from Goloka Vrindavan.

By sincerely practicing bhakti, we gradually come to the stage of brahma-bhuta prasannatma — the joyful spiritual platform. A person absorbed only in material life is always suffering because material existence is based on endless desires and demands.

We associate directly with the Lord by chanting the maha-mantra:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

People work very hard for material enjoyment, but even animals such as elephants do not labor in the same anxious way. Human life is meant for something higher.

By eating prasadam, visiting the temple, taking darshan of the Lord, and hearing about Krishna’s nama, rupa, guna, and lila, the heart becomes purified.

Maharaja Parikshit had only seven days left before death. He asked Sukadeva Goswami what a person should do at the time of death, and Sukadeva Goswami instructed him to hear Krishna-katha.

“Yad gatva na nivartante” — one who goes to Krishna’s abode never returns to this material world.

Even Sankaracharya, an incarnation of Lord Shiva, reminds us:

“Punar api jananam punar api maranam” — repeated birth and death continue in this material existence.

No one can predict what body they may receive in the next birth if they remain absorbed in material life.

Some people may say, “I am Christian,” “I am Buddhist,” or “I will not chant.” Still, everyone is welcome to come, hear about Krishna, and take prasadam.

The material world is described as:

“Padam padam yad vipadam” — danger and suffering exist at every step.

In the beginning, we are attached to the body and bodily pleasures, especially sense gratification. To become free from these attachments, one should perform hari-bhajana, chant the holy name, and honor prasadam.

“Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam” — we are not merely Indian, Bengali, engineer, businessman, or any other temporary designation. We are eternal servants of Krishna.

Through chanting, worshiping the Lord, and serving devotees, the heart becomes purified:

“Ceto-darpana-marjanam” — the chanting of the holy name cleanses the mirror of the heart.

Thousands of young boys and girls in countries such as Ukraine and Russia are chanting Krishna’s names and giving up sinful habits. Why? Because they are experiencing a higher taste.

A material position is temporary. There is a story of Indra becoming a hog and becoming so attached to his hog family that he did not want to return to heaven when Lord Brahma came to take him back. Whatever body we get, we become attached to it.

If we simply eat, sleep, mate, and defend like animals, then what is the difference between human life and animal life?

Human life is meant for tapo divyam — divine austerity for spiritual realization.

What is tapasya?

• Giving up meat-eating
• Avoiding intoxication
• Avoiding sinful habits
• Living a pure life centered on Krishna consciousness

Srila Prabhupada would sometimes mention how sinful activities affect consciousness. One devotee distributing Back to Godhead once met a butcher slaughtering chickens, and the man’s face itself appeared almost like a chicken due to his consciousness.

We should examine whether we are becoming free from kama-vasana, material lust and selfish desire.

Rupa Goswami teaches:

“Anyabhilasita-sunyam” — pure devotion means becoming free from material desires.

Since we are living beings and not stones, desires will always exist, but our only desire should be to serve Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada narrated the story of Arjunacharya while explaining the verse:

“Yoga-ksemam vahamy aham” — Krishna personally carries what His devotee lacks and preserves what he has.

Arjunacharya was reading Bhagavad-gita when his wife told him there was no food at home. Doubting the meaning of Krishna’s promise, he crossed out the words “vahamy aham.”

Later, two beautiful boys arrived carrying rice, milk, vegetables, sugar, and many other items. They told his wife, “Arjunacharya has sent these.” She also noticed scratches on their bodies.

When Arjunacharya returned home, his wife asked why he had been so cruel to those boys. Hearing the entire incident, Arjunacharya understood that the boys were Krishna and Balarama themselves. Tears filled his eyes in repentance and devotion.

The Lord’s name, form, qualities, and pastimes are nondifferent from Him.

Therefore, keep coming to the temple. Associate with devotees, honor prasadam, and participate in harinama-sankirtana.

This is true spiritual happiness.

“Ramante yogino ’nante” — the yogis derive unlimited pleasure in spiritual life.

The topmost yogi is the bhakti-yogi.

There is no need to leave the world. Instead, make your home Krishna conscious, make your family devotees of Krishna, and help others become devotees.

Then one can remain spiritually joyful twenty-four hours a day.

Gaur Arati and special prasadam for all

After the class there was Gaur Arati. The beautiful deity of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga was worshipped by HG Acharyaratna Prabhu. Devotees reverentially participated in the arati.

After arati there was special delicious Krishna prasadam for all who had come for the festivals.