Festivals Celebrations Krishna Janmotsav
 


Celebrations of Major 
Festivals at Dwarka
Although every month of the Indian calendar come with host of festivals and there has always been a festival time in Dwarkadheesh temple, the major festivals, according to Indian calendar months are celebrated as follows:
           
Sr. No. Month Side                   1st ½ or 2nd ½  Date             (Indian)   Festivals
1 Kartik (2061) Shukla (1st ½) Pratipada (1st day)   New year, Govardhan pooja, Annakoot darshan (56 dishes)
2 " " Dwitiya   Bhai-beej
3 " " Ekadashi   Tulsi-vivah, Shardapeeth also celebrates Tulsi-Vivah at Ashta Patranni Temple, A procession is taken out in the town
4 Margshirsh " "   Geeta Jayanti (at Shardapeeth
premises), The Sun moves to Dhan (Saggitarrius) zodiac, celebrations of Dhanurmaas begins
5 Paush " Chaturdashi   * Makar-Sankranti (The Sun moves to Makar (Capricorn) zodiac, also known as Uttarayan (tilting of the Sun towards North)
6 " " Purnima   (Kheer –Bhajia Bhog offered to the Lord in the evening)
7 Maagh " Panchami   Vasantotsav (Spring Festival), Saraswati Pooja (Worshipping Goddess of Knowledge)
8 Falgun " Ashtami   Holashtak begins. Colourful aarti is performed every day. ‘Fuldol’ shringar takes place on these days.
9 Chaitra " Navami   Ramnavami-birthday of the Lord Ram
10 Chaitra Shukla (1st ½) Chaturdashi   Worshipping Brahmaleen Jagadguru Shankaracharya Abhinav Sachchidanandteerthji at Shardapeeth
11 Vaishakh " Trutiya   ‘Chandan Sewa’ darshan of ‘Akshaya Trutiya’. Adornment with flowers of the Lord begins from this day in the evening
12 Jyeshtha " Panchami   Celebrations of coronation of the present Sharda Peethadheeshwar Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Swarupanandji Maharaj
13 " " Purnima   Jyeshthabhishekotsava (adornment of the Lord with the mango pulp and juice (Darshan of the lord from open curtain and ‘Jal Yatra’ (procession with sprinkling of water) in the evening
14 Ashadh " Pratipada   Final glimpse of the ‘pushpa-shringar’ (adornment with flowers) which began on Akshaya trutiya
15 " " Dwitiya   ‘Rath Yatra’-the Lord’s procession is taken out in a silver chariot from 1400 hrs to 1600 hrs. Lord Krishna takes four circles round the temple, four aartis and ‘bhog’ form the part of ‘Rath Yatra’ celebrations
16 " " Purnima   It’s a ‘Guru-Purnima’ day. Guru pujan at Shardapeeth
17 Shraavan " Dwitiya   15 days’ Hindola-utsav begins. The Lord’s swing is decorated with gold, silver, vegetables, fruits, dry-fruits etc every-day.
18 " " Ekadashi   Jiladan Utsav-The Lord moves around the town in a paalki and brought to the mythological Kaklas Kund (a pool of water) where he is worshipped. A guard of honour is given to the Lord since the time of Gayakwadi rule. According to the myth (and as described in Shrimad Bhaagvat), the deciples get rid of skin disease by taking bath in the pool. This celebration is conducted by Sharda Peeth.
19 " " Purnima   Raksha-bandhan and changing yajnopavit of the Lord
20 " Krishna (2nd ½) Ashtamai   Janmashtami-birth day celebrations, open curtain puja-abhishek darshan. During Janmotsav at midnight, first Devaki maataa’s aarti is performed and then Lord’s aarti takes place. Lord’s janmotsav puja-archana  begins at 2200 hrs and  the divine aarti takes place at sharp midnight. Disciples can have darshan upto 0200 hrs after midnight. 
21 Bhadrapad Shukla (1st ½) Trutiya   Birth-day celebrations of  the existing Shardapeethadheeshwar Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Swarupanand Saraswati Maharaj
22 Bhadrapad Shukla (1st ½) Dwadashi   Vaaman dwadashi. Pakistan had bombed the temple on this day on 7th September 1965 but surprisingly nothing untoward happened. Elderly people remember to have seen an image of the Sudarshan Chakra of Lord Krishna in the sky on this day. For this miraculous escape, the Gugali brahmins hoist flag on the temple on this day. Baldauji’s puja is also performed on this day.
23 Aaswin " Pratipada   Goddess puja in Navratri and yajna-havan etc take place in the Ashta pataranis’ temple precincts
24 " " Dashami   Dashahara festival is celebrated on this day. Lord Krishna is adorned like an emperor with sword and shield, the procession starts  from Ashta patarani temple.On the way, weapons and a ‘Shami’ tree puja takes place. This festival is organised by the Shardapeeth.
25 " " Purnima   The Lord seats in open for watching the full moon. Sharadotsav aarti takes place. Khir hog is offered and women perform raas-dance.
26 " Krishna (2nd ½) Trayodashi   Dhanteras puja
27 " " Chaturdashi   Roop-Nark Chaturdashi (Morning mangala aarti at 0530 hrs)
28 " " Amavasya   Deepavali (During 2030 hrs to 2100 hrs, haatadi darshan is arranged, scene of a market place is created with silver balance etc. Pujan of  Mahalakshmi Sharadapeeth is done
29 Kartik(2062 Viram Samvat) Shukla (1st ½) Pratipada (1st day)   New year, Govardhan pooja, Annakoot darshan (56 dishes)
30 " " Dwitiya   Bhai-beej
31 " " Ekadashi   Tulsi-vivah, Shardapeeth also celebrates Tulsi-Vivah at Ashta Patranni Temple, A procession is taken out in the town
*Makar Sankranti is celebrated on 14th January every year as per the Christian calender but the celebrations of the Makar Sankranti is observed in the temple on Paush Shukla Chaturdashi day. Thus, disparity/mis-match of the date therefore be ignored and only the Indian dates mentioned herein could be considered by devotees for darshan in temple etc.