Noida: Iskcon temple in Sector 33 was decked up for Janmashtami celebrations on Friday. Devotees will serve 508 bhogs, including laddus, makhan mishri, kheer and puris at one end, and pasta, pizza and cakes at the other, a spread the temple is billing as its largest yet.Around 5 lakh devotees, including those from countries like the US, France, Germany and Malaysia, participated in the celebrations. The day-long celebration was live-streamed on YouTube, Budhimanta Das of the temple management committee said. A huge pandal has been built on the premises, and it has been decorated with both real and artificial flowers.A performance by the Govinda Rock Band and children from Prahlad school was organised on Friday. Following the midnight celebrations, festivities will continue from 4:30 am on Saturday with mangal aarti, darshan, chanting and prasad distribution.“Special floral decorations or Phool Bangla, silver swings for Laddu Gopal, and devotional programmes starting early in the morning have also been planned,” Das added.A team of over 30 female devotees has been preparing the prasad spread. They have been chanting throughout the day while cooking the meal. “This bhog will be offered with deep love and reverence. The offerings included makhan-mishri (butter and rock sugar) alongside a diverse range of dishes from India and abroad, such as cakes, biscuits, pastries, patties, pizza, pasta, lasagna, tacos, parathas, puris, kachoris, laddus, kheer (rice pudding), shakes, and various other sweets and savoury snacks,” said Das. As Lord Krishna’s infant avatar is worshipped on this day, the food items were chosen keeping the preferences of a child in mind, he added.Panchagavya Abhisheka (ceremonial bathing with a mixture of five sacred substances) of the Lord is a major attraction for the devotees after the birth at midnight. As part of the security arrangements, visitors are screened using door-frame metal detectors and hand-held detectors. More than 1,500 volunteers will be on the ground to help the visitors too.Festivities were also held at Sanatan Dharm temple in Sector 19 and other smaller temples across the city. Traffic police announced diversions around the temple, which also drew huge crowds for the celebrations.
