Hare Krishna Temple Opening
BY: TASNIM LANGRY
Dec 14, SOUTH AFRICA (SUN) — It's all systems go for the official opening of the newly-built multimillion-rand Hare Krishna Temple at the corner of Longbury Drive and Pandora Street, Phoenix. Organisers are gearing for the religious programmes on the New Year weekend.
First on the line-up is the chariot procession of Lord Jagganath, Baladev and Lady Subhadra, which starts from the Gandhi Luthuli Park, subject to confirmation, on December 31 at 11am.
The procession will proceed along Phoenix Highway to the temple. Priya Darsini, one of the organisers, said there would be a cultural programme featuring local artists, harinam (street chanting), plays and dances, bhajans, midnight arti and a "maha abhishek" for the installation of the deity of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, the founder Archarya of ISKCON.
The opening ceremony continues on the first day of the new year at 10am. The programme includes a Maha Yagya (fire sacrifice), cutting of the ribbon to the temple, opening of curtains of the main alter, address by visiting dignitaries, lectures by international visiting gurus, cultural stage programme ending with a breath-taking fireworks display.
Priya said it was a lot of hard work, but they were committed to achieving success, saying: "The desire to please Srila Prabhupada has been our key motivation."
She said: "With the forthcoming opening of the temple we foresee more young devotees becoming interested in attending the programme. I am sure that once they get to chant the Holy name and interact with other youths, they will be inspired to return to the temple."
Anyone interested in getting involved in the forthcoming opening can call 031 507 6559.
