A Day on Sri Krishna Janmashtami:
Between Worldly Stress and Spiritual Joy
3:30 AM
Krishna Temple, Zurich, on the day of Sri Krishna Janmashtami: “Ring, ring, ring…” My alarm clock goes off, signalling that it’s time to rise. I get up from my mat, pray to my spiritual master and Sri Krishna, and go to the bathroom. In the shower, my thoughts drifted to the past few days, flashing through all the events that led up to today. For me, Janmashtami doesn’t just start on the day of the celebration; it begins weeks earlier. During this time, everything in my life revolves around preparing for the festival: reserving the venue, informing the neighbours and police, organizing the altar services, coordinating with artists and VIP guests, preparing my lecture, attending meetings, and much more.
Finally, the day is here—the most important holiday and the grandest celebration of the year!
3:50 AM
I step into the altar room and awaken Sri Sri Radha-Gopinatha, our festival deities, who make their special appearance for this auspicious day. After gently washing the divine couple’s feet and mouth, I offer them various milk sweets as part of their morning service.
4:30 AM
The conch shell resounds through the temple hall. I ring the bell and pull back the curtain. This is a sacred moment for the temple residents and visitors as they come together for the morning Mangala-Arati ceremony. Darshan—where we see and are seen by Sri Sri Radha-Gopinatha—happens just twice a year, making this moment even more special.
These early morning hours hold a deep significance for me as well. In this serene atmosphere, I can truly absorb the day's meaning and open my heart to Krishna’s mercy.
5:00 - 8:00 AM
Puja, the worship of Sri Krishna. During this time, I focus my heart and mind on worshipping Krishna in his form as shaligram shila—sacred stones revered as non-different from Krishna Himself. As I anoint the shilas with fragrant oil, and then bathe them with milk, yogurt, and honey, a smile forms on my face.
Later tonight, this temple room will be filled with hundreds of people, all gathered to witness Krishna's grand bathing ceremony. But for now, just a few hours before that monumental event, I sit behind a closed curtain, blessed with the privilege of performing the same sacred ceremony all alone with Krishna.
8:00 AM
The morning lecture from the Srimad-Bhagavatam begins. I quote from the Bhagavad-gita: Janma karma ca me divyam..."One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna." I also reference Shrila Jiva Goswami's Gopal-Campu, which beautifully describes the divine appearance of Sri Krishna.
As I speak, I notice some listeners are fully engaged, drawing strength and inspiration from the scriptural teachings for the busy day ahead. However, others seem to be battling fatigue or showing restlessness. I can read their thoughts in expressions: “Krishna Prema, make it short! There's still so much to prepare!”
This observation makes me reflect. Krishna appeared in this world so that we can hear and meditate on His transcendental pastimes. Perhaps this is the true challenge on a day like today—to remember, amid the flurry of external activities, to create a space within ourselves that allows for a more profound, spiritual experience to unfold.
9:30 AM
No breakfast today—fasting until midnight. The festival preparations are in full swing. We clear away the upholstered furniture and tables to make space in the temple room and entrance area, as we’re expecting nearly a thousand visitors tonight.
1:30 PM
After a Japa Walk in the forest and a short break, I’m back at the temple and greeted by a whirlwind of tasks and challenges. "Hey, Krishna Prema, there you are at last! I've been looking for you everywhere."
For the rest of the afternoon, I became the ‘troubleshooter’: Who has the key to the library? Where are the tables for the samosa stand? Who's in charge of decorating the stage? Have the festival brochures arrived? Have the priests been informed that the evening ceremony starts half an hour earlier?
6:00 PM
I stand in the garden by the entrance gate, greeting Krishna’s guests with a drink in one hand and festival brochures in the other.
How quickly time shifts—just moments ago, the stress felt overwhelming, and now, the festival is in full swing! It’s a joy to welcome Krishna’s devotees, guests, and friends. Many familiar faces pass by, but I’m also happy to see new ones, especially some neighbours who accepted our invitation this year.
8:30 PM
After taking a quick glance around the temple room, I retreat to my room. From up here, I have a unique vantage point to observe the cultural stage program. Typically, that’s all I get to see of this part of the festival. This year, without a special guest speaker, I’m giving another lecture myself. The temple room is packed, filled mainly with Indian visitors eager to hear about Krishna.
10:05 PM
Still feeling deeply touched by the spiritual energy of Hari Katha, I step out of the temple room, only to hear someone shout, “Hey Krishna Prema, the police are here!”
That statement brings me back to the reality of worldly responsibilities. The police? Why? We have a license! Oh, wait. The stage program ran five minutes over the scheduled time. Even an Indian festival has to respect Swiss punctuality, it seems!
10:30 PM
With the neighbours and police now reassured and content, it's finally time to take a quick shower—my midnight altar service is about to begin.
Mandali-Bhadra Prabhu, our long-serving pujari, and his team have treated Krishna to a royal bathing ceremony, and now it’s my turn to ensure that His transcendental appetite is fully satisfied. In the kitchen, more than 108 different dishes are prepared, awaiting their moment to be offered. Among them is a large celebration cake that Krishna is surely anticipating. Just after 11:30, everything is in place, and I bring the many offerings to Krishna. The floor in front of the altar transforms into a vibrant, festive buffet!
11:55 PM
As the big moment approaches, the temple room fills with the powerful sound of an enthusiastic, even thunderous kirtana. Ojasvi Prabhu, the talented musician from Croatia, channels the energy of the kirtana legend Aindra Prabhu, filling the air with devotion and joy. On the altar, final preparations for the grand midnight ceremony are underway.
12:00 AM
Midnight! Sri Krishna's divine appearance!
The time has come—the curtain rises, and together, we celebrate Krishna’s birth into this world. The room is charged with excitement as everyone gazes upon the divine couple with joy and wonder. My breath catches for a moment... then I remember. Vamsi-Dhari-Krishna!
A wave of relief washes over me—I didn’t forget this time! Giving Krishna back His flute after the meal is crucial; after all, Krishna is Vamsi-Dhari, the one who always holds a flute in His hands. I recall a few years ago when I opened the curtain and realized too late that I had left His flute behind. The arati was already in full swing when several devotees and guests began to ask why Mohana Vamsi-Bihari—"the one who enchants with His flute"—was without it that day. I smile now as Krishna seems to be playfully reminding me, and I’m reassured that I got it right this time.
12:45 AM
The altar is closed, and outside, everyone is gathered around the large buffet, enjoying the feast. Meanwhile, we pujaris are still inside, quietly attending to Krishna and preparing to put Him to bed.
For me, this moment brings my day full circle—what began with waking Krishna now ends with putting Him to rest.
1:15 AM
Feeling tired and hungry, I finally sit down to eat Ekadasi prasadam (grain-free food) and reflect on the day with the other temple devotees. The happy faces around me are a clear sign that the festival has been a success!
2:30 AM
Exhausted but satisfied, I sink onto my mat. A long and beautiful day has come to an end. Just before sleep overtakes me, a statement by Bhaktivinoda Thakura crosses my mind: “The great festivals in the Krishna tradition are ‘Bhakti-Janmani’—the Mother of Devotion.”
On days like Janmashtami, Krishna's mercy flows abundantly, revealing Himself to His devotees in countless ways. Festivals like these are unique opportunities to offer our services and devotion to Krishna. When I reach my physical and mental limits, Krishna gives me new strength and inspiration from within. These moments bring clarity and joy and deepen my trust and devotion, allowing Krishna to manifest ever more fully in my heart.
This, after all, is the essence of the festival: Krishna's appearance is not just a historical event from 5,000 years ago—it happens again and again, in every moment.
As I drift off to sleep, I realize that this opportunity to test my limits will come sooner than I’d like—the alarm will ring again in just three hours! Altar duty awaits, along with the next celebration: Srila Prabhupada’s birthday, as we do every year!
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