Light from hundreds of lamps placed before the altar spread transcendental radiance across the main temple hall, elevating the spirit of devotion. The sweet melody of kirtans describing the Damodara lila of Sri Krishna enhanced the feeling of love towards the Lord. The glorious sight of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Krishna-Chandra clad in attire befitting more than just majesty enthralled one and all who joined to celebrate the spiritually enlivening month-long festival of Deepotsava.

Thousands of devotees thronged to ISKCON Bangalore to offer their obeisance in the form of ghee lamps to Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Krishna-Chandra during the auspicious month of Karthika. Some devotees take a vow to offer ghee lamp every evening through the month. “It gives me a sense of gratification to render service by offering ghee lamps everyday to the Lord” says one of the devotees who had taken such a vow. The celebration begins with a guest, an eminent personality, lighting a lamp which is then followed by an elaborate arati. Dr Mumtaz Ali Khan, State WAQF Minister, V S Acharya, KPCC President R V Deshpande, Sandalwood producer Rockline Venkatesh, Prakash Padukone among others were present to witness the opulence of the month-long festivities. Soul-stirring melody reverberates across the temple hall as devotees engage themselves in singing kirtans to commemorate the pastime Damodara lila of Lord Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada writes: 'Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, quotingfrom the Vaisnava-tosani of Srila Sanatana Gosvami, says that the incident of  Krishna's breaking the pot of yogurt and being bound by mother Yasodatook place on the Dipavali Day, or Dipa-malika. Even today in India, this festival is generally celebrated very gorgeously in the month of Kartika by fireworks and lights, especially in Bombay.' (SB 10.9.1-2: purport.) .

Once when mother Yashoda was feeding her lovely son Krishna, she noticed that the milk on the stove was overflowing.  So she immediately put Krishna down and went to attend this. Krishna, for His own pleasure, became angry due to being abandoned in that manner by His mother.  So He broke the pot of butter kept there for churning and ate the butter in a secluded place.  Mother Yashoda sought Krishna all over.  She found a big wooden grinding mortar, which was kept upside down, and she found her son sitting on it.  Krishna saw her coming to Him with a stick in her hand, and immediately He got down from the grinding mortar and began to flee in fear.

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Mother Yashoda chased Him all around the garden.  Although she was tired, she somehow reached her naughty child and captured Him.  Mother Yashoda then threw away her stick.  In order to punish Him, she endeavored to bind Him up to the wooden grinding mortar.  But when she tried to bind Him, she found that the rope she was using was short by two inches.  She gathered more ropes from the house and joined them, but at the end she found the same shortage.  In attempting to bind her son, she became tired.  She was perspiring, and the garland on her head fell down.

Then Lord Krishna appreciated the hard labor of His mother, and being compassionate upon her, He agreed to be bound by the ropes.  Krishna, playing as a human child in the house of mother Yashoda, was performing His own selected pastimes.

During this festival, ISKCON Sri Radha Krishna Mandir, Bangalore is decorated with thousands of lamps and there is display of grand fireworks. Deepotsava is a very special festival for ISKCON Bangalore. The grandeur with which the festivities are carried out captivates everyone’s realm of devout. “I have witnessed Deepotsava celebrations in other temples across the world, but the magnificent manner in which celebrations are carried out in ISKCON Bangalore always ensures that I am present there to witness it” says ShyamRao Baliga who has been a devotee for over 14 years.