On 11 May 2025, the auspicious appearance day of Lord Narasimha, ISKCON Bangalore organised Arunodaya Kirtan—a citywide celebration of Harinama Sankirtana, the congregational chanting of the holy names of Lord Krishna.
On this sacred day of Sri Narasimha Jayanti, Lord Narasimha, the half-man, half-lion incarnation of Lord Vishnu, manifested to protect His dear devotee Prahlada Maharaja from the intense persecution of his father, Hiranyakashipu. The Lord’s extraordinary appearance and His act of slaying Hiranyakashipu stand as a testimony to His unfailing protection of devotees. As Prahlada Maharaja instructed, one should take shelter of the Lord by engaging in devotional service, such as chanting and hearing the Lord’s holy names and glories.
As part of Arunodaya Kirtan, more than 1,200 devotees participated in the Harinama Sankirtana, chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra and offering prayers to Lord Narasimha across more than 108 locations throughout Bengaluru and in select towns across Karnataka. From gated communities and parks to major streets, the air reverberated with the auspicious sound of the Lord’s holy names.
The kirtans, primarily held from 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM, extended to other times during the day at some locations. The combined distance covered by the Sankirtana processions exceeded 200 kilometres.
As part of the outreach, devotees distributed Halwa and Khaja prasadam to over 16,000 people and mantra cards to over 10,000 people. Many were also introduced to the sacred practice of japa by receiving japa malas.
The Arunodaya Kirtan served as a vibrant and spiritually uplifting celebration, allowing hundreds to take part in the yuga-dharma—Harinama Sankirtana—and receive the merciful blessings of the lord. Through this grand initiative, ISKCON Bangalore aims to inspire more people to embrace the path of devotion and experience the peace, joy, and spiritual fulfilment it brings.