Sri Gaura Purnima, the auspicious appearance day of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, was celebrated on Tuesday, 3 March 2026 at ISKCON Hare Krishna Hill, Rajajinagar and ISKCON Hare Krishna Hill, Vasantapura. The festival drew thousands of participants who took part with reverence. This year, Gaura Purnima coincided with a lunar eclipse, just as it did on the night Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared 540 years ago.
Lord Chaitanya is revered as the foremost preacher of Harinama Sankirtana, who travelled across India propagating the Sankirtana movement. He revealed the essence of the shastras and showed that the path to purifying one’s consciousness is through chanting Lord Krishna’s names. The festival also marks the commencement of the traditional New Year for Gaudiya Vaishnavas.
Sri Gaura Purnima 2026 Celebrations at ISKCON Hare Krishna Hill
On the auspicious day, thousands of devotees enthusiastically performed kirtan throughout the day, singing and dancing to the glories of the Lord in parks and other locations across the city while distributing mantra cards, prasadam and books on the life and teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Sri Gaura Purnima festivities at ISKCON Hare Krishna Hill, Rajajinagar, commenced with a beautiful pallakki procession of Sri Nitai Gauranga. This was followed by a grand abhishekha ceremony with the devotees chanting the sacred verses from the Brahma Samhita. Meditating upon the form of the Lord, sanctified waters were offered at Their lotus feet.
The grand abhishekha to the Deities began with ceremonial washing of Their lotus feet, followed by the performance of the Ashtadala Arati after offering a traditional welcome drink prepared with milk, curd and honey. Thereafter, sandalwood oil was gently smeared, and Their Lordships were bathed with many sacred offerings like panchamrita, panchagavya and fresh fruit extracts following the Shuddhodaka Snana using purified waters.
An audio-visual presentation featuring glimpses of the Arunodaya Kirtan held earlier in the day, along with highlights from the life and precepts of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, was also shown during the celebration.
A grand arati was then performed to Their Lordships, accompanied by the devotional rendition of the Gaura Arati, a composition of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, a prominent Acharya of our Guru Parampara.
The Deities were bathed with holy water from 108 kalashas along with the chanting of Purusha Sukta. Showering of fragrant flowers (Pushpa Vrishti) and special offering of 56 dishes (Chappan Bhog) to Sri Nitai Gauranga created a wonderful spiritual atmosphere.
The divine evening concluded with the Shayana Arati, during which the devotees sang the Sri Sachi Tanayashtakam, a beautiful composition by the great scholar and devotee Sri Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya describing Lord Chaitanya’s transcendental form, qualities, and pastimes. The festival drew to a blissful close with the mesmerising Shayana Pallakki Utsava.
Sri Gaura Purnima celebrations at ISKCON Vaikuntha Hill
Sri Gaura Purnima was observed with equal reverence and enthusiasm at ISKCON Vaikuntha Hill, Vasantapura.
The celebrations unfolded with ceremonial abhisheka to Sri Nitai Gauranga, vibrant kirtans, traditional offerings, and a grand arati accompanied by Gaura bhajans. Participants gathered in large numbers to witness the sacred rituals and seek the blessings of Their Lordships. Grand festivities were observed here also, enriching devotees with spiritual joy and contentment.