Sri Balarama Jayanti 2023 | Hare Krishna Hill | ISKCON Bangalore

00:00 Kirtans
38:54 Abhisheka to Sri Sri Krishna Balarama
01:20:04 Acknowledging the Sevakartas
01:22:46 Kirtans
01:28:30 Abhisheka to Sri Sri Krishna Balarama
01:53:54 Concluding day of Jhulan Utsava of Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra
01:56:05 Video presentation
02:11:45 Jhulan Utsava and Arati for Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra
03:04:15 Pallakki Utsava

Balarama Jayanti, also known as Balarama Purnima, is an auspicious festival celebrating the appearance day of Lord Balarama.

Lord Krishna and Balarama are the primeval Supreme Personalities, the masters and original causes of the universes, who descended on the earth for its welfare. They resembled two gold-bedecked mountains, one of emerald and the other of silver, as with Their effulgence, They dispelled the sky's darkness in all directions.

Real strength is spiritual strength. That spiritual strength is Balarama. Therefore we have to take shelter of the lotus feet of Balarāma. Balarāma means guru-tattva. Balarāma represents guru. If we want to understand Caitanya Mahāprabhu, if we want to understand Kṛṣṇa, then we must take shelter of Balarāma.

Lord Balarama performed wonderful pastimes with Lord Krishna in Vrindavana. While playing with cowherd boys, They also killed many demons sent by Kamsa. Lord Balarama married Princess Revati, daughter of King Kakudmi.

The appearance day of Lord Balarama, Sri Krishna’s elder brother, is celebrated with great splendour. The auspicious event of Lord Balarama Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day of Shravana (August). The devotees fast till noon and pray to Lord Balarama to give them the strength to progress in spiritual life.

At Hare Krishna Hill, Rajajinagar, the ceremony begins with the utsavar Deities of Sri Sri Krishna Balarama being carried in a procession with kirtans. The main focus of the celebrations will be the elaborate abhishekam of Their Lordships with auspicious substances like ghee, honey, curd, sandal oil, sweet water, turmeric, fruit juices, and milk, followed by decorating Their Lordships in a special alankara. The devotees engage in singing and dancing to a variety of devotional songs, immersing themselves in the divine attributes and pastimes of Lord Balarama. The festival concludes with a grand arati, a special devotional song, and a pallakki utsava amidst grand kirtans.

This festival is a beautiful opportunity to pray and seek blessings from Lord Balarama for spiritual progress.