Four days of celebrations marked the Janmashtami festival at the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi.
The celebrations featured a three-day Shrimad Bhagvat Parayan from 23 to 25 August. Over 500 devotees attended the daily evening recitations and reflections from the Shrimad Bhagvat presented by BAPS swamis.
On 26 August, the auspicious day of Janmashtami, over 5,000 devotees and well-wishers visited the mandir for darshan. Also, throughout the day, various Indian communities residing in the UAE presented kirtan bhakti programs, with visitors also participating in the devotional singing.
The main evening Janmashtami celebration, attended by more than 1,200 devotees, commenced with Ashtami Puja. The assembly featured kirtan bhakti presentations and a speech by Brahmaviharidas Swami, in which he highlighted the significance of Janmashtami and the essence of true devotion to Bhagwan Shri Krishna. He explored the various observances of the festival and emphasized that the essence of Janmashtami lies in embodying Bhagwan Shri Krishna’s virtues and leading a life by them. In conclusion, he discussed how faith strengthens us during difficulties and recounted the journey of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi as a symbol of resilience, illustrating that with steadfast love and belief even the most formidable challenges can be overcome. This devotion, exemplified by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, inspires devotees to live with courage and perseverance.