Every year Hare Krishna Melbourne celebrates twenty major festivals by offering special services to our Deities. We increase the fun by inviting everyone to participate and chant, dance and feast with us.
Find schedules for upcoming festivals and more about each celebration below.
When: January-February.
Where: Hare Krishna Melbourne
Schedule: Saturday, January 31, 2026
7:00 am Deity Greeting
7:30 am Class
10:30 am Deity Bathing & Chanting
11:50 am Deities Return to Altar (Chanting)
12:30 pm Arati & Chanting
1:00 pm Delicious Vegetarian Feast
Agenda: bathe Nityananda and Gauranga, chant and dance, feast.
About: Nityananda is thought of as the second body of Krishna. He manifests as Balarama to Krishna, Lakshmana to Sri Rama, and Nityananda to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Nityananda Prabhu appeared in the village of Ekachakra, in West Bengal, India, around 1474. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared soon after in Mayapur.
Nityananda acted as Chaitanya’s principal associate in spreading the chanting of the holy names of Krishna (Harinama-sankirtana). He was merciful to all fallen, materially conditioned souls. According to the teachings of the acharyas, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu cannot be approached or understood without taking shelter of Nityananda Prabhu, the original guru. You can read about his qualities in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.
When: Normally the 3rd Sunday in February (Festival Sunday of the
St. Kilda Festival).
Where: Catani Gardens, St. Kilda.
Schedule (2026): Sunday, Feb 15.
Chariot Parade from 1 pm, beginning from Cleve Gardens (cnr. Fitzroy St & Beaconsfield Pde).
Veg/Vegan Hare Krishna Food Festival 12 pm – 8 pm: Catani Gardens, 6 Jacka Boulevard
• Veg/Vegan Food
• FREE Music, Drama & Dance, featuring Global Party People DJs: Mantra Dance Music
• Fun for Kids
• Body Art
• Face Painting
Agenda: Sing, dance, and pull the gorgeously decorated chariot to Luna Park and return. Enjoy the Vegetarian/Vegan Food Festival in Catani Gardens, including stage programs (Global Party People DJs, dance, music, drama, children’s plays), Henna tattoos, body painting, and delicious Indian & Western vegan/vegetarian eat-in or take-away.
About: The Festival of the Chariots (Ratha-yatra) is perhaps the oldest continuously celebrated festival in the world.
As far back as human records and memory extend, each summer in the town of Puri (on the Bay of Bengal in India), the splendidly decorated chariots of Lord Jagannatha, his brother Baladeva, and his sister Subhadra have rolled through the streets to the delight of millions of pilgrims. Their towering red-and-blue silken canopies rise into the sky as drums and cymbals resound. People, young and old, their eyes bright with excitement, sing and dance in the street. You can read about Ratha-yatra in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.
Over forty years ago, the Hare Krishnas brought this tradition to the streets of cities all around the world. The first time Melbourne hosted the Festival of the Chariots was in the CBD in the 1970s. In 2011, the Festival of the Chariots became a family-friendly feature of the St Kilda Festival. 
When: normally February – March 
Where (2026): Elephant Walk, The Esplanade, Torquay VIC 3228
Schedule: Sunday, February 22 11 am-4 pm
Highlights:
• Colour Throwing, Live Music with Global Party People,
• Bhagavad-gita Card Reading,
• Face Painting & Kids Zone,
• Vegan/vegetarian snacks & shopping
Agenda: Meet people, enjoy live stage entertainment, have your face painted, get a card reading, and soak up the festive atmosphere. This fun and relaxing day is a family-friendly event. Every half hour in front of the main stage, we throw coloured powder into the air. For the younger ones, there will be jumping castles and kids’ activities. Super delicious vegetarian/vegan food will be available for purchase throughout the day.
About: The Festival of Colours (Holi) celebrates the unity and variety of the human spirit. Holi is an ancient Indian festival where Krishna, the God of play, throws coloured powders with His cowherd friends. You can read about Krishna in Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
When: March
Where: Hare Krishna Melbourne
Schedule (Hare Krishna Melbourne): Tuesday, March 3, 2026
4:00 pm Arati & Kirtan
4:20 pm Class
5:15 pm Abhisheka
6:15 pm Deities Return to Altar
7:00 pm Arati & Kirtan
7:30 pm Feast
Wyndham Hare Krishna and ISKCON Casey also plan to host Gaura Purnima festivities in the Western and South-eastern Suburbs (check their Facebook pages for details closer to the date).
Agenda: bathe the festival Deities of Nityananda and Gauranga, chant and dance, and feast.
About: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the pioneer of the modern Hare Krishna movement, appeared in Mayapur, West Bengal, over five hundred years ago. He is Krishna Himself, who incarnated to introduce sankirtana (widespread congregational chanting of God’s names) as the most effective means by which anyone can achieve spiritual perfection. He never disclosed that he was the incarnation of Krishna, but exemplified the life of a perfect devotee so that others could follow in His footsteps. Through His influence, many of India’s leading religious scholars and their followers became devotees of Krishna. You can read about his qualities in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.
When: March 
Where: Hare Krishna Valley, 1265 Dean’s Marsh Rd, Bambra 3241 (www.harekrishnavalley.com.au, 03-5288-7383).
Schedule: Sunday, March 15, 2026, 12-3 pm.
Arati, Procession, Deities’ Boat Ride & Offerings, Kirtana, Arati, Talk, Feast.
Book your ticket on Eventbrite closer to the date Hare Krishna Valley | Eventbrite
Agenda: offer little Radha-Krishna a ride in a flower boat on the spring dam below the dairy, chant, dance, feast
About: Krishna performs supremely sweet pastimes in the spiritual realm with His loving companions. You can read about Krishna in Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
We celebrate those pastimes by arranging grand festivals for the pleasure of Krishna’s Deities and His devotees. In Autumn, when the weather is pleasant, the devotees of Hare Krishna Valley remember Radha and Krishna’s blissful boat festival and arrange a divine boat ride for Them.
The mission of the Hare Krishna Valley Farm Retreat is to demonstrate the spiritual and material benefits that come from simple living and high thinking. We want to create a place where anyone, regardless of religious persuasion, can experience the peace and satisfaction that come from living simply.
When: March (2024 date to be advised).
Where: part of Wyndham Holi Mela, President’s Park, Wyndham Vale.
Agenda: pull Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra on Their chariot,
arati ceremony
chanting, dancing, and feasting
fire sacrifice for purification
Bhagavad-gita card readings
face painting and henna tattoos
About: part of the annual Wyndham Holi Mela, Wyndham Hare Krishna hosts Ratha-yatra. At Ratha Yatra, we all have a chance to pull Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra on Their chariot and chant, dance, and feast for Their pleasure!
Wyndham Holi Mela, a free community event, spreads the message of peace, harmony, and celebration through the vibrant colors of the festival. It brings many communities with diverse cultural backgrounds together to celebrate multi-cultural Australia. Our festival encourages everyone to develop a sense of identity and belonging and to share it and inspire others.
Wyndham Holi is an alcohol-free, family-friendly event, providing a fun-filled atmosphere for people to enjoy dancing, playing with colours, and tasting delicious foods. You and your family can also enjoy kids’ rides, games, networking, and diverse cultures and traditions. You can also support local businesses and community organisations.
When: March – April
Where: Hare Krishna Melbourne, ISKCON Casey
Schedule (Hare Krishna Melbourne): Friday, March 27, 2026
7:00 am Deity Greeting
7:30 am Class
10:30 am Abhisheka & Kirtan
11:50 am Deities Return to Altar
12:30 pm Arati & Kirtan
1:00 pm Feast
Schedule (ISKCON Casey): Akoonah Park, 2 Cardinia St, Berwick, VIC 3806
Friday, March 27, 2026
6:30 pm Darshan, Kirtan, Abhishek, Arati, Feast.
Wyndham Hare Krishna and Hare Krishna Melbourne North also plan to host Rama Navami celebrations in 2026. Visit their Facebook pages closer to the date.
Agenda: bathe Sita-Rama-Lakshmana-Hanuman, chant and dance, feast.
About: In ancient times, Krishna incarnated as Rama, the valiant king. He is worshipped along with His wife Sita, younger brother Lakshmana, and His greatest devotee Hanuman. Lord Rama played the role of a perfect human being, a role model for everyone. He was an ideal son, husband, friend, and king. He set the standard for heroism, morality, and good government. He had no other interest in His mind other than to please His devotees and to serve them. The story of Rama is told in the epic Ramayana.
When: April – May
Where: Hare Krishna Melbourne
Schedule: Thursday, April 30, 2026
4:00 pm Arati & chanting
4:20 pm Class
4:50 pm Deity bathing
6:15 pm Deities return to altar
7:00 pm Arati & chanting
7:30 pm Feast
Wyndham Hare Krishna and ISKCON Casey also plan to host Nrsimha-caturdasi celebrations in 2026. Visit their Facebook pages closer to the date.
About: In the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna makes it clear that protecting His beloved devotees is not a one-time affair, that He is doing this repeatedly, age after age. He comes to protect those who have dedicated themselves to a life of spiritual service – and to correct those who try to prevent others from taking up spiritual life.
Perhaps His most misunderstood incarnation is the half-man, half-lion Nrsimhadeva. Nrsimhadeva appeared in the distant past to save His devotee, the boy-saint Prahlada, from torture and death at the hands of the despotic king Hiranyakashipu, who was also Prahlada’s father. You can read about Nrsimhadeva’s incarnation in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Hiranyakashipu had performed extreme austerities to gain the benediction that he would be protected from death in almost unlimited ways. Because he was so wicked, however, especially in his treatment of the Lord’s devotees, Krishna personally came and killed Hiranyakashipu in a way no one could have imagined.
This form may be very frightening to the person in the street, but it’s very endearing to devotees. Nrsimhadeva displays the auspiciousness, mercy, and kindness that the Lord brings to his pure devotees. He removes obstacles from the path of devotion and awards us attraction for chanting Hare Krishna.
When: four to five evenings in August-September 
Where/Schedule: 2026
Hare Krishna Melbourne: Sun Aug 23 – Fri Aug 28: 7-8 pm nightly
Agenda: swinging the festival deities of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa on a beautifully decorated Jhulana (swing).
About: Just like Snāna-yātrā in December, Jhulana-yātrā offers us a special opportunity to personally serve the Deities. These few evenings are cherished because we step forward in groups of families and friends to swing Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa and give Them pleasure. Other than this time, only qualified priests are allowed to serve Them.
During Jhulana-yātrā, we celebrate Kṛṣṇa’s loving pastimes with His topmost devotee, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, in Vraja. If you travel to Rādhā-kuṇḍa in Govardhana (south of Delhi in India), you will find a permanent Jhulana commemorating this pastime.
When: August-September
Where (2026): Hare Krishna Melbourne, 197 Danks St, Albert Park 3206
Schedule: Friday, Aug 28, 2026.
7:00 am Deity Greeting
7:30 am Class
9:30 am Kirtan
10:30 am Deity Bathing, Chanting
12:30 pm Arati, Kirtan
1:00 pm Feast
7:00 pm Swing Festival
Events at ISKCON Southeast Melbourne and Wyndham Hare Krishna to be advised: follow their Facebook pages.
Agenda: bathing the festival deities of Jagannātha-Baladeva-Subhadrā; chanting, dancing, feast.
About: Lord Balarāma (Baladeva) appears in Vṛndāvana as Kṛṣṇa’s elder brother, His ‘second
body’. Balarāma assists in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s innumerable spiritual pastimes in both the spiritual
and material 
realms. He is described as a symbol of strength, an obedient son, an ideal brother and husband, and an ideal man.
Balarāma is said to have a whitish complexion and to wear blue cloth. The Vedas tell us that Balarāma is the eighth avatāra of Viṣṇu. Balarāma usually wields a plow to till the land and a mace for battle.
When: August-September
Where (2026): Hare Krishna Melbourne in Albert Park, and venues in Port Melbourne, Epping, Cranbourne, and Werribee.
Janmastami Cultural Program: 10:30 am – 8 pm, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026.
The Timber Yard, 351 Plummer St, Port Melbourne 3207.
Join us for an unforgettable celebration of bhakti, music, and culture. Enjoy kirtana, drama, dance, and cultural performances. Relish delightful prasadam from our stalls throughout the day.
Entry is free (event link).
To find out more, contact Madhavananda Dasa (0400 697 993) and Kaushalyananda Dasa (0411 843 709).
Janmastami Day Schedule: Saturday, Sept 5, 2026.
In the Northern Suburbs.
Hare Krishna Melbourne North invites you to celebrate at The Heritage Reception, 514-516 High St, Epping, 3076, from 5 pm to midnight. Enjoy the darshana of Radha Damodara, Jhulana, cultural performances, personal arati tray offerings, delicious prasadam, and more. Visit their Facebook page for more info.
In the South Eastern Suburbs.
ISKCON Southeast Melbourne invites you to celebrate from 5 pm till 12 am at the Cranbourne Racing Club, 50 Grant Street, Cranbourne, 3977. Beautiful Radha Bansi-Bihari will give Their darshana. There’ll be a Jhulan (swing) for the Lords’ pleasure, cultural performances, personal puja offerings, kirtanas, and delicious prasadam, and more. ISKCON Southeast Melbourne Janmastami is supported by the Victorian State Government. Get more info at their Facebook page.
In the Western Suburbs.
Wyndham Hare Krishna invites you to celebrate Janmastami from 11 am to 1:00 am at the Werribee Functions & Events Centre, 2-10 Bulban Rd, Werribee 3030 (Werribee Racecourse). Radha-Karunasindhu will give Their darshana. Make personal puja offerings, enjoy kirtana, cultural performances, prasadam, aratis, and a special midnight arati and more. Visit their Facebook page for more info.
In the Inner Suburbs.
For those of you in Inner Melbourne, Hare Krishna Melbourne (197 Danks St, Albert Park 3206) invites you to celebrate Janmastami from 4:30 am Saturday, Sept 5, till 1:00 am, Sunday, Sept 6. As usual, you can enjoy extended darshanas of Sri-Sri Gaura-Nitai, Radha-Vallabha, and Jagannatha-Baladeva-Subhadra, attend the scheduled aratis, and chant and dance in the day-long transcendental kirtanas. You can have an arati tray offered to Sri Krishna on your behalf, or sponsor an abhisheka kalasha (also to be offered on your behalf). Free Krishna prasadam will be served throughout the day. Don’t forget the beautiful candle-lit midnight arati marking Krishna’s Appearance.
Our usual programs at the Temple include:
5:00 pm Arati & Kirtana (Chanting)
7:00 pm Arati & Kirtana
7:30 pm Abhisheka (Deity Bathing) & Kirtana
9:00 pm Arati & Kirtana
Midnight Arati
Please be aware that our Temple is in a residential neighbourhood, and respect our neighbours by minimising noise levels.
The City of Port Phillip closely monitors parking near the Temple on weekends and festival days. Every 15 minutes from 5:30 pm – midnight on Janmastami, free shuttle taxis will run from Lakeside Carpark to the corner of Kerferd Rd and Danks St. There’ll also be a drop-off-only service to Spencer St Station every 30 minutes. Please take advantage of this.
What is Sri Krishna Janmastami without serving together?
Your help is vital. To offer services – from cutting up vegetables for the Deities, to serving prasadam to guests or maintaining security – we need you. Volunteer at seva@servekrishna.com.au and flag the venue you’ll attend so we can connect you with that team. To donate toward the logistics of our four events, visit our donation page.
Janmastami agenda: bathing the festival deities of Radha and Krishna; extended Deity darshanas, chanting, dancing, feast.
About: Janmastami is by far our biggest festival of the year. We host thousands of guests across our Melbourne-wide venues throughout the day.
Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He appeared in Vrindavana (south of Delhi in India) to please His devotees, to attract everyone, and to re-establish the principles of religion. He is famous for His sweet pastimes as a cowherd boy, as the killer of many demons, and as the lover of Srimati Radharani.
When: August-September
Where: The Timber Yard, 351 Plummer St, Port Melbourne VIC 3207.
Schedule: Sunday, September 6, 2026.
10:00 am Readings & Homages
1:00 pm Pushpanjali (Flower Offering) & Guru Puja
2:00pm Feast (no lunch will be served at the Temple)
Agenda: offering of homages, Guru-puja, chanting, dancing, feast.
About: Vyasa means guru, our original guru. When the spiritual master’s birthday is observed, it is called Vyasa-puja because the spiritual master is representative of Vyasa.
We share our realisations about our Founder’s mood and mission on this day and re-dedicate our lives to his service.
When: September-October
Where (2026): Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC), 30 Aughtie Dr, Albert Park VIC 3206 and Hare Krishna Melbourne
Schedule: Saturday, September 19, 2026.
Agenda: Flower bath for the festival deities of Radha and Krishna, chanting, dancing, feast.
About: On Srimati Radharani’s birthday, our devotees offer unique, hand-made flower outfits to Radha-Vallabha and the festival Deities of Radha-Krishna. This is a special day.
Srimati Radharani is the topmost devotee of Krishna. She appeared in Varshana, in Vraja, south of Delhi in India. She is Krishna’s internal pleasure-giving potency (hladini shakti), who controls Krishna by Her love. Srimati Radharani accompanies Krishna in all His incarnations. In Vraja, She is a cowherd girl. All the cowherd girls are purely spiritual personalities.
When: October-November 
Where: Hare Krishna Melbourne and Wyndham Hare Krishna
Schedule (2025): Tuesday, October 7- Wednesday, November 5.
– Hare Krishna Melbourne: offer lamps at 7 am & 7 pm daily,
– Wyndham Hare Krishna: offer lamps at 7 pm daily.
Agenda: offer lamps and chant the glories of Lord Damodara together.
About: the month of Damodara, also known as Kartika, is a month for deepening one’s love for Krishna. Devotees of Krishna consider Kartik to be the holiest month of the year. During this month, devotees make extra vows, perform extra spiritual activities, and worship Krishna in His form as a young boy, Damodara, who was once bound at the waist by His mother, Yasoda, as a punishment for His mischievous childhood pastimes.
When: October-November 
Where: 351 Plummer St, Port Melbourne 3207
Once again, this year we plan to host a combined Diwali and Govardhana Puja Festival at the Timber Yard in Port Melbourne.
Schedule (2025): Sunday, October 19:
2:30 pm Enlivening Kirtana
3:00 pm Govardhana-puja, Circumambulating Giri-Govardhana’s Hill of Sweets, Chanting
4:30 pm Drama & Dance
6:30 pm Offering of Lamps to the Deities, Damodarastakam, Chanting
Twilight: Diwali Sparklers
All-day: Prasadam Stalls, Jumping Castle.
About: Diwali, meaning ‘festival of lights,’ is one of the most widely celebrated occasions in the year. Diwali is observed not only by Hindus, but also by Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs. The festival marks the traditional New Year’s Eve.
A central theme for Hindus is derived from the epic Ramayana. It was on the evening of this day that Lord Rama returned to His kingdom, Koshala. With his huge army headed by Hanuman, the Lord triumphantly entered Ayodhya, His capital, having rescued His beloved wife, Sita, from the demon-king Ravana. Although the night was dark, Rama’s overjoyed subjects illuminated the entire city with lamps to receive their Lord with great pomp, splendour, and celebration.
When: October-November
Where: 351 Plummer St, Port Melbourne 3207
Once again, this year we plan to host this popular festival at a combined Diwali and Govardhana-puja Festival at the Timber Yard in Port Melbourne.
Schedule (2025): Sunday, October 19.
2:30 pm Enlivening Kirtana
3:00 pm Govardhana-puja, Circumambulating Giri-Govardhana’s
Hill of Sweets, Chanting
4:30 pm Drama & Dance
6:30 pm Offering of Lamps to the Deities, Damodarastakam, Chanting
Twilight: Diwali Sparklers
All-day: Prasadam Stalls, Jumping Castle
About: on Govardhan-puja we celebrate the glories of the holy hill of Govardhana, which is in Vraja, just south of India’s capital, Delhi. When Lord Krishna appeared on earth, Vraja was His home. It is said that when He was only seven, to protect His community from torrential storms, he lifted Govardhana Hill to shelter them.
At Hare Krishna Melbourne, we make a replica of the hill with sweets and cakes and celebrate by chanting and dancing around it!
Then we feast and distribute the sweets to all present! Don’t miss this party!
When: October-November 
Where: Hare Krishna Melbourne
Schedule (2025): Sunday, October 26
10:30 am Songs & Glorifications
12:30 pm Guru Puja & Chanting
1:30 pm Feast
6:00 pm Lilamrita Readings (in Srila Prabhupada’s room)
7:00 pm Offering of Lamps
7.30 pm Arati to Srila Prabhupada (in Srila Prabhupada’s room)
Agenda: offering of homages, Guru-puja, chanting, dancing, feast, then evening readings & arati in Srila Prabhupada’s room.
About: ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, passed on in November 1977 in Vrindavana, India.
People may say, ‘The devotee is also dying, and the non-devotee is also dying. What is the difference?’ The example is given that a cat catches a rat in her mouth, and at the same time, she carries her cubs in her mouth. Superficially, we can see that the same mouth is being used, but one is feeling comfortable being carried by the mother, and another is feeling their death knell. Similarly, when they are dying, an advanced devotee’s feeling is that they are being transferred to the spiritual world, whereas many of us may feel that death is dragging us into a hellish condition of life.
Therefore, according to Krishna-conscious culture, the appearance and disappearance of devotees are considered all-auspicious. We believe that the appearance and disappearance of Krishna – who is complete in eternality, knowledge, and bliss – and that of His pure representatives are causes for celebration. While there is no need to lament, at the same time, we feel pangs of separation from His Divine Grace.
When: October-November 
Where: Hare Krishna Valley, 1265 Dean’s Marsh Rd, Bambra 3241, www.harekrishnavalley.com.au, 03-5288-7383
Agenda: arati to the farm Deities, procession to the cows, arati to the cows, feeding the cows, feast.
Schedule (2025): Sunday, October 12.
12:00 pm Arati
12:30 pm Procession to the cows
1:00 pm Go Puja
1:30 pm Class
2:00 pm Procession back
2:30 pm Feast
Book your ticket at Eventbrite
About: these simple, gentle creatures eat only grass and produce nutritious satisfying milk. Out of love, the cow produces more milk than her calf can drink. Even her stool and urine have unlimited agricultural and medicinal uses.
The mission of our farm retreat, Hare Krishna Valley, is to show the spiritual and material benefits that result from protecting and caring for the cows. To do this, we want to create a place where everyone can see this demonstrated, a place where anyone, regardless of religious persuasion, can experience the peace and satisfaction that comes from personally caring for cows. We consider cows to be our mothers because they sustain us with milk from the time we are infants. Is there anyone who can say that they have not been nourished by that health-giving drink?
The Vedic literatures describe that the demigods and demi goddesses reside in the body of a cow. As such, a cow is regarded as divine and holy. Krishna Himself gave more importance to the worship of cows than to the worship of Indra, the king of the demigods. Therefore, in India, millions of Vedic followers worship Mother Cow at least once a year on the day of Govardhana Puja. Locally, because we celebrate both Govardhana Puja in Melbourne and Go Puja at Hare Krishna Valley, we have twice the fun.
When: usually Boxing Day (December 26) 
Where: Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) Arena: use the Stadiums Entry. 30 Aughtie Dr, Albert Park VIC 3206.
Join us for a combined Snana-yatra and Panihati Festival.
Agenda: Bathing festival, chanting, dancing, feast
Schedule (2025): Friday, December 26.
9:30 -11:30 am: Deity Bathing
12:00 pm: Bhoga Offering
12:30 pm: Elephant-dress (Hati-vesha) Arati
1:00 -2:00 pm: Jagannatha Mahaprasadam Auction
2:00 pm: Prasadam Feast
About: before Ratha-yatra, Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra enjoy a bathing festival (snana-yatra). Snana-yatra is unique because it is the only opportunity that we all have to personally bathethe Deities. Other than on this day, only qualified priests are allowed to bathe Them.
According to the Skanda Purana, when King 
Indradyumna installed the original wooden deities of Jagannatha-Baladeva-Subhadra, he arranged a bathing ceremony. This day is the birthday of Lord Jagannatha. So, every year, it is commemorated by a special bath for Lord Jagannatha.
It is said that a profound scholar and staunch devotee of Lord Ganesh visited Puri during Snana Yatra. The King of Puri asked the scholar to accompany him to see Lord Jagannatha, but the scholar refused under the pretext that he wouldn’t worship any God other than his worshipable deity, Lord Ganesh. Somehow, he was persuaded and brought before the bathing platform. To everyone’s surprise, Lord Jagannatha appeared with an elephantine form that resembled Ganesh. Ever since, during Snana Yatra, after the sacred bath is performed, the Deities are dressed like elephants.
In Melbourne, Jagannatha-Baladeva-Subhadra return to the altar following Their bath. Then They are dressed in elephant masks and night clothes, ready to retire, and are offered a wonderful feast.
After the bathing ceremony, we like to believe that Jagannatha falls ill. He is taken in procession to His private room, where only a few priests can serve Him. During this time, maintenance is performed on the body of the Deity. This is called nava-yauvana. The two-week period when this is carried out is called Anavasara. Traditionally, Ratha-yatra marks the time when Lord Jagannatha returns to public view.
When: usually Boxing Day (December 26)
Where: Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) Arena, use the Stadiums Entry. 30 Aughtie Dr, Albert Park VIC 3206
Join us for a combined Snana-yatra and Panihati Festival.
Agenda: offer delicious offerings in hand-painted pots to Jagannatha-Baladeva-Subhadra; auction the prasadam.
Schedule (2025): Friday, December 26.
9:30 -11:30 am: Deity Bathing
12:00 pm: Bhoga Offering
12:30 pm: Elephant-dress (Hati-vesha) Arati
1:00 -2:00 pm: Jagannatha Mahaprasadam Auction
2:00 pm: Feast
About: delicious pots Jagannatha mahaprasadam pots are hand-painted by Melbourne’s best vaishnava artists.
We call these dishes a Panihati or Chida-dahi feast. Panihati is a village in West Bengal, India. In the sixteenth century, when Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared to propagate the Sankirtana movement, Panihati became a major centre for Gaudiya Vaishnavas.
Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, a personal associate of Mahaprabhu and a devotee of the highest order, went to meet Nityananda Prabhu at Panihati. Lord Nityananda saw Raghunatha’s humility and renunciation. He called him and said, “Raghunatha dasa! You are hiding like a thief. Now I have caught hold of you. Come here. I shall punish you today.’’ Then Lord Nityananda forcibly caught him and lovingly put His lotus feet on the head of Raghunatha Dasa. He ordered Raghunatha to celebrate a big festival and serve all the devotees with yogurt and chipped rice (chida-dahi). To this day, Vaisnavas celebrate this festival to commemorate this wonderful pastime in summer.
In Melbourne, that’s December. We take the opportunity of Lord Jagannatha’s annual dressing in His elephant dress to offer Him a wonderful chida-dahi feast. Then we hold a fun-filled auction of the feast to support the Deities, and finally, everyone shares Krishna’s special prasadam.
When: January 1. 
Where: Hare Krishna Melbourne
Agenda: arati, chanting, fire sacrifice, feast
Schedule (2025): Thursday, January 1.
4:00 pm Fire Sacrifice & Arati
6:00 pm Feast
7:00 pm Arati & Chanting
About: you won’t be surprised that we celebrate New Year by remembering Krishna and chanting His holy names!
When we chant, every day can feel like New Year because Krishna is ever fresh and ever new. You may also find that you become intoxicated by hearing Krishna’s eternally blissful and enlightening names.
Most New Year’s resolutions take the form of “do’s”—things I resolve to do—and “don’ts”—things I resolve not to do. Vedic wisdom tells us that all do’s and don’ts should support one main do—always remember Krishna—and one main don’t—never forget Him. Happy New Year!
