Diwali Festival
Sun 3 Nov 2024
Free ticket required for entry
Please note: This event is subject to the weather conditions as it affects the number of spaces we can hold in the fields for parking. Please check back for further updates closer to the time.
Tickets released Thursday 31 October 2024 at 12pm (noon)
Tickets
To help ensure that every pilgrim, visitor & well-wisher is able to have a pleasant experience, we require you to book a ticket. Without a ticket, we will be unable to permit entry, so please ensure that you do book.
Frequently asked questions
Thursday 31 October 2024 at 12pm (noon)
10am-7pm – without a ticket you will not be able to enter between these times.
– By booking your time slot, this helps us create a better and smoother experience for you, with shorter queues and more space to participate in the festival.
– Reduces heavy traffic in the surrounding area, making it easier for you to attend and creates less disruption for locals and non festival-goers.
– Helps us to be less wasteful, as we can prepare appropriate quantities of resources and prasadam (sanctified food).
Tickets are not required for children under 5.
In order to enter Bhaktivedanta Manor on this day, a ticket is required. If you arrive without a ticket, we will not be able to let you in.
You are welcome to stay and enjoy the festivities for as long as you like. Your ticket time only relates to your arrival time.
If you arrive 30 mins before or after your booked arrival time, then you will still be allowed entry. Any earlier than that, we may ask you to please come back later, closer to your booked time. Any later than that, we will try our best to accommodate you, but it may not be possible to allow entry due to limited parking. Please arrive as close to your booked arrival time as possible.
If you are unable to attend, please cancel your tickets so others can join. Visit https://krishnatemple.link/cancel to see how you can cancel your tickets.
If you are having trouble cancelling the tickets, please email us at ticket@krishnatemple.com and we’d be happy to do it for you. Similarly, if any family members also have tickets that they won’t be using, please let us know so that we can cancel their ticket and make it available to others.
Shuttle Service
We will be running a shuttle service. Details to follow.
Donations
To mark this auspicious occasion of Diwali, many wonderful arrangements are being made to celebrate at Bhaktivedanta Manor.
Many thousands of pilgrims will be coming to celebrate this special occasion. Please support this year’s festival with your heartfelt contribution.
What is Diwali?
The festival of Diwali is traditionally observed for five days, but it mainly celebrates the joyful day upon which Lord Rama returned to the kingdom of Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. The name itself comes from Dipavali, a Sanskrit word referring to the countless rows of lamps which His citizens had lit throughout the kingdom to welcome Him back home (dipa means “lamp, light or candle,” and avali means “rows”). During a different era, this was also the day when Lord Krishna performed His childhood pastime of breaking pots of yogurt and letting His mother bind Him with rope.
About the Five Days of Diwali
The first day of Diwali is called Dhanvantari Trayodasi, which is when Lord Dhanvantari appeared on this planet in order to give Ayurvedic medicine to mankind. On this day, people pray for protection from untimely death.
The second day of Diwali is called Naraka Chaturdasi, and is the day upon which Lord Krishna destroyed the demon Narakasura and liberated the 16,000 princesses which the demon had been holding captive.
The third day is the actual day of Diwali, which is when Lord Rama returned to His kingdom after successfully rescuing Sita and defeating the demon Ravana. On this day, people pray for the blessings of wealth and prosperity, and for the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.
On the fourth day we celebrate Govardhana Puja, Go-Puja and Annakuta are all connected with the story of Lord Krishna lifting Govardhana Hill to protect the inhabitants of Vrindavan. On this day, a small hill of sweets is made from food prepared by the devotees, which is then offered to the Deities, and subsequently distributed to everyone. This is known as the “annakuta” ceremony.
The fifth day of Diwali is called Bhratri Dooj, which is a day dedicated to honouring the bond between brothers and sisters. Brothers visit their sisters to enquire about their welfare, and sisters pray for their brothers’ safety, success and wellbeing.
Parking & Directions
Frequently asked questions
Yes, there will be free parking available on the geo-grid and the fields. Please note that the fields can be bumpy, and potentially muddy this time of year.
When arriving, please make the requirement for wheelchair accessibility known to the car park volunteers so they can direct you to the correct area to park.
When arriving, please make the requirement for special accessibility known to the car park volunteers so they can direct you to the correct area to park.
Please visit our Directions page here