Diwali / Annakuta & Govardhana Puja Festival
Tuesday 14 November 2023
Free ticket required for entry between 10am-5pm
Note: More tickets will be released on the day (Tues 14 Nov) after assessing the weather and tickets booked
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.
Schedule for the 14th
Temple Room
Mangal Arati: 4:30am-5am
Annakuta Darshan from 8am-5pm
Darshan will be open till 8am – 7:30pm
Sri Krishna Haveli
7am – Guru Puja & Kirtan
7:30am – Giriraj Darshan & Deity Greeting
8am – Candle Offering
9am onwards – Festivities (Class, Kirtan etc.)
10am – Govardhana-puja (Circumambulating the Hill)
Goshala
10am onwards – Go Puja (every hour until 4pm)
Prasadam
Served throughout the day
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
– 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).
A ticket is required to enter Bhaktivedanta Manor between 10am-5pm. If you arrive before or after this window then a ticket will not be required.
Tickets are not required for children under 5.
In order to enter Bhaktivedanta Manor on this day, a ticket is required. If tickets are still available, we may ask you to book a ticket online via your phone. If not you will be returned from the car parks.
Yes. you are welcome to come to Bhaktivedanta Manor before 10am. But if you arrive during the event time (10am-5pm), then you will need an entry ticket to enter Bhaktivedanta Manor, as without a ticket in those times, you will not be allowed entry. If you arrive before 10am, you will be allowed to stay for the rest of the day without a ticket.
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 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 limited shuttle service from Stanmore Station to Bhaktivedanta Manor (and back). Starting from 10am and with the final return at 1:30pm. Click below for more details and booking.
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