Foundation ceremony of proposed UTTARAYANI TEMPLE held in Bhagalpur amid spiritual fervour

A spiritual discourse and foundation ceremony marking the beginning of the proposed Uttarayani temple project was organised on Sunday at the Open Theatre, Sandis Compound, Bhagalpur.

The Uttarayani Temple will be dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Maharishi Rishyashringa on the banks of the Uttarvahini Ganga near Delhi Public School Bhagalpur at Sabour. The programme was organised by V.B. College of Education, Numerica Trust and the Alumni Association of DPS Bhagalpur, in association with the community of ISKCON worldwide.

ISKCON’s Global Spiritual Network Highlighted

The event was organised as a spiritual discourse dedicated to the teachings of Lord Krishna and the wider message of Sanatan Dharma. The worldwide expansion and organisational presence of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) were highlighted during the spiritual programme, where speakers outlined the scale of the organisation’s global network and its growth since its establishment in 1966.

ISKCON has established more than 500 temples across the world, along with around 40 rural communities and more than 100 bhojnalaya (food centres).

Dignitaries Attend Spiritual Programme

The programme was graced by several distinguished dignitaries who shared the dais and participated in the proceedings. Those present included Rohit Pandey, MLA Bhagalpur; V.M. Singh, national convener of the Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan; Naru Gopal Das Prabhu Ji, regional secretary, ISKCON Bihar; Prabhu Sachidanand of ISKCON, East of Kailash, New Delhi; His Grace Prabhu Ram Bhadra Das, zonal supervisor, East Bihar, ISKCON; Rupesh Saran, Kamal Madhav, Dr. Rakesh Srivastava, Child Specialist, and Rajesh Srivastava, founder of DPS.

The speakers emphasised that the proposed temple will add a new dimension to the cultural and spiritual identity of Bhagalpur, a city known for its rich historical and cultural heritage.

Addressing the gathering, Rajesh Shrivastava, founder of DPS Bhagalpur, described the proposed temple as much more than a physical structure. Srivastava said, “The temple represents the faith, culture, traditions and spiritual values of society and will serve as a place where people can temporarily rise above worldly concerns and experience inner peace and positive energy. We hope that the temple would emerge as a centre for devotion, service, compassion, humanity and the propagation of the teachings of Lord Krishna.”

During the spiritual discourse, the speakers referred to the teachings of Lord Krishna as presented in the Bhagavad Gita, particularly the messages of duty, love, righteousness and devotion.

Naru Gopal Prabhuji, regional secretary, Bihar ISKCON, also recalled the life and contribution of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON.

Naru Gopal Prabhuji said, “Srila Prabhupada established ISKCON in New York in 1966 and worked extensively to spread the teachings of Lord Krishna and the chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra beyond India. His tireless efforts were instrumental in establishing the foundation for the international growth and spread of the Hare Krishna movement.”

Call to Preserve Rishi Tradition and Heritage

Rohit Pandey, MLA, Bhagalpur, said, “Such occasions remind us of our responsibilities and make us conscious of the values and dignity we must uphold. We should take a collective resolve to preserve and carry forward the rich legacy of our Rishi tradition, its values and its timeless cultural heritage.”

Hare Krishna Chanting and Cultural Performances

The gathering also witnessed the chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra:

‘Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare;
Hare Rama, Hare Rama,
Rama Rama, Hare Hare’.

The main attraction of the programme was a dance and skit performance on Krishna Life by the students of DPS.

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