2024.12.15 (Vrindavan Today News): Vrindavan saw two Diwalis in a period of just forty five days. The grand Ranganath Temple in Vrindavan, an architectural marvel of South Indian style, came alive with thousands of oil lamps on the auspicious occasion of Margashirsha Purnima. The celebration, known as Kritika Deepotsav, saw a dazzling display of lights that illuminated the temple premises and created an ethereal atmosphere reminiscent of a second Diwali.
In South Indian tradition, Kritika Deepotsava holds a special significance. Sisters light lamps before the deity, praying for the well-being of their brothers, and offer a unique prasadam of rice dumplings and jaggery laddoos. This prasadam is later distributed among family members, symbolizing unity and love. For decades, this sentiment has been upheld in the Ranganath Temple during this festival.
The festivities commenced on Sunday evening, with devotees diligently placing lamps across the temple complex. As darkness fell, these lamps were lit, transforming the temple into a luminous haven. Every corner, from the inner sanctum and circumambulatory paths to the Garuda Stambha, the Ghanta Ghar (clock tower), the Pushkarini (sacred pond), the swing pavilion, and the grand Barahdwari, sparkled in the warm glow of thousands of lamps.
The Kritika Deepotsav concluded with a magnificent Maha Aarti. Lord Ranganath, accompanied by Goddess Goda, was ceremoniously carried in a silver palanquin to the temple’s eastern gate, accompanied by traditional South Indian musical instruments. The highlight of the evening was a ritual where priests worshipped a straw hut constructed specifically for the occasion and then ignited it in reverence. This unique ritual is performed only once a year, signifying the divine blessings of the deity.
The event witnessed the participation of numerous devotees and dignitaries, including Ramanuj Agrawal, Raghunath Swami, Raju Swami, Yadavendra Singh, Ranga Swami, Venkatesh Swami, Anagha Srinivasan, R. Krishnan, Sudha Krishnan, Archana, Sharad Sharma, Bheem Prasad, Nikhil, Rambhajan, Lakhan Lal Pathak, and Jugal Kishore. Their presence added to the festive spirit, making the evening a memorable one for all attendees.
As the lamps flickered and prayers resonated in the air, the Kritika Deepotsav once again showcased the timeless blend of devotion, tradition, and grandeur, leaving devotees and visitors in awe of Vrindavan’s spiritual and cultural richness.
