Special Occasions

On the auspicious day of Shravana nakshatra, in each month, abhishekam of Lord Balaji is performed. Lord is offered arghyam, padhyam etc. and then the Lord is smeared with turmeric paste and bathed with scented water. During the abhishekam, Purusha Sukta, Sri Sukta, Bhu sukta, shanty Panchakam and Brahma samhita are recited by the priests. Then dhupa, deepa and naivedya are offered to the Lord.

Then the Lord is smeared with scented oil followed by dressing and decoration will be done.

Appearance day of Lord Balaji — Next day of Lord Balaram Jayanti
In the year 2010, on the next day of Lord Balaram Jayanthi, Lord Balaji was welcomed in ISKCON Pune, in the auspicious presence of H.H. Lokanath Swami Maharaj. Every year on this day Maha abhishek of the Lord is performed with panchamrutam, fruit juices, flower petals. Elaborated procedure of abhishekam is followed this day and special decorations are done for the Lord. Mahabhog will be offered at the end of the program followed by grand arati.

Vaikuntha Ekadasi is observed in the Margashirsh Month. On this day the doors of Vaikuntha are open. Thousands of devotees visit the Temple for the most auspicious darshan of the Lord. Lord is offered special bhoga, Arati and decoration.

This festival is celebrated in the memory of rituals done by Sri Andal in the month of margashirsh in order to achieve Supreme Lord as her husband. Sri Andal was daughter of Sri Peri Alwar and from her childhood only she was devoted to worship of Lord Srinivasa. She is considered to be Goddess Laxmi Herself and also one of the twelve Alwars in Sri Sampraday. While observing, Dhanurmas Vrat, she composed beautiful verses which are termed as Tiruppavai. On the purnima day she got married to the Supreme Lord.

In our temple we celebrate this occasion for one month by worshiping Sri Andal along with Lord Balaji. Every day, one verse from the Tiruppavai composition are sung before the Lord. Also, Everyday pongal bhoga is offered to Lord in the morning and prasadam is distributed to everyone after morning arati. Also on the last day of the month i.e. marriage day of Andal and the Lord special decorations are done with Maha arati.