4.30 a.m. – 5.00 a.m. – Mangal Aarti
Our morning starts by MangalArti. It starts at sharp 4:30. It is considered as the most auspicious and blissful ceremony for all the participants. The Pujari blows the conch and the Deity’s curtains are opened. Prior to opening the curtain, the Pujari hasawakened the Deities, offering them Balya-bhoga of morning paraphernalia, water and milk sweets or other preparations suitable for early morning. The transcendental sound of the conch (shankh) is blown to signal the awakening of the Deities, who appear still dressed in their night dress, without garlands or jewelry. While the Pujari is performing Mangala-arati, the devotees offer their obeisances and take up kirtana, which involves a set program of songs. Sri SriGurvashtakam is sung during the Mangalarati ceremony which is glorification of guru on how he engages his disciples in the process of Bhakti-yoga. Then NarsinghAaarti is sung. This aarati signifies the devotee’s surrender unto Lord Narasimhadev and even glorifies Lord Narsimhadev for His pastime of killing of the demon Hiranyakashipu. The Lord Narsimhadev removes all the obstacles from the path of Bhakti.
5.00 a.m. – 5.15 a.m. – Tulsi-Aarti
Right after the MangalAarti, the prayer to TulsiMaharani takes place. Tulsi is the most sacred plant and known as the favorite of Lord Krishna. Worship of TulsiMaharani is beneficial as she awards Bhakti to the devotees. One devotee offer Aarti withincense, lamp and flowers ,on behalf of all the devotees and then everyone water the roots of Tulsi Maharani to take her blessings.
7.15 a.m. – 7.30 a.m. – Darshan Aarti
Once the Deities are ornamented,dressed and worshipped privately, they give Darshan to all the devotees so that people can offer prayers and worship. The chief priest offers Aarti with lamp, incense, chamara, and peacock fan. It’s a blissful sight ,full ofdevotion . Prayers from Brahma samhita are sung to glorify the Lord.
7.30- 7:45 a.m. – Guru-Puja
In this session, ISKCON members offer greetings to Srila Prabhupada. They express gratitude to him and beg for the mercy of him as without the guru,onecan not reach the Supreme.He is the bestower of knowledge in the heart of thesincere devotee. During the Guru Puja, devotees sing and offer flower petals at the lotus feet of great Srila Prabhupada.
8:00- 9:00am – Srimad-Bhagavatam Class
After Guru Puja, all the devotees sit down together and hear the auspicious SrimadBhagavatam.Keeping with an ancient tradition of passing down spiritual knowledge, our well-versed speakers teach the essence of this timeless scripture, giving everyone theopportunity to grow in spiritual life. The spokesperson reads the stanza and explanations by the Srila Prabhupada. After that, they discuss the topic. In the end, speaker answers to all the queries.
12.30 p.m. – 12.55 p.m. – Raj Bhoga Aarti
This particular Aarti lasts up to 20 minutes. During the Aarti, food is offered to all the Deities. The chief priest also offers aromatic incense, fresh flowers, chamara, and a peacock fan to the Deities.
4.20 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. – Dhupa Aarti
This Dhupa Aarti lasts up to 10 minutes. The chief priest offers Aarti with aromatic incense, fresh flowers, chamara, and with a peacock fan as well. After that, bhog of fruits offered to the Deities.
7.00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.(Summers)& 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Winters)– Sandya Aarti
Sandhya Aarti is better known as Gaura Aarti. All the devotees sing GauraAarti and offer worship to Lord Chaitanya. This is one of the most magnificent and wonderful arti where people from all over the place come to praise the Lord . Devotees sing loudlyand dance. The blissful sight is not to be missed.
8:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.
Just like morning, in the evening it is also conducted with same devotion and manner. It is held for the worshippers and residents as well.
8:30 p.m.-8.45 p.m. – Shyan Aarti
It is the final Aarti of the day. This Aarti ceremony is the last chance to see and worship the Deities.
