‘Utlotsavam’ steals the show at ISKCON festival

Local youth merrily participating in 'Utlotsavam' conducted by ISKCON at Lotus Temple in Tirupati on September 5, 2026, marking the Gokulashtami festival. | Photo Credit: K.V. Poornachandra Kumar ‘Utlotsavam’ or ‘Dahi Handi’ turned out to be the major attraction at the three-day ‘Sri Krishna Janmashtami’ festivities at the Lotus Temple maintained by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Tirupati on Friday (September 6, 2026).Local youths jumped merrily into the ring to try their luck at beating the pot tied at a height, where they formed vertical pyramids to reach the top. The traditional festival is performed every year on the sprawling ground abutting the temple to celebrate the event observed during Lord Krishna’s childhood, which is followed even today in Vrindavan.The youths, braving the gush of water poured on them in an apparent bid to dissuade them, climbed atop the pyramid and bagged the pot tied at the summit, indicating their victory.Meanwhile, the ‘Hare Krishna Road’ leading to the temple was tastefully decorated with electrical serial lighting and images representing mythological episodes from Srimad Bhagavatha.The temple premises were draped with garlands made of rare and exotic flowers. The wide altar at this temple is quite unique in nature, as it depicts the idols of Lord Krishna and Radha along with those of their eight accomplices (Ashtasakhis), which is considered a rare phenomenon in the ISKCON group of temples.As the temple is thronged by a heavy crowd on these three days, Alipiri police have barricaded the entire street to restrict vehicular movement and also appealed to the crowd to maintain order.The three-day festivities also coincide with the birth anniversary of ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada, observed in a grand manner over the weekend. Published - September 05, 2026 02:32 pm IST