By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Starting the new year with divine blessings is a cherished tradition for many. On the first day of the year, a large number of devotees gather at temples to pray for a prosperous and peaceful year for themselves and their loved ones. This year, special preparations have been made at Patna temples, including the Mahavir Temple and the ISKCON Temple, to welcome 2025.
Mahavir Temple Timings and Arrangements
The Mahavir Temple, located near Patna Junction and renowned for its two idols of Lord Hanuman, will open its gates to devotees at 5:00 am on 1st January 2025 with the ceremonial aarti. Temple Superintendent K. Sudhakaran noted that the temple traditionally sees a massive influx of devotees on New Year’s Day, and comprehensive arrangements have been made to manage the crowds.
To ensure smooth operations:
- Six priests from Ayodhya will assist in offering prasad.
- Volunteers will be deployed to help manage the devotees.
- The temple has requested 120 police personnel from the district administration for crowd control.
- Approximately 20,000 kilograms of naivedyam (offering) are being prepared.
- Additional counters will be set up for the distribution of prasad.
ISKCON Temple Timings and Celebrations
The ISKCON Temple, situated on Buddha Marg in Patna, will open at 4:30 am for devotees, following the worship of the Lord. The darshan of Banke Bihari will be available until 9:00 pm. The temple will close briefly between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm.
ISKCON Temple President Krishna Kripa Das stated that devotees flock to the temple on 1st January to seek divine blessings. Mahaprasad is being specially prepared for the occasion, and the temple is being adorned with a variety of flowers. Additionally, bhajan-kirtan programmes will be held throughout the day to enhance the spiritual atmosphere.
These preparations highlight the significance of beginning the year with prayers and blessings, fostering hope and positivity among devotees.
