Janmashtami is such a special time. Many people come to the temple to take the darsan of the deities, to take prasadam and to see the drama and dances, whilst remembering and celebrating the appearance of Krishna, the Supreme Personality. In Sydney people began to arrive early on Janmashtami eve.

Many devotees volunteer to help make the festival a great experience. We need people to help with crowd management, setting up stages, seating and tables, serving prasadam, answering questions, selling books and other paraphenalia and cleaning up afterward.

Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha hosted the whole event and kept an eye on everything, tasting all the prasadam before it was distributed. They got themelves dressed up beautifully especially for the occasion.

As the sky grew darker the crowd grew larger and the temple room began to fill to the brim.

The book tables where very popular and many people took reading material. I had a long look myself just incase there was something I didn't have.

This is the entertainment tent. There was a video of Srila Prabhupada, kirtan, and dancing and more. The crowd got so big here there were as many standing as sitting.

The prasadam hall was very popular. There was a great variety of things to choose from, even cakes! Of course I didn't have any cakes myself.

The crowd of devotees and well wishers swelled and swelled. The crowd management team did their best to keep people moving smoothly.

The dancers danced.

The kirtan cranked up

Friends got re-aquainted

The kirtan rocked

The abhishek began

I thought the party was really happening and then midnight came and I was so absorbed I forgot to take any more pictues : )

Janmashstami Ki jay, All Glories, All Glories, All Glories.