Draft:Hare Krishna Movement Jaipur

Hare Krishna Movement Jaipur (known colloquially as the Hare Krishna Cultural Centre) is a cultural complex under construction located in the Pink City, Jaipur in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It will be the Biggest Cultural Monument in Rajasthan after completion of construction and a centre of great significance to the Krishna Consciousness Community. This cultural complex will be of unique architectural design and one of the main tourist centre of Jaipur.

The centre has been planned by the followers of Srila Prabhupada and the effort includes the complex rising to a height of about 200ft. (20 floor) with a built-up area of 5,00,000 sq. ft., set in 3.5 acres of land. The Foundation Stone laying ceremony of the cultural centre was performed by Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Ashok Gehlot on 24th August, 2009.

= History & Belief =

Jaipur or ‘The Pink City’ is also popularly known as ‘Gupta Vrindavan’ or ‘Hidden Vrindavan’ within the Vaishnava community. This is because several prominent deities of Vrindavan such as Sri Radha Govind Dev, Sri Radha Madan Mohan and Sri Radha Gopinath were moved to Jaipur by the devotees of Vrindavan, when Vrindavan was attacked by the Mughals.

Srila Prabhupada himself visited Jaipur in year 1972, stayed in the palace grounds as the guest of the Queen, Gayatri Devi and blessed the devotees with his divine presence.

In one of the letters Srila Prabhupada, the founder and Acharya of ISKCON writes:

''“Jaipur is visited by many Vaisnavas as a holy place of pilgrimage. Especially Gaudiya Vaisnavas go there to see the duplicate Vrindaban Deities such as Govindaji, Radha Damodaraji, etc. So I want to open a duplicate Krishna Balarama temple in Jaipur. I am sending separately copies of pictures of our Krishna Balarama temple in Vrindaban. Of course there is also Radha Krishna and Gaura Nitai. I wish that you have some land in Jaipur and to help us in constructing a duplicate temple like Vrindaban.”   — Srila Prabhupada's letter to Mahavir Prasad Jaipuriaji from Philadelphia, 13 July 1975.''

Inspired by this vision and desire of Srila Prabhupada, the devotees of Hare Krishna Movement Jaipur, who are strictly adhering to His instructions conceived the Hare Krishna Cultural Centre project to build a gorgeous temple for Sri Sri Krishna Balarama.

''Constructing gorgeous temples is glorified in various scriptures. Skanda Purana emphasises by saying "Just by donating for the construction or renovation of a temple will wipe all the sins which are committed in seven births and it will deliver to his forefathers who are suffering in the hellish planets." And in Vamana Purana it is said “Whoever constructs or helps to construct a temple will protect eight generations of father, grandfathers and forefathers from falling into Hell”''

The foundation stone laying ceremony of Hare Krishna Cultural Centre in Jaipur was done on 24 August 2009.

= Festivals = Hare Krishna Movement Jaipur celebrates festivals that are either related to avatars of Lord Vishnu or with Vedic culture. Main festivals that are celebrated within the temple are:


 * Rama Navami
 * Brahmotsava
 * Narasimha Jayanti
 * Panihati Chida-dahi Utsav
 * Ratha Yatra
 * Balaram Jayanti
 * Jhulan Utsav
 * Sri Krishna Janmashtami
 * Vyasa Puja
 * Sri Radhashtami
 * Deepotsava
 * Govardhan Puja
 * Vaikuntha Ekadashi
 * Nityananda Trayodashi
 * Gaura Poornima
 * Patotsav