lens culture
Four Days in Winter
Menachem Mendel Meir

Four Days in Winter

Each year in January, Radhadesh, Continental headquarters of ISKCON, the Hare Krishna movement, hosts a festival of Kirtan. Kirtan is the call and response devotional music that has witnessed a surge in attention ever since the early 2000s. Close to 1500 people travel to Radhadesh from all over Europe to participate and to attend the Kirtan sessions by Iskcon's Kirtan superstars. The world "behind the stage" is rarely seen, yet it is that world that keeps the wheels of the festival turning: the cooking, the temple services, temple kirtans: all these anchor the festival itself

Photos
45
Status
Public
Created
May 24, 2017
Updated
Feb 08, 2022
Categories

No categories selected

Tags
#Devotion #Krishna #Kirtan #Radhadesh #Hare Krishna #Iskcon

Photos (45)

Devotees observe the evening temple ceremony - Gaura Arati
File: a-modest-last-offering-is-made-to-their-lordships_32635380555_o.jpg
A pujari offers the fly whisk to the Deities that reside in Radhadesh
File: a-pujari-offers-the-chamara-or-fly-whisk-after-having-offered-a-flower-and-incense_32255814740_o.jpg
Small altar in the Radhadesh scullery
File: altar-in-the-preparation-and-scullery-kitchen_31823199033_o.jpg
In the Devotee kitchen, Radhadesh residents seek sanctuary from the huge crowds that descend on Radhadesh during the festival
File: associating-in-the-devotee-kitchen_31823263163_o.jpg
The temple room kirtans during the Radhadesh Mellows festival are renowned for their vigorous dancing
File: dancing_32255768900_o.jpg
One of the last Deity audiences (darshan) of the day is bitter sweet, because soon devotees and resident Deities must part for the night
File: dancing-during-gaura-arati_32255775920_o.jpg
Cover
The temple room kirtans during the Radhadesh Mellows festival are renowned for their vigorous dancing
File: dancing-during-gaura-arati-last-full-service-of-the-day_32512937721_o.jpg
The temple room kirtans during the Radhadesh Mellows festival are renowned for their vigorous dancing
File: dancing-during-morning-kirtan_31823235233_o.jpg
The temple room kirtans during the Radhadesh Mellows festival are renowned for their vigorous dancing
File: dancing-during-morning-kirtan_31823244003_o.jpg
The temple room kirtans during the Radhadesh Mellows festival are renowned for their vigorous dancing
File: dancing-during-morning-kirtan_32635244265_o.jpg
The temple room kirtans during the Radhadesh Mellows festival are renowned for their vigorous dancing
File: dancing-during-the-last-darshan-kirtan-this-darshan-is-at-a-time-when-the-deities-are-being-laid-to-rest-and-the-last-kirtan-sounds-to-sing-them-good-night_32482030532_o.jpg
Flowers, first offered to the Deities, are then brought out to the devotees, to enjoy the scent
File: during-arati-articles-like-a-lamp-water-and-a-flower-are-physically-offered-also-to-the-devotees_32594680796_o.jpg
Kirtaniyas who perform at the festival itself, also take turns leading Kirtans in the temple room.
File: evening-kirtan-during-the-last-darshan-of-the-day-the-feeling-of-impending-separation-from-their-lordships-is-intense_32255678390_o.jpg
Radhadesh is famed for the quality of its communal kitchen. During the festival, this kitchen produces three meals a day for almost 1500 people, all free of charge
File: frying-pakoras_31823337133_o.jpg
Radhadesh is famed for the quality of its communal kitchen. During the festival, this kitchen produces three meals a day for almost 1500 people, all free of charge
File: frying-puris_32255747230_o.jpg
Radhadesh is famed for the quality of its communal kitchen. During the festival, this kitchen produces three meals a day for almost 1500 people, all free of charge
File: frying-puris_32635324955_o.jpg
The kitchen altar: food is first offered to Krishna before it can be eaten by devotees
File: kitchen-altar-before-food-is-served-it-is-first-offered-to-krishna-only-then-is-it-prasadam-fit-to-eat_32482010402_o.jpg
The temple room kirtans during the Radhadesh Mellows festival are renowned for their vigorous dancing
File: last-dance-of-the-day_32255819070_o.jpg
The temple room kirtans during the Radhadesh Mellows festival are renowned for their vigorous dancing
File: last-dance-of-the-day_32255822800_o.jpg
The temple room kirtans during the Radhadesh Mellows festival are renowned for their vigorous dancing
File: last-dance-of-the-day_32255826260_o.jpg
Kirtaniyas who perform at the festival itself, also take turns leading Kirtans in the temple room.
File: last-darshan-kirtan_31792382114_o.jpg
The devotional atmosphere during the festival pervades the entire atmosphere during Radhadesh Mellows
File: last-darshan-kirtan_32255800540_o.jpg
The temple room kirtans during the Radhadesh Mellows festival are renowned for their vigorous dancing
File: lively-kirtans-will-bring-many-dancers-to-their-feet_32635236095_o.jpg
A devotee prostrates to the Deities during a temple ceremony
File: making-pranamas-to-the-deities_31823270803_o.jpg
Kirtaniyas who perform at the festival itself, also take turns leading Kirtans in the temple room.
File: morning-kirtan_31792213034_o.jpg
The devotional atmosphere during the festival pervades the entire atmosphere during Radhadesh Mellows
File: morning-kirtan_32594674916_o.jpg
The visual manifestation of the Deities is keenly observed and discussed. This "receiving darshan" of the Deities is a source of deep devotion
File: pointing-out-specific-features-of-their-lordships-during-the-main-morning-darshan_32481847842_o.jpg
Radhadesh is famed for the quality of its communal kitchen. During the festival, this kitchen produces three meals a day for almost 1500 people, all free of charge
File: pot-washing-is-an-almost-full-time-service-during-radhadesh-mellows_32512836191_o.jpg
Serving prasadam to devotees is a devotional honour that is actively sought after. Everyone serves, especially higher ranking monastics and teachers
File: prasadam-offered-food-is-served-to-visitors-and-residents-the-act-of-serving-is-widely-coveted-for-the-merit-it-brings_31823196673_o.jpg
Radhadesh is famed for the quality of its communal kitchen. During the festival, this kitchen produces three meals a day for almost 1500 people, all free of charge
File: preparing-paneer_32255750770_o.jpg
Dancing during the morning program
File: prior-to-their-short-journey-to-the-kirtan-hall-the-deities-are-worshiped-with-song-and-dance_32481852472_o.jpg
Radhadesh is famed for the quality of its communal kitchen. During the festival, this kitchen produces three meals a day for almost 1500 people, all free of charge
File: puri-making_32481971532_o.jpg
Radhadesh is famed for the quality of its communal kitchen. During the festival, this kitchen produces three meals a day for almost 1500 people, all free of charge
File: puri-rolling---daily-prasadam-is-cooked-three-times-a-day-for-about-1000-visitors_32635310985_o.jpg
A devotee checks the bulletin board for transport options. Radhadesh is a rural retreat in the Ardennes and is relatively isolated
File: reading-the-temple-bulletin-board_32482012592_o.jpg
Saligram stones, representations of Krishna possess the same quality of granting "darshan", visual contact, to devotees.
File: regarding-the-shaligram-stones-objects-of-devotion_31792264014_o.jpg
A monastic leads kirtan
File: senior-devotee-offering-kirtan-in-the-temple-room-during-darshan_32512809261_o.jpg
Kirtaniyas who perform at the festival itself, also take turns leading Kirtans in the temple room.
File: the-deities-are-led-out-with-song_31792291914_o.jpg
At the last darshan of the day, the Deities separate from the devotees. This "love in separation" produces a devotional quality that is keenly felt by all those present
File: the-deities-give-darshan-for-a-last-time_32255804130_o.jpg
The owner of Bhaktivedanta Library Services watches the festival kirtans by livestream in her office
File: the-owner-of-bhaktivedanta-library-services-watches-the-festival-via-live-streaming-while-at-work_32512843881_o.jpg
Radhadesh is famed for the quality of its communal kitchen. During the festival, this kitchen produces three meals a day for almost 1500 people, all free of charge
File: the-puri-rolling-team_32635301705_o.jpg
The altars during Radhadesh Mellows are spectacular. A team of about 15 pujaris dresses, feeds, and serves the Deities. The standard of Deity worship in Radhadesh is famous throughout the Hare Krishna movement
File: the-splendid-altar-at-radhadesh-deity-worship-is-of-a-very-high-standard-here-a-team-of-pujaris-and-assistants-works-almost-around-the-clock-to-maintain-a-sufficiently-high-level-of-deity-worship_32594713396_o.jpg
Radhadesh is famed for the quality of its communal kitchen. During the festival, this kitchen produces three meals a day for almost 1500 people, all free of charge
File: the-temple-kitchen_32481990512_o.jpg
The head pujari carries out small scale representations of Radha Gopinatha, the Radhadesh deities, so that they can be present in the kirtan hall
File: their-lordships-are-brought-to-the-kirtan-hall-by-head-pujari-dhira-krishna-dasa_31823283193_o.jpg
Deity aarshans are actively collected by devotees
File: visitors-take-photographs-to-commemorate-the-special-darshans-during-radhadesh-mellows_31792190904_o.jpg
Entire families make the trip to Radhadesh to be present at the festival
File: young-karatala-player-during-kirtan_32255784410_o.jpg