Our Bureau
Washington, DC
On March 22-23, The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), will be inaugurating a grand new 11,200 sq. ft. temple building in Washington DC’s suburb of Potomac, Maryland.
On major holidays, like Krishna Janmastami (Lord Krishna’s birthday) we host up to 8,000 congregants and visitors,” said Ananda Vrindavan, ISKCON Temple President. “We’ve struggled for years to accommodate everyone, and we are excited to share this new facility with our community.”
The rituals for the opening ceremony started on March 16, with traditional Vaishnava Hindu ceremonies such as Agni-Hotra (fire ceremony), Vastu Puja (offering prayers to the four directions and natural elements), and extended kirtans (musical glorification of the names of God.)
The new building boasts many features common to temples in an Indian, or Vedic motif, including elaborate arches and columns, extensive use of marble, and traditional temple domes. It includes a temple room of 4,000 sq. ft., a 3,200-sq. ft. cultural hall for community events, a gift shop, classrooms, and a large commercial kitchen to support the temple’s extensive distribution of free food.
The April 6 invitation-only event will include a ribbon cutting by dignitaries, remarks from special guests, a traditional performance of bhajans (musical meditation), and a feast. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, known popularly as the Hare Krishna movement, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu organization. It was founded on 13 July 1966 in New York City by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
