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Gaura Purnima is celebrated as the appearance day of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He is regarded as the conjoined incarnation of Goddess Radha and Lord Krishna as per the beliefs of the Gaudiya Sampradaya. The way that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu worshipped Lord Krishna via dancing and bhajan-kirtan had a significant impact on Bengali Vaishnavism. Additionally, he was the leading exponent of the Achintya Bheda Abheda Tattva Vedantic doctrine. Gaudiya Vaishnavism was established by Mahaprabhu. It is believed that Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born on the Falgun Purnima. 

Gaura Purnima 2024: Date 

The auspicious occasion of Gaura Purnima is being celebrated today, on 25th March 2024 by the members of Gaudiya Sampradaya. Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu made his appearance at Sridham Mayapur on Phalguni Purnima, the full moon day of Phalguna in 1486 AD (1407 Shakabda). 

Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the combined incarnation of Goddess Radha and Lord Krishna. (Image Source: ISKCON Bangalore)

Rituals Of Gaura Purnima At ISKCON 

-A Pallakki Utsava of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga (Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda) kicks off the festivities. Amid ecstatic kirtans, the Utsava Deities are brought in a procession in a flower-decked Palaki. The Deities of Nitai Gauranga are given a spectacular abhisheka following the procession. Panchamrita and panchagavya are applied on Their Lordships first, and subsequently a variety of fruit fluids. Invoking the Lord in prayer, devotees recite passages from the Brahma-Samhita.  

The Gaura arati, a composition written by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, is performed in accompaniment to a big arati. Following the arati, the devotees recite the Purusha Sukta prayers while the Deities are bathed in holy water drawn from 108 kalashas. 

ALSO READ: Who Is Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu? Know Interesting Facts About The Divine Personality Who Propagated Bhakti And Started Naam-Sankirtan

Then, a unique presentation of fifty-six special dishes (chappan bhog) and a shower of fragrant flowers (pushpa vrishti) are presented to Their Lordships. Following the abhisheka, Sri Sachi Tanayashtakam, a Shayana arati that narrates His transcendental form, attributes, and actions, is sung. The Shayana Pallakki Utsava concludes the program.