Vancouver BC: June 14 2008

The Vancouver Hare Krishna temple, which is becoming famous for it's incredible Tulasi garden, held it's 3rd annual Maha Tulasi Puja Festival on June 14th.

The event was inaugurated with an arati offerend to Srimati Tulasi devi followed by the arati to ISKCON Vancouver's presiding Lordships Sri Sri Radha Madana Mohan.

Special visiting guest, His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami gave a wonderful discourse about Tulasi Devi to a full temple room audience.

A live theatrical drama, Vamana Deva, produced by His Holiiness, which has been receiving rave reviews across the continent, enraptured festival attendees. The drama consisted of an all star cast of local devotees who  gave outstanding performances.

The concluding Maha Tulasi Puja consisting of four simultaneous aratis was done by some of our children and adults alike. As the the arati was being conducted an ecstatic orchestral kritan with violin, cello, bass, harmonium, drums & karatals resounded in the temple transforming it into Vrndavan as hundreds of guests circumambulated Srimati Tulasi Devi chanting and dancing ecstatically.

The perfect warm sunny weather created a heavenly backdrop as a sumptuous feast of Krishna Prasadam was distributed picnic style on the front temple patio throughout the evening.

Judging by the large smiles on everyone's face and the number of positive comments from many of the guests it appeared that this year's Maha Tulasi Puja festival was a grand success.

Srimati Tulasi Ki Jai!