This Friday, April 3, 2009, Toronto’s Hare Krishna temple will be celebrating Rama Navami, the appearance of Lord Ramacandra. In an epic victory of good over evil, Lord Rama, the pious King of the world and incarnation of Lord Krishna, defeated the wicked Ravana in the great battle of Lanka.
Rama Navami celebrations will take place starting at 6:00pm on Friday. Festivities will actually begin the day before, on Thursday, April 2, 2009 with a 24-hour reading of the Ramayana. The epic Ramayana tells the story of Lord Rama. The reading will begin at 5:00pm on Thursday, April 2nd and conclude at 5:00pm on Friday, April 3rd. This will be followed by the main celebrations at 6:00pm!
The schedule for Rama Navami celebrations is as follows (subject to change):
6:00pm to 6:30pm – Arati – HH Bhaktimarga Swami
6:30pm to 6:40pm – Welcome and Announcements
6:40pm to 7:10pm – Brief Class by HH Bhaktimarga Swami
7:10pm to 7:45pm – Nama-Yajna
7:45pm to 8:00pm – Arati for Lord Rama
8:00pm to 8:30pm – Arati (featuring a special “night darshan” of the Deities)
8:30pm to 9:30pm – Free Vegetarian Feast (prasadam)