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T he Purnima or full moon of Damodar month is the second full moon of the autumn season, and rasa lila is again celebrated. This second rasa yatra is celebrated more in Bengal, whereas the first one is celebrated more in Sridham Vrindavan.

ISKCON Mayapur celebrates this day by decorating beautiful dancing deities of Srimati Radharani and Astasakhis, each with their own Sri Madhava, set up on the platform just below the RadhaMadhava altar. Rasa Purnima also marks the first of Sri Sri Radha Madhava’s weekly elephant processions in Mayapur. During this festival, Their Lordships come out of the temple and go on a procession around the Mayapur campus on the back of an elephant. Sri Sri Gaura Nitai from Srila Prabhupada’s Bhajan Kutir also come along and lead the procession. The harinama party leads ecstatic kirtans as the Lords proceed around the campus.

As Their Lordships move about, auspicious mantras are constantly being chanted by the Mayapur Gurukula boys, along with the sounds of their conch shells. Other Gurukula boys play the vibrant drums, electrifying the atmosphere, announcing the arrival of the Lord. The whole pathway is illuminated by lamp light and all ISKCON campus is lit up with lights. On the pathway, the community devotees design stunning rangolis. Later in the evening devotees will offer lamps to their Lordships followed by Damodarastakam and Gopigeet.