A Night of Chanting, Meditation, and Devotion: Inside Janmashtami in Bogotá
The festival, which commemorates the birth of Krishna, was celebrated on September 4 at the Hare Krishna temple in Bogotá – a gathering of chanting, meditation, spiritual teachings, and traditional cuisine
As night fell, chanting began to fill the Hare Krishna temple in Bogotá. Amid music, meditation, and cultural displays, Colombians and members of the devotee community came together to celebrate Janmashtami, one of the principal festivals dedicated to Krishna – a central figure in various Hindu traditions, especially Vaishnavism.
The celebration, attended by the team of the Social Research Center (SRC) in Colombia, offered a close-up look at a spiritual tradition that, while rooted in India, is also part of Bogotá's religious and cultural diversity.
The gathering began at 5 p.m. local time at the Hare Krishna temple in the north of Bogotá. Attendees gradually arrived in clothing and with symbols characteristic of the festival, joining in the chanting and deep meditation. Particularly striking was the chanting of the maha-mantra Hare Krishna, a devotional practice expressing love and spiritual connection with Krishna.
"This institution's purpose is to share with the Western world the ancient teachings of Vedic culture, specifically those related to the spiritual dimension. And we celebrate this day not merely as something folkloric, but as a wondrous event for all humanity. That God makes His advent on this planet is something that blesses all human beings," says Harinam Gauranga Das, president of the Hare Krishna ISKCON Temple in Bogotá.
Krishna is one of the most important and revered figures in Hindu traditions, particularly Vaishnavism. Janmashtami commemorates his birth and stands as one of the principal celebrations dedicated to this deity. Although the festival has deep roots in India's religious and cultural traditions, devotion to Krishna has spread beyond its borders and today brings together communities of different nationalities across the world, including Latin America and Colombia.
Harinam explains that the Hare Krishna movement arrived in Colombia in 1973. "According to the first devotees, its beginnings were not easy in what was then a very conservative country. However, I've served as director for nine years now, and I've encountered an open public in search of spirituality – people who approach with questions and who have found peace in the depths of this philosophy," he concludes.
A spiritual search that also builds community
For Sara, whose spiritual name is Sharanga, the temple represents a place of refuge and personal searching. Her approach to the community began at a moment of suffering and, over time, became an experience of friendship, learning, and belonging.
"For me, this place represents refuge – having that community to turn to in order to explore all the possibilities that a space like this offers in that individual, spiritual search for self-knowledge, for self-realization. (…) This day in particular represents a day when commitment is renewed, when the search intensifies, and an opportunity to cultivate love and friendships," says Sara (Sharanga), a devotee of the Hare Krishna community.
Her testimony reveals a dimension that often falls outside descriptions of religious festivities: the experience of belonging to a community and finding in it a space for spiritual searching.
The Hare Krishna community notes that its practices have found acceptance in Colombia among people of different ages, beliefs, and social backgrounds. Beyond their differences, its gatherings seek to offer a space for approaching spirituality and the tradition of bhakti yoga, centred on devotion.
The birth of Krishna: the central moment
Throughout the night, attendees took part in a lecture by Hari, who sought to share teachings and reflections on the benefits of meditation, spirituality, and the meaning of this celebration. Chanting plays a central role in this festival, with attendees accompanying it on instruments traditional to the practice.
At midnight comes one of the most important moments: the birth of Krishna, marking the climax of Janmashtami, when devotion and the festive atmosphere radiate most intensely. At this point, various food offerings are distributed – especially prasadam, vegetarian food prepared and previously offered to Krishna as part of the devotional practice.
Taking part in this celebration and gaining a close understanding of how Janmashtami unfolds was an opportunity to encounter other ways of connecting with God – very different from those customary in a country like Colombia, where, according to 2024 Latinobarómetro figures, 57% of the population identifies as Catholic and 18% as evangelical.
The celebration, attended by the team of the Social Research Center (SRC) in Colombia, offered a close-up look at a spiritual tradition that, while rooted in India, is also part of Bogotá's religious and cultural diversity.
The gathering began at 5 p.m. local time at the Hare Krishna temple in the north of Bogotá. Attendees gradually arrived in clothing and with symbols characteristic of the festival, joining in the chanting and deep meditation. Particularly striking was the chanting of the maha-mantra Hare Krishna, a devotional practice expressing love and spiritual connection with Krishna.
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare,
Hare Rama, Hare Rama,
Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
"This institution's purpose is to share with the Western world the ancient teachings of Vedic culture, specifically those related to the spiritual dimension. And we celebrate this day not merely as something folkloric, but as a wondrous event for all humanity. That God makes His advent on this planet is something that blesses all human beings," says Harinam Gauranga Das, president of the Hare Krishna ISKCON Temple in Bogotá.
Krishna is one of the most important and revered figures in Hindu traditions, particularly Vaishnavism. Janmashtami commemorates his birth and stands as one of the principal celebrations dedicated to this deity. Although the festival has deep roots in India's religious and cultural traditions, devotion to Krishna has spread beyond its borders and today brings together communities of different nationalities across the world, including Latin America and Colombia.
Harinam explains that the Hare Krishna movement arrived in Colombia in 1973. "According to the first devotees, its beginnings were not easy in what was then a very conservative country. However, I've served as director for nine years now, and I've encountered an open public in search of spirituality – people who approach with questions and who have found peace in the depths of this philosophy," he concludes.
A spiritual search that also builds community
For Sara, whose spiritual name is Sharanga, the temple represents a place of refuge and personal searching. Her approach to the community began at a moment of suffering and, over time, became an experience of friendship, learning, and belonging.
"For me, this place represents refuge – having that community to turn to in order to explore all the possibilities that a space like this offers in that individual, spiritual search for self-knowledge, for self-realization. (…) This day in particular represents a day when commitment is renewed, when the search intensifies, and an opportunity to cultivate love and friendships," says Sara (Sharanga), a devotee of the Hare Krishna community.
Her testimony reveals a dimension that often falls outside descriptions of religious festivities: the experience of belonging to a community and finding in it a space for spiritual searching.
The Hare Krishna community notes that its practices have found acceptance in Colombia among people of different ages, beliefs, and social backgrounds. Beyond their differences, its gatherings seek to offer a space for approaching spirituality and the tradition of bhakti yoga, centred on devotion.
The birth of Krishna: the central moment
Throughout the night, attendees took part in a lecture by Hari, who sought to share teachings and reflections on the benefits of meditation, spirituality, and the meaning of this celebration. Chanting plays a central role in this festival, with attendees accompanying it on instruments traditional to the practice.
At midnight comes one of the most important moments: the birth of Krishna, marking the climax of Janmashtami, when devotion and the festive atmosphere radiate most intensely. At this point, various food offerings are distributed – especially prasadam, vegetarian food prepared and previously offered to Krishna as part of the devotional practice.
Taking part in this celebration and gaining a close understanding of how Janmashtami unfolds was an opportunity to encounter other ways of connecting with God – very different from those customary in a country like Colombia, where, according to 2024 Latinobarómetro figures, 57% of the population identifies as Catholic and 18% as evangelical.
You May Also Interested