Balarama Jayanti 2025: Appearance Day of Lord Balarama

The holy full-moon day of Balarama Purnima is a special event that makes the hearts of Brijwasi excited with happiness, grace, and prem. It is the Lord Balarama Appearance Day, the day when the birth of Lord Balarama took place, who is none other than the elder brother of Krishna. Also, Balarama Avatar of Lord Vishnu is what he is known as.

This celebration holds a special meaning at ISKCON Kurukshetra—Sri Krishna Arjuna Mandir, for obvious reasons. Kurukshetra is the battlefield where Lord Krishna and Balarama played their roles of Supreme Hero (Vishva Nayaaka) and Shaper of Dharma.

And to take a dip in the emotional ocean, we need to enter into the spiritual core of it and experience the cultural elegance that lies entailed on this day—we are going to learn about why Lord Balarama disappeared from planet earth. To understand its significance and historical background and perform rituals, reside; furthermore, why do devotees across different nooks and corners of the world celebrate such an auspicious occasion, especially at ISKCON temples, with such zeal & enthusiasm?

Who is Lord Balarama?

Lord Balarama with a plough and in white clothes is the elder brother of Krishna—he is known as the first expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the original spiritual master for all atrocities living beings.

On Earth, Lord Krishna had an ally in Balarama, an avatar of Vishnu.

Lord Balarama stands for strength and simplicity, as well as service, with the supreme in the service of physical and spiritual power.

He was famously loyal and featured heavily in many of Krishna’s pastimes as His guardian.

The Narrative of Lord Balarama Comes to Life from the Womb all the Way Out into the World

In the tale of Lord Balarama, there is a great deal of enchantment and mystery that is scattered throughout the narrative. Legend has it that Devaki was pregnant when Lord Baladeva (Balarama) made his first appearance. King Kamsa became envious of His incarceration and wanted to kill Him, so the Srimad Bhagavatam says the Lord transferred Him from Devaki’s body to the womb of Rohini, who was another wife of Vasudeva.

Because Rohini-devi loves him so much, he is also known as Rohini-nandana.

Being the natural outcome of this heavenly intervention, the birth of Lord Balarama is an astronomically significant occurrence that cannot be contested. The day when He appears is the full moon of Shravan month (July–August), which is called Balarama Purnima.

How ISKCON Celebrates Balarama Purnima

Worldwide, ISKCON temples, but notably ISKCON Kurukshetra, observe this day with tremendous spiritual zeal. On Lord Balarama’s Appearance Day, ISKCON urged a lot of devotion, community service, and Krishna Consciousness.

Key Rituals and Celebrations:

Abhishekam (Spiritual Bathing Ceremony): Deities of Lord Balarama are bathed with milk, yogurt, honey, ghee, and sacred water.
Kirtan and Bhajan: The chant of the Lord Balarama mantra from the temple—“Om Baladevaya Namah”—invokes His power & grace; hence, this strong voice reverberates in Kirtans & Bhajans.
Discourses and Leela Katha: Spiritual gurus narrated edifying anecdotes from the Lord Balaram story, elucidating his role in the proliferation of Dharma.
Fasting and Feasting: The devotees fast till noon and then break it by a grand prasadam feast, also prepared as food donation on special days.
Cultural Performances: Dance dramas and musical renditions of Balarama’s pastimes are performed, particularly by children and youth groups.

Active Display of Real Devotion: The Key Role Played by ISKCON Kurukshetra

For ISKCON Kurukshetra, Balaram Jayanti is a celebration, but most importantly, it’s celebrated by seva: doing service and upliftment of society.

This sacred temple celebrates the spirit of Balarama Purnima in a unique way.

Anna Daan and Langar Seva

The temple also celebrates, in celebration of Balarama’s nurturing spirit, large-scale food donations.

Because of this, Anna Daan Seva consistently distributes thousands of plates of prasadam to the poor every day in Kurukshetra.

Temple Construction Initiatives

Also, on this sacred day donations are made for temple construction work, which eventually results in the expansion of outreach and facilities of ISKCON Kurukshetra.

Balarama’s nature of strength and support, the same way here, would inspire many to come forward in also supporting both the physical and spiritual infrastructure of the temple.

Spiritual Campaigns

We start special campaigns to spread the kirtan of the Lord Balarama mantra, reading Srimad Bhagavatam, and devotional practices.

A Spiritual View—Why It’s Crucial to Honor Lord Balarama

Observance of Lord Balarama’s appearance is not just ritual celebration. It’s about:

Reconnecting with our spiritual strength
Figuring out what it really means to serve, be humble, and be loyal
Knowing and learning from the original spiritual master
For spiritual advancement, recognizing Balarama—The Strength of Krishna Consciousness

As ISKCON-founder Srila Prabhupada has put it, “One must receive the mercy of Balarama to approach Krishna. This makes it obvious why Balarama is not a subordinate but a doorway into Krishna Bhakti.”

Why Balarama Still Matters Today

Now, in this world of gloom and doom with dilute moralities and spiritual dissensions, the attributes of Balarama (strength, simplicity, disassociation, and determination) are worth practicing.

By chanting the Lord Balarama mantra, or by means of Anna Daan Seva or even participating in temple construction, we begin identifying ourselves with these spiritual truths. A comprehensive overview of the significance of Lord Balarama’s Appearance Day ISKCON celebrations.

In Conclusion: You Should Attend the ISKCON Kurukshetra Fest

So, if you are somewhere near Kurukshetra or even following from a distance, then Balarama Purnima is one festival that has enough to offer. ALL ARE WELCOME. Join us to celebrate the Lord Balarama’s birthday here at ISKCON Kurukshetra – Sri Krishna Arjuna Mandir!

Come and: