As the midnight hour of Shri Krishna Janmashtami draws near, the courtyard of ISKCON Dwarka will be steeped in the heady perfume of devotion, quite literally. This year’s celebrations will feature a grand
offering of “Fragrant Prasad”, a lavish spread of sweets and delicacies infused with scents beloved to the Lord Himself.
From the golden glow of saffron laddoo to the delicate kewra barfi, from the royal richness of mohanthal to the floral sweetness of rose ghewar – each creation carries the essence of devotion. The bhog thalis will also brim with coriander panjiri, sandal ghewar, camphor laddoo, kewra rasgulla, cinnamon halwa, and rose churma, alongside panchamrit prasad, mewa paag, makhana dry fruit panjiri, and more.
Khushboo Mataji, coordinator of the prasad team, shares the secret behind these offerings, “To enhance taste and appeal, we add divine fragrances like sandalwood, camphor, jasmine, and kewra. The Lord delights in these aromas, so we make sure they infuse every sweet.”
In Vaishnava lore, fragrance holds a sacred place in Krishna’s worship. Just as Radha Rani is said to have never repeated a dish in her seva, ISKCON Dwarka’s mega kitchen begins preparations three to four days in advance to create an unmatched variety for the Lord. The offering of perfumes in the morning, the gentle massage of His lotus feet with fragrant oils at night, all are acts of intimate devotion, as much a part of Janmashtami as the chants and lamps.
This Janmashtami, the Fragrant Prasad will not only fill the temple with sweet aromas but also carry the warmth of love, offering every devotee a taste of Vrindavan itself.
