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Photography from the Shree Krishna Janmashtami Celebration and Uriyadi at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo on 12 September 2026 by Lens & Moments.
This gallery comes from a very spontaneous Saturday for us. I had been at another event the night before and was looking forward to a quieter day, but when I saw Uri Adi listed on the Janmashtami program, our plans changed. I had seen the tradition many times in movies, documentaries and social media, but had never experienced it in person. My wife and I decided to go, thinking we would stay for a short time and come home early. Instead, we stayed until the end.
It was a beautiful sunny afternoon filled with devotion, colour and community. Families gathered around the Great Stupa, people wore colourful traditional clothing, children were dressed as Shree Krishna, books and cultural materials were being shared, and food stalls added to the relaxed festival atmosphere.
Before Uriyadi began, there was a ceremonial and devotional program with rows of chairs arranged around the main area. Later, the chairs were cleared and people gathered around the open space. Finally seeing Uriyadi happen in front of me, after years of only seeing it through a screen, was one of the most memorable parts of the day. The cheering, laughter and excitement from the crowd made the experience completely different from watching a short video online.
Throughout the afternoon I took a few photographs while also enjoying the celebration with my wife. We tried vadai with sambar, walked around the event, watched the different activities and simply enjoyed being there without the pressure of photographing it as an assignment.
At the end of the celebration, prasadam was shared with those attending, and we were also given a small packet to take home. It was a simple but meaningful way to finish the afternoon, reflecting the devotional and welcoming spirit of the celebration.
This gallery is a collection of the moments that caught my attention throughout the day — the people, colours, devotion, families, Uriyadi and the atmosphere of Shree Krishna Janmashtami at one of Bendigo’s most distinctive cultural places.
