(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 08 August 2012, Slovenia, Balkans, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.28)
Sometimes we try to do too much on Janmastami. Anyway, we learn from that and we get purified. In some temples, devotees would read Krsna Book for the entire day. They would read stories about Krsna from morning till night and that was very nice.
In the beginning, Srila Prabhupada had not yet translated the tenth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam. He would make all the devotees fast and they had to stay up until midnight. Prabhupada would read the Sanskrit verses from the tenth Canto and would say, “It doesn’t matter that you don’t understand Sanskrit. It’s transcendental and you will be purified.”
He would read one Sanskrit verse after another in New Vrndavan. At that time, there were a lot of sannyasis present. They had their dandas and were sitting with them. Gradually, they all fell asleep and all of their dandas started to fall over, like a forest… and in the end, everyone was asleep apart from Prabhupada!
Situated 14 miles west of Mathura, Govardhan, also known as Giriraj, is the sacred center of Vraja and is identified as a natural form of Krishna. The name ‘Govardhana’ has two primary translations. In the literal meaning, ‘Go’ translates to ‘cows’, and ‘vardhana’ translates to ‘nourishment’. Another meaning of ‘Go’ is ‘the senses’ and another meaning of ”vardhana’ is ‘to increase.’ Thus the name is also translated by devotees of Krishna as ‘that which increases the senses’–in their attraction to Krishna. In this connection it is believed that the personality of Govardhan blesses the devotee by increasing his/her devotion. Thus by residing in the foothills of Govardhan Hill, all the senses are more inclined to perform eternal service to Krishna. 
The chanting of the holy name is the best form of devotional service. Without sufficient piety a person can neither acquire a taste for chanting nor have adequate faith in its results. Those who are attached to just one section of the scriptures (i.e. karmakanda) cannot perceive the essential meaning of the scriptures. There is no appeal to selfishness in the methodology of the holy name 
(Automatically translated from Russian). Rare astronomical phenomenon was accompanied by a holiday of Lord Balarama, held August 10. In Sanskrit, the celebration of phenomena called Balarama Purnima, and "Purnima" - means "full moon". But the current full moon scientists called it superluniem. The fact that on the night of August 11, when actually noted Appearance of Lord Balarama, the moon was not only the most round, but as close to the Earth. 
Lord Balarama is the original spiritual master of all. By always remembering that he is pure spirit soul, part and parcel of the Absolute Whole, that he has a transcendental original form that is all perfect, that he has forgotten his perfect spiritual state and come under the clutches of maya, that he is offensive to Lord Krsna, being inebriated with the false designations of his gross body, but by the mercy of his spiritual master he can regain knowledge of his real self the method for the reawakening of the disciple's original identity can be quickly accomplished. 
Among the sacred cities of the world, Vrindavana is probably the least well known. Yet this small town in northern India ranks with Rome, Jerusalem, and Mecca as a center of worship. It was in Vrindavana that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna, displayed His transcendental pastimes during His appearance on this planet some five thousand years ago. Over the course of centuries, the places of Krishna’s pastimes were lost to human memory, until they were rediscovered in the sixteenth century by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is Krishna Himself in the role of His own devotee. 
According to the Mayavadis, Lord Krsna's name, form, qualities and pastimes are all illusory, false, temporary and contaminated. They mistake prema or pure love of Godhead for sentimentalism. Mayavadi philosophy characteristically contradicts the devotional path of bhakti at every turn. Therefore, Mayavadis are the greatest offenders. 
Any person who is seriously desirous of achieving real happiness must seek out a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. 
Iskcon Munich, Germany congregation celebrated Lord Balarama Jayanti and Shravan Purnima by singing kirtan, maha-abhishek, listening to the pastime shared by HH Kavichandra Swami and last but not least by relishing the transcendental prasadam. All the guests were happy to participate and engaged their senses by pleasing Lord Balarama whose blessings are necessary while attaining the love and mercy from Lord Krsna. 
Devotional scenes from Vrindavana. 
Every year many of the Temple's greatest financial supporters are treated to a special evening of annual reports, entertainment and, of course, a three course meal