The Karnataka unit of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness will organise the birth centenary celebrations of the late Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, the founder of the Hare Krishna movement, at the Krishna-Balaram hills in Rajajinagar, here on September 6.

Madhupandith Dasa, the Krishna-Balarama Temple Project Director, told presspersons that a 'centennial foundation' would be founded in the name of Bhaktivedanta Swami, which would strive to uphold and rejuvenate Vedic culture and propagate the principles of Bhaktiyoga and Sankirtana Yagna.

He said Maha Vyasa Puja would be performed on September 6 and water from many holy rivers in India, Nepal, Burma and Indonesia would be brought to perform Abhishek of Srila Prabhupada's Murti. This would be done at all the 630 ISKCON centres across the globe. The Krishna Jayanti celebrations would be organised on September 5.

During its first year of operations, the Foundation, with a view to fulfilling the wishes of Prabhupada, plans to take up a project to identity old, historic, ancient and endangered temples in Karnataka and renovate them. It will also take up a project for youth under which spiritual leadership workshops will be organised during the vacations. Participants in the workshop will be taught the essence of the Vedic philosophy and Bhagavad Gita and the practice of Bhaktiyoga. Residential facility will be provided to those who from outside Bangalore.

Madhupandith Dasa said that a programme to send the trained youth to conduct spiritual awareness courses in the schools and colleges was also on the anvil. About the Rs. 20 crore temple project started five years ago, he said the construction would be completed in a few months and inaugurated on April 30 next year. 'The 45-day inaugural function would culminate with the installation of the idols of Sri Krishna. Balarama and Sri Brahmachaitanya.

Madhupandith Dasa said that the temple, built in the neo-classical style, would be a tourist landmark. Modern architectural aspects and the major Agamic and Vastu rules had been inculcated in the construction. The main features of the temple were the Mahagopuram with a special glass cover and the 'ferrow' cement shells used for the facade of the Garbha Griha.

The temple will have in its premises, a multi-media theatre for which equipment has been imported. The Union Government has exempted the imports from customs duty. An airconditioned multi-purpose convention hall. which will used for generating funds for the upkeep of the temple premises, will also be constructed.