The Radha Krishna Temple on North Watters Road is looking for Allen residents to help pull off a multi-day festival this fall.

The temple's Janmashtami Mahotsav 2026, a celebration of Lord Krishna's birth, runs Sept. 3–6 with lead-up events beginning Aug. 28. Admission is free. Behind the scenes, the festival depends on volunteers filling dozens of roles: serving food in the kitchen, greeting guests at the door, arranging flowers on the altar, stringing garlands, managing shoe racks, coordinating teams and sweeping floors after midnight.

In a blog post published Aug. 15, the temple described how the volunteer experience breaks down social barriers. A physician carries heavy boxes beside a college student. A business owner picks up a broom. Grandparents tie flower garlands while children organize shoes on racks.

Temple founder Swami Mukundananda intentionally rotates volunteer assignments rather than fixing them. One day a volunteer may coordinate a team; the next, they carry garbage bags after midnight. The practice, the temple says, teaches that service matters more than role or status.

Who can sign up

Anyone 13 or older can volunteer, though some roles require volunteers to be 18 or older. Families are encouraged to serve together, and the temple says some of its most joyful volunteer moments happen when multiple generations work side by side.

Students can receive credit for volunteer hours; a shift supervisor can verify time served.

The temple's volunteer coordination team can be reached at [email protected], and sign-ups are open online.

What is seva?

For those unfamiliar, seva is the Sanskrit term for selfless service offered as an act of devotion. The temple describes it as the unseen foundation beneath every visible moment of celebration, from the lamps that are lit to the prasadam that is served, according to its blog post.

The temple at 1450 N. Watters Road also offers year-round volunteer opportunities including weekly Seva Sundays and seasonal programs. The temple wrote that Janmashtami is when the spirit of seva is most visible, but not the only time service is welcomed.

Upcoming community events

• Aug. 28: Janmashtami lead-up events begin at Radha Krishna Temple, 1450 N. Watters Road
• Sept. 3–6: Janmashtami Mahotsav 2026, featuring kirtans, devotional tableaux (Jhankis), a midnight Janmotsav ceremony, Dahi Handi, Braj Mela, children's fancy dress competition and a food festival. Free admission; all are welcome.