Rakhi Purnima and Badathakura Balabhadra Jayanti

Shree Jagannatha Temple Sydney marks Rakhi Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on Friday 28 August 2026, held jointly with Badathakura Balabhadra Jayanti, the appearance day of Lord Balabhadra (Balarama), the elder brother of Lord Jagannatha.

Rakhi Purnima celebrates the sacred bond between brothers and sisters: sisters tie a protective thread, the rakhi, on their brothers' wrists, and brothers pledge lifelong protection. At this temple the day is doubly auspicious because it coincides with Balabhadra Jayanti. Special puja and abhisheka are performed for Lord Balabhadra, and devotees celebrate with bhajans, kirtan and prasadam. It is an occasion to honour the divine elder brother, who represents strength, wisdom and brotherly love.

The temple has published the date but not yet the running order: its event page states that detailed timings and the event timeline will be announced closer to the day. The temple's regular evening darshan is 7:00pm to 9:00pm, so plan around that window and check the temple's site or email before travelling. There is no entry charge.

The temple is at Unit 29/5 Gladstone Road, Castle Hill NSW 2154 - a unit inside a business park, so follow the unit numbers rather than looking for a street frontage. It is reachable by car, bus and the Castle Hill metro-connected routes, with on-site and nearby industrial-area parking, though parking tightens during major festivals. Enquiries go. The temple is run by Shree Jagannatha Consciousness ANZ and trades as Shree Jagannatha Abode, Sydney.