The celebrations kicked off at Padmasambhava’s residence in Glendene with Gaura-arati at 7pm. Sridama brought along his Gaura-Nitai deities along with Srila Prabhupada who was on a swing and beautifully decorated. A kirtana followed Gaura-arati. The temple devotees arrived in the Hare Krishna bus after 9pm, and the kirtana continued while prasadam was served.

H.H. Jayapataka Maharaja arrived later and he described the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the Harinama Sankirtana movement. He also explained that this year would be 500 years since its beginning in Mayapur. He distributed sweets to around 70 devotees who were present. and then ate prasadam. Everyone then converged on Queen Street, the main street of Auckland City to begin the harinama.

At 11 pm. Jayapataka Maharaja wearing his “trademark” turban and playing his huge karatalas—“whompers”, attracted everyone. His ecstatic kirtana lasted until 1 pm. What started as a group of about 40 swelled to over 80, with people swaying to the chanting. Generally, after the festivities are over on Queen Street, people, especially those who are intoxicated, have nothing to do, and seeing the devotees dancing and chanting, they joined in.

When Jayapataka Maharaja departed, Divya Govinda and Sridama continued with the harinama until 2am. 40 devotees returned to the temple at 4.30 am to be with their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Giridhari for the first Mangala-arati of the New Year.