MONTVILLE — The shoes of the devoted spilled from the shelves and floor of the entryway onto the steps leading outside the temple.
About 400 people gathered Sunday at the temple of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness of New Jersey in Towaco to celebrate Janmashtami, the 5,000th anniversary of the appearance of Lord Sri Krishna, who the followers believe to be the true god.
"This day is like Christmas for 700 million people in the world," said Swami Jaiadvritha Meharaj, the spiritual master for the followers across the region.
The day began with prayers at 4:30 a.m., as does every day at the temple, said Murthy Pasumarthy, the temple’s public relations spokesman. In the evening, followers gathered for lessons, prayer and rounds of chanting that lead to dramas, spirituals teachings, food and spirited dancing.
The celebration culminated at midnight, which was the hour 5,000 years ago when Lord Krishna appeared, they believe. The festival continues today with another day of prayer and devotional activities.
The sanctuary holds a large altar depicting the human faces Krishna has taken in his appearances on Earth. Garlands of flowers and crepe paper drape the altar and rafters of the room. The air was heavy with incense.
Families arrived and offered their contribution to the evening’s vegetarian feast of more than 100 dishes to Krishna before placing the food at the base of the altar. They clasped their hands before them in prayer or prostrated themselves on the floor.
Women in brightly colored saris wrapped their heads before approaching the altar. The saris in purple, indigo, pink and muted shades of orange and yellow were worn over shalwar kamiz, which cover the women from head to toe.
The men, also dressed fully, wore their long kurta, a shirt-like top, over dhoti, or long pants.
As the offerings were made, a singer playing a harmonium led the call and response of chants that rose in pitch and fervor as the evening progressed.
A makeshift band of youths on tabla and kartaal — drums and small cymbals — cast a scattered rhythm across the chants, driving the voices on. Hare Hare. Krishna Krishna.
The chants in Sanskrit, Hindi and Bengali are taken from the Krishna holy book, said temple President Shyamsundar Mahajan of Denville. They tell of Krishna’s glory.
"He is the root," he said. "The supreme person, the provider of everything."
Mahajan said Krishna is nonsectarian. "We welcome any religious leader if they are filled with the love of God."
The Towaco temple has about 300 regular members, Pasumarthy said. It serves a radius of about 50 miles. The temple offers regular services and Sunday school and lessons for children, he said. Most of the members are from the Indian community in North Jersey, and many are doctors, professionals or scientists.
Members do not have sexual relations outside of the marriage; do not use intoxicants, not even coffee or tea in many cases; and focus on family, church and service to God, he said.
"The goal of man is to serve God," said Chaitanya Vallabha Das, whose last name means "servant." "We teach how to love and serve God. We do not serve a material master, but God himself."
He explained that Krishnas also believe in reincarnation, that the body dies but the soul is given a new body, even in the same life. The cells of the body are replaced every seven years, he said, meaning that it is possible that in 70 years, one person could have 10 new bodies.
Meharaj, who prior to his joining the Krishna in 1968, followed the Jewish faith, said that Krishna, as the supreme God, comes to Earth from time to time, either as himself, as he did 5,000 years ago, or as his son.
He said the Krishnas honor Jesus Christ as the son of God.
Krishnas view the coming of the Lord in the their faith not as the end of the world, but as a continuance of the eternal spirit of God.
"Krishna Consciousness is not a religion, but a philosophy and science," he said. "Faiths can change. We celebrate the eternal relationship with God."
Below him, with voices rising and the tabla and the kartaal setting an infectious tempo, the faithful called out praise to their god with faces bright with fervor as their souls danced in the air. Even as their soles collected in the hallway, left, for a moment, behind.