Churn the Ocean of Prabhupada's Pastimes

[Guest guest]

This year Kartik marks 25 Years of Service in Separation from Srila Prabhupada.

On behalf of all the devotees of Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir, we wish to

invite all the followers of Srila Prabhupada to come and churn the nectar ocean

of the transcendental pastimes of His Divine Grace. We have three days set

aside for churning out the sweet nectar of Prabhupada memories, Nov. 6, 7, and

8th. There are no festival fees and prasadam is free for all.

 

Actually festivities will begin from the 4th which is Diwali. Because we will

be celebrating Govardhan Puja in the temple the next day, we will be going on

Govardhan Parikrama the 4th morning right after Mangal Aroti. In the evening,

as well as most evenings during the festival, there will be dramas and other

cultural events.

 

Govardhan Puja is on the 5th. After Guru Puja, we will have a procession to the

Bhaktivedanta Goshala for Srimad Bhagavatam class, Go Puja, and breakfast. Then

we will return to the temple where there will be an Abhisheka and an enormous

Govardhan Hill made of prasadam for the Govardhan Puja.

 

 

On the 6th we will have morning and afternoon sessions of Prabhupada memories.

These will be led by senior disciples of Srila Prabhupada. A huge pandal is

being erected for this purpose.

 

Glorification will continue on the 7th morning. On the 7th afternoon we will

take Srila Prabhupada for Maha Hari Nama Sankirtan Procession past all the

Goswami Temples. His Divine Grace will ride in a gorgeously decorated

palanquin, the very one in which he rode 25 years ago. That evening there will

be a special program honoring Srila Prabhupada for which we are trying to get

either the Prime Minister or President to come. Many prominent Brijbasis will

also offer their homages.

 

On the 8th, we will will worship Srila Prabhupada's murti at Guru Puja on an

elaborate dais in the grand pandal. This will be followed bhajans and homages

by devotees up till around noon. The Maha Abhishek of His Divine Grace will be

performed in both the Samadhi and the Samadhi Museum so everyone may do

abhishek. After the bhoga offering, there will be pushpanjali and artik. Then

we will be pleased to serve out a wonderful feast for 5000 devotees at 2:30 pm.

 

In the evening at 7:20, the very moment Srila Prabhupada entered the divine

lila of Radha and Krishna, there will be artik at his bedside. Closed circuit

TVs will be set up to allow everyone to participate even if they can't be

present inside the room, as Srila Prabhupada's quarters are quite small. Then

we will continue to churn the ocean of nectar all night long if neccessary

until all the devotees make their offerings.

 

Already Radhanatha Swami has promised to come with over one thousand followers.

Bhakti Caru Swami has also promised to take time from his busy filming schedule

to preside over the festivities. Siddhanta Das is coming with the Best of

Prabhupada Memories Part 3 and to film more memories. Srutakirti also told us

he would be coming with lots of Prabhupada nectar.

 

So don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to come to Vrindavan to

associate with so many devotees in Karik to participate in the 25 Years of

Service in Separation Festival. The purpose of this festival is to join all

together to churn the nectar of remembrance of Srila Prabhupada, to glorify

him, increase our faith, and renew our vows of serving him forever. We are well

aware that many people have some plan, process, person, or solution for all the

problems of ISKCON. Keep them all in your back pocket and sit on them, or

better yet, don't even bring them with you at all. There are appropriate forums

for addressing the problems of ISKCON and they certainly need to be addressed.

But this is not one.

 

The festival committee has decided that there will be no festival fees and we

will provide free prasadam for all who register with us. We also want to

provide free accommodation to all. We are not, however, in a position to book

rooms as there are so many different schedules, etc. Therefore, if you so

desire, we will refund the rent for those 3 days when you show your receipt for

whichever guesthouse you are staying at the time you register for the festival.

Don't forget that you must book your own accommodations.

 

We need you to register, even though there is no festival fee, so we can make

proper arrangements to serve you to the best of out ability. There will be

special registration counters for you here in Vrindavan. You may also pre-book

by email or snail mail. By email you may send your registration to

<deena.bandhu.acbsp (AT) pamho (DOT) net> or snail mail to SP Festival, Krishna Balarama

Mandir, Vrindavan, UP. 281124 India. Please note down your passport name,

spiritual name, your country, name of your temple, and which of the 5 days each

person will be participating. You will then be able to get your prasadam cards

and identity bands immediately upon arrival in Vrindavan.

 

Anyone who wishes to do some special service for the Vaisnavas at this time is

invited to correspond with us. Already one godbrother has promised to pay for

the main feast on Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance Day. Also contact us if you

have some drama or presentation to put on the schedule. And, of course, any

suggestions are welcome.

 

In service of Sri Sri Krishna Balarama,

Deena Bandhu dasa

 

Note: Please print out and post in your temple