NATIONAL YOUTH CONVENTION - A Grand Success

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Letter PAMHO:9300037 (79 lines) [W1]

Internet: "Gauranga Dasa" <bhaktagaurav (AT) hotmail (DOT) com>

18-Jan-05 09:01

Premanjana (das) LOK (Disciples Care - Vrndavana - IN) [10570]

NATIONAL YOUTH CONVENTION-A Grand Success

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National Youth Festival

Pune

14-16th Jan, 2005

 

On the occasion of the 108th appearance Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada

under the guidance and inspiration of H.H. Lokanath Swami Maharaja and all

ISKCON leaders of India, ISKCON Pune organized a grand successful National

Youth Festival. We could clearly as students see that tremendous efforts

were made for organizing this festival, which was indeed a grand success.

 

Over 5,000 students from across the nation participated. Well over 12

Sannyasis (H.H. Lokanath Swami, H.H. Radhanath Swami, H.H. Subhag Swami,

H.H. Gopal Krishna Goswami, H.H. Jayadvaita Swami, H.H. Radha Govinda Swami,

H.H. Nava Yogendra Swami, H.H. Bhakti Vikasa Swami, H.H. Veda Vyasa Priya

Swami, H.H. Jayapataka Swami, H.H. Bhakti Purusottama Swami and H.H.

Sukadeva Swami) attended the program along with several ISKCON leaders. Many

great dignitaries like the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr.R.R.

Patil, founder chancellor of Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Dr.

Patangarao Kadam and others graced the occasion. All of them were full of

heartfelt praise for this festival, encouraging more such events in future.

 

All the students coming from different parts of India were accommodated in

different lodges with a provision of mattresses, blankets, pillows, bed

sheets and hot water. Shuttle bus services from the festival ground to the

different lodges during mornings and evenings made everything even more

convenient for the students.

 

There were 28 display stalls put up by various temples and youth groups all

over India. We were served breakfast, lunch and dinner prasadam, which was

opulent and sumptuous.

 

We from Nagpur were a strong group of 50 students, mostly new who traveled

by bus from Nagpur to Pune ….a 21-hour road trip as our bus wouldn't exceed

the limit of 45 kms per hour. ISKCON Vallabh Vidya Nagar (Gujarat) brought

108 students.

 

Srila Prabhupada katha, his pastimes, guidelines, instructions and quotes

were spoken by disciples of Prabhupada showing the Indian youth how

Prabhupada was a unique leader who transformed the lives of thousands of

youths who were plunged in self destructive habits and bogus-isms etc.

 

The day began with mangala-arati, Tulasi kirtan, breakfast and Bhagavatam

class. Two sannyasis gave the Bhagavatam class, one hour each. There were

seminars on "Mind Management", "Power of Habits" and "Revolution in

Consciousness" conducted by different sannyasis. Twenty minutes were given

to each leader and the balance time was for questions and answers.

 

We had debate and discussion competition in which 5 ISKCON Youth forums from

5 different ISKCON temples sent their representatives as one pair or one

team. One of the two spoke for the topic and one against the topic. Each

team got 6 minutes, 3 minutes for each member to represent his side. There

were 2 topics on 2 different days.

 

ISKCON Nagpur chose the topic "Is Youth Meant for Enlightenment or

Enjoyment?" The best part is that ISKCON Nagpur bagged the first prize with

Shyam Mohan Prabhu and Gauranga Dasa on the team. Also Gauranga Dasa was

given the "best individual debater" prize. The second prize was bagged by

ISKCON Chowpatty. The judges were Rasaraja Prabhu (BI) and Gauranga Prabhu

(IIT, Chowpatty).

 

There was yet another debate the next day on the topic "Manava Seva or

Madhava Seva" in which other temples participated. The judges were H.H.

Jayadvaita Swami and H.G. Mukunda Madhava Prabhu. ISKCON Delhi got the first

prize for this debate. After the debates the judges clarified the

misconceptions that arose in the course of the debate giving a Krsna

conscious angle of view.

 

There were also drama presentations by ISKCON Juhu. The presentations were

so great that they very powerfully impacted the students with the message

and importance of Krsna consciousness. Ekalavya Prabhu and Vishvambhar

Prabhu played orchestra and performed kirtan most of the time. There were

multimedia presentations in the stalls and Rasaraja Prabhu's scientific

slide projector power point presentations, which were based on understanding

quantum through Vedic scriptures.

 

There was a special Q/A session called "Material Problems and Spiritual

Solutions" in which ISKCON leaders inspired the youth by speaking on

relevant pastimes of Srila Prabhupada and giving valuable instructions.

 

Later the Leaders took questions on paper from students and gave brief

answers pertaining to the questions taking turns one by one. In the end the

gurukulis from Bhaktivedanta Gurukula And International School from

Vrndavana performed a show depicting the life in the gurukula. A Souvenir

was released on the occasion of the National Youth Festival.

 

We know that never has there been such an ecstatic program for youth

conducted before in the history of ISKCON. It was simply wonderful! We have

learned many new things. We saw the humility and cooperation in which

devotees work and this has left an indelible mark on our lives.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

Your servant,

Gauranga Dasa

(Text PAMHO:9300037) ------

 

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