A Y2K Report from Sridhama Mayapur

[Guest guest]

The Millenium Bug took a big bite out of bookings for the Mayapur Festival.

Radhasyamasundara Prabhu, the Festival organizer for the last twelve years,

said bookings prior to January first were ninety percent lower than normal

for that time of the year. He attributes this to devotees' fears of Y2K

complications and considers Y2K, in this context, to be an extension of the

mayic covering of the dhama that prevents people from entering.

 

However, absolutely no Y2K complications entered the dhama! The electicity

is working the same as always: on and off, on and off. Planes land and

rise at the Calcutta airport. Trains come and go at Howrah. Mangala-aratika

starts on time daily. Ganga Mata bestows her mercy on all bathers.

 

"Devotees who avoid Mayapur during the Festival to avoid the crowds, don't

have to worry this year," Radhasyamasundara said. Although bookings have

picked up since January first, fewer people than he can ever remember will

attend this year's festival.

 

Reminiscing about the 1991 Mayapur Festival, which was attended by fifty

percent fewer devotees than usual because of anxiety created by the Gulf

War, Srimate Mataji said that this was the sweetest festival and parikrama

in her seventeen years of living in Mayapur.

 

Bear all this in mind if you like personalized education, because the

Mayapur Institute of Higher Education (MIHE) begins its inaugural semester

on February fourth. Twenty-seven senior devotees from around the world will

offer twenty-nine interactive courses on sastra, health, Deity worship,

strengthening ISKCON, preaching, managing, and teaching skills. Practically

all our teachers received training in student-centered interactive and

experiential learning methods. You will be surprised how much you learn in a

short time while having fun doing it. And this year you will be able to take

advantage of low student/teacher ratios.

 

In Mayapur you'll have easy access to serene places of study, potent places

of pilgrimage, a complete reference library, great association, gorgeous

Deities, enlivening morning and evening programs, nice accommodations, and

great prasadam.

 

Be our guest for a truly uplifting experience. Please visit our Web site

at http://www.mayapur.org/mihe for more details about the courses,

accommodations, and prasadam, or write to me at janmastami.sdg (AT) bbt (DOT) se.

Please read the accompanying message that contains important additional

information about the MIHE.

 

We look forward to your association.

 

Your servant,

Janmastami dasa