FESTIVAL OF REUNION - SILVER JUBILEE OF ISKCON JUHU

[Guest guest]

Dear Maharajs and Prabhus,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

The 'Festival of Reunion' and many other programs hosted by Sri Sri Radha

Rasabihari Mandir, Juhu, on occasion of its Silver Jubilee on 14 Jan 2003

were a grand success.

 

Several Srila Prabhupada disciples and sannyasis including

Gurudas prabhu

Madhuvisa prabhu

Kausalya mataji

Srimati mataji

Vishaka mataji

Gandhiva mataji

Narayani mataji

Aditya mataji

Jagatpurusa prabhu

Yadubara prabhu

Ekanath prabhu

Shymasundar prabhu

Nistraigunya prabhu

Gurukripa prabhu

Srutkirti prabhu

Pundarik prabhu

Bhumipati prabhu

Abhinandan prabhu

Nara Narayan prabhu

Gopal Krishna Goswami

Loknath Swami

Radhanath Swami

Jayapataka Swami

Navyogendra Swami

Sacinandan Swami

Devamrita Swami

Tatpar Swami

Bhakti Purushottam Swami

 

attended the festival. Most of the above mentioned devotees who helped in

early days of Hare Krishna Land struggle, narrated special pastimes about

Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari and Srila Prabhupada's battle to accquire and

establish Hare Krishna Land. Many devotees were moved to tears to hear about

Srila Prabhupada's extraordinary endeavours to obtain Hare Krishna and his

intimate relationship with his disciples. However, it was most touching to

see many Srila Prabhupada disciples reunite with each other and visit Hare

Krishna Land after more than 20 yrs.

Devotees relished Srila Prabhupada katha from 14 - 18 Jan which was expertly

coordinated by HH Sridhar Swami. Despite ill health and fever, Sridhar Swami

worked tirelessly to serve all guest and devotees.

 

Besides this there were many special highlights of the festival:

 

*** MAHA ABHISHEK - 14 JAN 03 ***

Srila Prabhupada disciples and sannyasis performed maha abhishek of Sri Sri

Gaura-Nitai, Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari, Sri Sri Sita Rama Laxman Hanuman

followed by bhoga offering and arati.

Prominent citizens of Mumbai performed 'shankha' (special silver plated

counch) abhishek for the utsav murti of Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari, Sri Sri

Gaura-Nitai and Sri Sri Sita Rama Laxman Hanuman.

 

 

*** 'HEAVEN ON EARTH CORNERSTONE LAYING CEREMONY - 14 JAN 03 ***

Srila Prabhupada had wanted a 'Heaven on Earth' at Hare Krishna Land which

would include vanaprastha ashram, library, educational facilities, community

hall and many other things.

A yajna was performed at cornerstone laying site which was followed by the

cornerstone laying ceremony held by the hands of Shri DeshBandhu Gupta,

Chairman - Lupin Group and Chairman - Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari Committee and

HH Gopal Krishna Goswami. A model of the project was inaugrated.

The function was also attended by Hon' Sayyed ShahNawaz Hussein - Union

Aviation Minister, Shri Sunil Dutt - MP, Shri Srichand Hinduja, Hema Malini

and many others.

 

 

*** HARINAM FOR WORLD PEACE - 15 JAN 03 ***

A successful World Peace Harinam and Rath yatra was held in downtown Mumbai

on 15 Jan 2003 which concluded with pandal program at Cross Maidan.

Thousands of Mumbaikars joined the harinam.

 

 

*** LORD JAGANNATH RATH YATRA FESTIVAL - 17 to 19 JAN 03 ***

Lord Jagannath, Subhadra devi and Lord Balaram showered their mercy to

residents of Mumbai again on 17 Jan 2003 when They paraded majestically on

Their respective Raths. The Rath yatra was inaugurated by Mayor of Mumbai.

Many prominent citizens of Mumbai were present at the inauguration ceremony.

 

 

*** LIFE PATRONS REUNION - 16, 18 & 19 JAN 03 ***

Special programs and prasadam were arranged for Life Patron to express

gratitute for their involvement with ISKCON. Purshottama Jalota, renouned

singer and Hema Malini along with her daughters performed on the occasion.

Shri Premnath, architech, who assisted Surabhi Swami in construction of Hare

Krishna Land, presented a slide show of 'Heaven on Earth' project.

 

Many donors, life members and well-wishers who served Hare Krishna Land

project in a significant way were felicitated and honored at a special

function held on 18 Jan 03.

 

 

SPECIAL GRATITUDE to GBCs, sannyasis, devotees and well-wishers who worked

tirelessly to make Silver Jubilee festival a grand success:

 

-> Gopal Krishna Goswami, Sridhar Swami and Radhanath Swami who personally

invited Srila Prabhupada disciples to attend the festival.

-> Temple Council Members: Bhima prabhu (President), Devakinandan prabhu,

Braj Hari prabhu, Surdas prabhu (Convenor), Kapila prabhu, Pancaratna prabhu

and Mukunda Madhava prabhu

-> Life Membership preachers

-> Silver Jubilee Committee

-> Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari Committee

-> Haridas prabhu and his ITV team who shot the festival and exclusive

interviews with Srila Prabhupada disciple and sannyasis.

-> Children of Hare Krishna Land who performed special cultural program

which included dance, bhajans and Nrsimhadev drama for pleasure of devotees.

-> Devotees and volunteers from Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari Temple - Juhu, Sri

Sri Radha Gopinath Temple - Chowpatty, Sri Sri Radha Giridhar Temple - Mira

Road

-> Children of Vrindavan gurukul who performed the drama 'Advent of Lord

Jagannath'.

-> Registration Team, Prasadam cooking & distribution team, Accomodation

arrangement team, pujari department

-> Temple presidents and devotees from various temples across India and

world who participated in the temple.

-> All devotees who participated in festival as kirtan singers, audience or

in any other capacity.

-> Krishna Chandra prabhu who sponsored some airline tickets

-> Mumbai Police and Traffic Police.

 

Kindly forgive any error or ommission in this report.

 

Your servant,

Parijata devi dasi