Update -1, VMS Retreat, Laurel Hill State Park & Mettilotsava in Sri Venkateshwara Temple, Pittsburgh, Memorial Day Weekend

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

The Allentown group had visited Laurel Hill State Park and toured the Group

Camp-5 last Saturday and found this facility suitable for our gathering during

the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. This site is located in serene surroundings

among tall trees with a lake and several natural trails nearby for hiking. The

Camp consists of large kitchen and mess hall, large activity center with a

stage, hot water bath rooms and rest rooms for ladies and gents, cabins with

cots, place for camp-fire, basket-ball court, large lawn areas for play and

games for children etc, all for our exclusive use. The facilities are good for

madi devarapooje, music concerts, lectures and childrens programs, play, serving

theertha-prasadas in our style, socializing etc. All the buildings have

electricity with multiple power out-lets.

 

Town of Somerset is about 7-8 miles from the Park and has regular grocery

stores, restaurents, hospitals, hotels etc. We also found a grocery store in

about 1000 yards from Camp-5 inside the Park.

 

We will provide more details regarding items to bring with you in our later

updates.

 

Last Saturday, we also met with Chairperson, Religious Committee and the

Secretary, Executive Committee in Sri Venkateshwara Temple, Pittsburgh and

discussed arrangements for Mettilotsava on 30 May (Sunday). It took us 90

minutes by drive to reach the Temple from Group Camp-5.

 

In the Group Camp-5 area, we found that Verizon cell phone is out of reach.

There is a public pay telephone in the mess hall in Camp-5.

 

It is likely that Saturday, 29 May is the only day for camp related activities,

such as hiking, swimming, playing etc since Sunday is full of functions. Hence,

arriving on Friday night is the desirable option. Also we do need folks, in

addition to Allentown group, on Friday night and Saturday morning to arrange

" things " in the Camp. For many of us, this means arriving in Camp-5 after

Sun-set and in the dark. The driving directions to Camp-5 in the Park are quite

simple. We will provide the driving directions in the latter updates. However

to avoid any confusion, we will also mail the map of the Park to those who

provide us their mailing address.

 

We will form various groups for organizing our activities, such as schedules of

events, kitchen activities, groceries, utensils, childrens programs, young

adults activities, sports, accounts, public address system, facilities

enhancement, stage management, reception desk/check-in/check-out, display of

books/CDs, video presentations etc as in the previous years. Please let us know

if you or your children wish to volunteer for any of these activities. We will

announce the coordinators for these activities in the next update.

 

Please do not hesitate to forward this announcement to all those interested.

 

Namaskaragalu

 

Bindu

 

>

> Madhavan,G V. Bindu

> Tuesday, March 30, 2004 1:13 PM

> Preliminary Announcement - VMS Retreat, Laurel Hill State Park &

Mettilotsava in Sri Venkateshwara Temple, Pittsburgh, Memorial Day Weekend

>

> Dear Devotees Sri Hari,

>

> By the grace of our Sri Hari, Vayu, Gurugalu, the annual Vishwa Madhva Sangha

(VMS) spiritual retreat will be held in the Organized Group Camp-5 in Laurel

Hill State Park in Pennsylvania during the Memorial Day Weekend (May 28-31).

This is the first time this annual retreat is being organized in this

Pennsylvania Parks facility.

>

> On 30 May (Sunday) morning, we will participate in the Mettilotsava in Sri

Venkateshwara Temple in Pittsburgh. This is the 3rd year in a row, VMS is

participating in this function in this temple. Mettilotsava (mettlu = steps) is

walking in the company of sajjanaru from the foothills, singing various dasara

devaranaamagalu, reaching the top of the holy hills thru the steps, and having

the divya darshana of our Lord Srinivasa in the temple. >

>

> Since 30 May is ekadashi, it is especially auspicious to be in the midst of

sajjanaru, participate in Mettilotsava and have the darshana of Sri Srinivasa,

and spend the entire day in the contemplation of our Lord.

>

> It is likely that His Holiness Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji and group from

Udupi may participate in the retreat as well as the Mettilotsava function. This

may be confirmed in May.

>

> It is also likely that Sri Vidyabhushana and his music group from India may

also participate and provide a devaranaama concert in our retreat. This may be

confirmed in April or May.

>

> Our retreat will consist of daily devarapooje, theerthaprasadas (lunch,

dinner), philosophical lectures by learned scholars, devaranaama sessions,

childrens' programs, camp activities etc. As in the previous years, VMS families

from Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Washington D.

C., Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, California, Texas, Illinois etc are expected to

participate. Our much acclaimed and talented group from Michigan is planning to

present a new play this year as well.

>

> Laurel Hill State Park is located 50 miles south east of Sri Venkateshwara

Temple in Pittsburgh with easy access from Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate

76). The camp facility for our exclusive use consists of large kitchen, dining

hall, activities center, recreation hall, cabins for stay and sleeping, bath

rooms with hot water, toilets, storage buildings, basketball court etc. This

site is located in beautiful scenic surroundings, ideal for our spiritual

gathering. More details on this Park are available at

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/laurelhill.aspx

>

> Expected cost per family (2 adults, 2 kids) may be $50-100 covering all the

lodging, boarding (food), concert, all camp activities etc. As in the previous

years, we will announce our expenses in the retreat and seek your donations to

our VMS for covering the retreat costs. Your such contributions to our VMS are

US federal tax exempt.

>

> We will provide periodic updates and more information on the camp facility,

what items you need to bring with you etc as we develop our program. Arrival and

departure can be at any time between 2 pm on 28 May and 12 noon on 31 May. If

you are planning to arrive by flight and then take ride to Laurel Hill State

Park, please consider arriving in Newark or Philadelphia airport since we may

not be able to arrange ride for you from Pittsburgh airport since we do not have

many volunteers in Pittsburgh area. All food served for breakfast, lunch,

afternoon snacks, dinner etc will be freshly cooked in the kitchen. Naivedya for

our Lord in the daily devarapooje and theerthaprasadas for all will be cooked in

madi.

>

> Tentatively, the program is as follows.

>

> 28 May (Friday)

>

> Arrive and settle down after 2 pm. Set up the display for books, cassetts, MP3

discs for devotees to review and place orders. Bring your own food or have

dinner prior to arrival. No cooking is planned for this day in the camp. May be

fruites and milk will be provided for the night, if necessary.

>

> 29 May (Saturday)

>

> Morning devarapooje. Breakfast. Camp activities (hiking, swimming in the lake,

organized sports, cricket etc), Lunch, Lectures, Childrens programs all thry the

day, afternoon snacks, play by Detroit group, evening devaranaama session,

evening thotilu pooje, dinner.

>

> 30 May (Sunday, Ekadashi)

>

> Early morning nirmaalya pooje and nirmaalya theertha by 6:30 am, depart for

Mettilotsava by 7 am, Mettilotsava in Sri Venkateshwara Temple during 8:30-10:30

am, return to retreat site and then devarapooje, simultaneous Sudharshana Homa,

and then mudra dhaarana to all by Swamiji by 3 pm, light palahaara to those not

able to fast, lectures, devaranaama concert by Sri Vidyabhushana and group,

childrens program, evening devarapooje, Harivaana seva, light palahaara to those

not fasting. Possibly all night devaranaama jaagarene till 3 am.>

>

> 31 May (Monday, Dwadashi)

>

> Early morning devarapooje, theerthaprasada (paarane) by 7 am. Rest, clean-up

and check-out by 12 noon.

>

> We anticipate a strong turn out and participation this year. In order to

comply with the regulations of the Pennsylvania State Parks, we need to monitor

and keep the total head-count within the allowed limit and hence your earliest

communication to us informing your intent to participate with details of name,

address, adult or child, total in your group is strongly advised to avoid any

disappointments later. Please also indicate whether your participation is

confirmed or tentative. As per the regulations, we are also advised to inform

all the participants upfront that VMS does not carry liability insurance and

hence is not responsible for any liabilities of any kind, and that participants

should take care of such matters through their own means for any eventualities.

>

> Srinivasa neene paaliso sruthajanapaala gaanalola Sri Mukundane

>

> Namaskaragalu

>

> Bindu

> Vishwa Madhva Sangha

> Tel 610-966-9299 (home), 610-481-2557 (office)

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