VMS Annual Retreat, Mettilotsava, Pittsburgh, Labor Day Weekend, Sep 2-4

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri Hari Bhaktas,

 

By the grace of Sri Hari, Vayu, Gurugalu, we will be celebrating Mettilotsava in Sri Venkateshwara Temple in Pittsburgh area and in conjunction have our Vishwa Madhva Sangha (VMS) Annual Retreat in the picturesque Laurel Hill State Park during the Labor Day weekend (Sep 2 - 4). This is the 5th year we are celebrating the Mettilotsava and having our VMS annual gathering in the Pittsburgh area. All are welcome.

Mettilotsava is walking in groups with pious devotees singing devaranaama songs and chanting the devine names of our Lord from the bottom of the holy hill to to the top and have the dharshan of Sri Venkateshwara. This is an annual activity for a number of years in Thirupathi and other holy places in India. This has been a very delightful spiritual experience for all of us " regulars " in this annual event in the Pittsburgh temple and we invite all interested to join us and enjoy the anugraha of Sri Srinivasa in this distant land. This year, Mettilotsava will take place starting at 8:30 am from the bottom of the holy hill on Sunday, Sep 3 and end about 10:30 am before Sri Venkateshwara in the temple at the top of the holy hill.

Our arriving in Laurel Hill State Park will take place from about noon on Saturday Sep 2 and our VMS has already been allotted the cabins and grounds in the Organized Group Camp Numner 5 in this State Park for our exclusive use. This is the same place where we had our gathering and stay 2 years ago. This comes with cabins, kitchen, dining hall, central bath rooms with hot water for ladies and gents, large play area in the central location etc. For all the details on Mettilotsava and Laurel Hill State Park, Sri Janardhan Rao has set up a Blog http://www.jitamitra.org/mett2006/ Please visit this site to see pictures of the previous VMS Annual Retreats as well as such useful information as distance and driving distance to Laurel Hill State Park from various locations, amenities in the rustic surroundings of this State Park etc. Please also provide your comments in this Blog for planning and execution purposes. Most importantly, please use this Blog to tell us your participating this year and giving us your head count. We need volunteers for various activities and all of the planning activities we will do thru the Blog.

This year, we have set aside adequate time for camp related " fun " activities for children and adults on both Sat (Sep 2) and Sun (Sep 4). Please plan yourselves to be available for these group and other activities. We are planning to have informal interactive panel discussions on spiritual matters with our scholars in our group on Sat evening. After performing Mettilotsava and the dharshana of Sri Srinivasa in the morning on Sunday, we are planning a delightful LORD SRI SRINIVASA AND PADMAVATHI KALYANA by Haridaasa devaranaama bhajana paddathi in the evening at 7 pm in our dining hall in our camp for the first time. My brother Srinivasan will plan and coordinate this event by prior allotting of appropriate devaranaamas to various groups in Connecticut, Washington DC, New Jersey, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Detroit, Michigan etc. Any interested to sing in this delightful event please go to the Blog and make your posting, communicating your interest in this event.

Here is the Program at this stage of evolution. Final Program will be announced in the next few weeks. We will make it as a priority to observe the punctuality of time in our events.

Sat (Sep 2)

12:00 noon and after, arrive in Group Camp 5 and settle down in your cabins. Please take care of your lunch prior to your arrival in Group Camp 5

3:00 pm, Delicious snacks, coffee, tea, soft drinks etc

4-6 pm, Group " hiking " walking in the Park trails, swimming in the lake, or any other " group fun " activities for children and adults

7-8 pm, Interactive panel discussions on adhyaathmic topics with scholars in our group, mangalaarathi

8:30 pm, Sit down dinner freshly prepared by our famous " kitchen crew "

9:30 pm, informal discussions in the camp-site

 

Sun (Sep 3)

6:30 am, Nirmaalya pooje, nirmmalya theertha

7:15 am sharp, Depart camp site to Sri Venkateshwara Temple

8:30 am, Mettilotsava begins at the bottom of the holy hill

10:30 am, Mettilotsava concludes inside the temple at the top of the hill, have your own lunch in the cafetaria in the temple. Those observing madi or chathurmaasa acharane, please return to camp site immediately after the conclusion of the Mettilotsava. There will be devarapooje and theerthaprasada in the camp site.

3:00 pm, Delicious snacks, coffee, tea, soft drinks etc

4-6 pm, Group " hiking " walking in the Park trails, swimming in the lake, or any other " group fun " activities for children and adults

7-8:30 pm, LORD SRI SRINIVASA AND PADMAVATHI KALYANA by Haridaasa devaranaama bhajana paddathi, mangalaarathi 9:30 pm, Camp-fire activities

 

Mon (Sep 4) (Ekadashi)

6:30 - 8 am, Devarapooje

9-11 am, Cleaning and handing over the Camp-site

12 noon, Depart

 

Hare Srinivasa

Bindu

(Tel 610-966-9299)