Silver Jubilee Of Krishna Balaram Mandir

July 10, 2003

Now that the Prabhupada Marathon has wound down to its end, thoughts start turning toward Mayapur and Vrindavan. If you're planning to come to the festivals this year please keep in mind that Ramnaumi April 12th is the 25th anniversary of Krishna Balaram Mandir in Vrindavan. A tremendous festival is in the planning and we want to invite everyone, especially those who were there for that momentous occassion in 1975.

Prabhupada writes in one of his last purports, "In Vrindavana there is a place where there was no temple, but a devotee desired, "Let there be a temple and seva, devotional service." Therefore, what was once an empty corner has now become a place of pilgrimage. Such are the desires of a devotee."

On Ramnavami in 1975, Srila Prabhupada's fulfilled that desire and established the beautiful Krishna Balaram Mandir. At that time people used to question us why we built a temple so far away from town. Who will go there? But now we see that empty corner in Vrindavan is now a Pilgramage site for pilgrims from all parts of the world and every corner of India. On special days, the temple is completely packed, with no where to stand except in the courtyard. We're not talking just about our Mayapur Vrindavan or Kartik festival times, when naturally the temple is filled with our own devotees. But on other holidays, the local people come in droves to see our evening artika. We always like to think at those times that Srila Prabhupada must be very proudly smiling down seeing his temple so full.

To commemorate the 25th annivesary of the Krishna Balaram Mandir there will be a week-long festival from April 8th to 14th. There will be Bhagwat Dharma discoures for 7 days, in the morning in Hindi by His Holiness Radha Govinda Maharaja and in the evening in English by Holiness Mahaniddhi Swami. We will take the Deities on procession just like at the original time. There will be a huge maha abhisheka of all the Deities on Ramnavami day. This will be followed with wonderful feast for all the assembled Vaisnavas. Many other programs and activities are also planned.

So as you make your travel plans, keep this in mind and try to extend your plans to celebrate this auspicious occassion with us. Or if you haven't been here for a while or you've never been before, this is a great time to plan to come. If you know anyone who was there at that grand occasion, please invite them to come. We'll gladly help arrange your stay. You can contact either the President Mahaman or Guest House Manager Ganapati at the temple address or Mahaman.ACBSP@bbt.se or Ganapati.gkg@bbt.se.

Sri Sri Gaura Nitai ki jaya!

Sri Sri Krishna Balaram ki jaya!

Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar ki jaya!