Churn The Ocean Of Prabhupada's Pastimes

July 11, 2003

This year Kartik marks 25 Years of Service in Separation from Srila Prabhupada.

On behalf of all the devotees of Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir, we wish to invite all the followers of Srila Prabhupada to come and churn the nectar ocean of the transcendental pastimes of His Divine Grace. We have three days set aside for churning out the sweet nectar of Prabhupada memories, Nov. 6, 7, and 8th. There are no festival fees and prasadam is free for all.

Actually festivities will begin from the 4th which is Diwali. Because we will be celebrating Govardhan Puja in the temple the next day, we will be going on Govardhan Parikrama the 4th morning right after Mangal Aroti. In the evening, as well as most evenings during the festival, there will be dramas and other cultural events.

Govardhan Puja is on the 5th. After Guru Puja, we will have a procession to the Bhaktivedanta Goshala for Srimad Bhagavatam class, Go Puja, and breakfast. Then we will return to the temple where there will be an Abhisheka and an enormous Govardhan Hill made of prasadam for the Govardhan Puja.

On the 6th we will have morning and afternoon sessions of Prabhupada memories.

These will be led by senior disciples of Srila Prabhupada. A huge pandal is being erected for this purpose.

Glorification will continue on the 7th morning. On the 7th afternoon we will take Srila Prabhupada for Maha Hari Nama Sankirtan Procession past all the Goswami Temples. His Divine Grace will ride in a gorgeously decorated palanquin, the very one in which he rode 25 years ago. That evening there will be a special program honoring Srila Prabhupada for which we are trying to get either the Prime Minister or President to come. Many prominent Brijbasis will also offer their homages.

On the 8th, we will will worship Srila Prabhupada's murti at Guru Puja on an elaborate dais in the grand pandal. This will be followed bhajans and homages by devotees up till around noon. The Maha Abhishek of His Divine Grace will be performed in both the Samadhi and the Samadhi Museum so everyone may do abhishek. After the bhoga offering, there will be pushpanjali and artik. Then we will be pleased to serve out a wonderful feast for 5000 devotees at 2:30 pm.

In the evening at 7:20, the very moment Srila Prabhupada entered the divine lila of Radha and Krishna, there will be artik at his bedside. Closed circuit TVs will be set up to allow everyone to participate even if they can't be present inside the room, as Srila Prabhupada's quarters are quite small. Then we will continue to churn the ocean of nectar all night long if neccessary until all the devotees make their offerings.

Already Radhanatha Swami has promised to come with over one thousand followers.

Bhakti Caru Swami has also promised to take time from his busy filming schedule to preside over the festivities. Siddhanta Das is coming with the Best of Prabhupada Memories Part 3 and to film more memories. Srutakirti also told us he would be coming with lots of Prabhupada nectar.

So don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to come to Vrindavan to associate with so many devotees in Karik to participate in the 25 Years of Service in Separation Festival. The purpose of this festival is to join all together to churn the nectar of remembrance of Srila Prabhupada, to glorify him, increase our faith, and renew our vows of serving him forever. We are well aware that many people have some plan, process, person, or solution for all the problems of ISKCON. Keep them all in your back pocket and sit on them, or better yet, don't even bring them with you at all. There are appropriate forums for addressing the problems of ISKCON and they certainly need to be addressed.

But this is not one.

The festival committee has decided that there will be no festival fees and we will provide free prasadam for all who register with us. We also want to provide free accommodation to all. We are not, however, in a position to book rooms as there are so many different schedules, etc. Therefore, if you so desire, we will refund the rent for those 3 days when you show your receipt for whichever guesthouse you are staying at the time you register for the festival.

Don't forget that you must book your own accommodations.

We need you to register, even though there is no festival fee, so we can make proper arrangements to serve you to the best of out ability. There will be special registration counters for you here in Vrindavan. You may also pre-book by email or snail mail. By email you may send your registration to deena.bandhu.acbsp@pamho.net or snail mail to SP Festival, Krishna Balarama Mandir, Vrindavan, UP. 281124 India. Please note down your passport name, spiritual name, your country, name of your temple, and which of the 5 days each person will be participating. You will then be able to get your prasadam cards and identity bands immediately upon arrival in Vrindavan.

Anyone who wishes to do some special service for the Vaisnavas at this time is invited to correspond with us. Already one godbrother has promised to pay for the main feast on Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance Day. Also contact us if you have some drama or presentation to put on the schedule. And, of course, any suggestions are welcome.

In service of Sri Sri Krishna Balarama,

Deena Bandhu dasa

Note: Please print out and post in your temple