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Govardhan Puja, Go puja and Candle festival
Report compiled by Bhakta Joseph
Click Here for Photos of Govardhan Puja, Go puja and Candle festival 2007
November 9th - 11th, 2007 (Friday-Sunday) was very nice. Devotees toiled day and night to decorate the Temple room and to prepare all the vegetables, sweets and flower malas for Saturday's celebrations, Govardhan Puja and Go Puja. The Brahmacari Asrama that Friday night was not still. Devotees were too anxious to sleep for their desire was to engage in the service of serving the servants of Their Lordships.
Beneath the twilight, devotees, dressed in dhoti, kurta, tilaka and matajis in saris and tilak, gravitated to the Temple for morning program as bees are attracted to honey. During Mangal-Aarti, our dear in-house Brahmacaris, Tirthapada, Radhe-Shyam and Saci-suta, set the mood for Govardhan Puja and Go Puja by their transcendental singing. Although the morning chill of the Temple room floor numbed the toes, the sweet Vrindavan-like air warmed the heart and soul of all the devotees.
Shortly following Guru Puja, the young children with their matajis, who were carrying bowls of sweets like ladoos, cookies, cakes, and halwa, began to build Govardhan Hill on a table, which was placed in the middle of the Temple room. A beautiful banner of dancing and smiling devotees, which was drawn and colored by Rangadevi and the children, lovingly wrapped around the table like mother Yasoda's arms around Baby Krishna. Sitting at the beautiful Lotus Feet of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, Gopal prabhuji and another devotee sweetly played harmonium and mrdanga as they melodiously sung of the glorious pastimes of Krishna. Hearing the nectarean sound vibration, devotees entered the Temple room like waves of an ocean rushing to the shore. Overhead, strings of criss-crossing multi-colored lights hovered like demigods in their airplanes praising all the devotees with each twinkle and shimmer. From the viewpoint of these lights, the activities below resembled a lotus flower with Govardhan Hill at the center, the devotees as its whorls, and Srila Prabhupada as the sepals to ensure that everything goes as nicely as planned.
After Govardhan Hill was completed, Mother Saroj and Kavitha mataji with smiles on their faces shooed everyone out of the Temple room so that the decorations and all of the food preparations could be offered to Krishna. In the adjacent hall, Sri Nathji Hall, Gopalji led a melodious kirtan for the pleasure of the assembled Vaisnavas. Longing to see their beloved Sri Krishna and Govardhan Hill, everyone poured into the Temple room after the doors were reopened and offered their humble obeisances to Govardhan Hill and the Surabhi cow. Taking the microphone into his lotus hands, Tirthapadaji led an enthralling & ecstatic kirtan while devotees circumambulated Govardhan Hill. His singing was so transcendental that it caused everyone to dance. As the karatals and mrdangas grew louder, the devotees danced in total bliss, being showered with so much nectar. This Vrindavan atmosphere continued during prasadam feast and into the late hours of the night. Saturday night in the Brahmacari Asrama was a restless night. Devotees were anxious to see what Krishna had in store for them on Sunday, which was not only Sunday Feast, but also the Diwali Celebration and fireworks.
Sunday morning started with a bang. Following morning class and an excellent breakfast prasad, Bharath prabhu rounded up the book distribution team along with Navadwipa prabhu and Bhakta Dave and traveled to Wayne State University, WSU. In the Arts and Community Building on campus, the Bangladesh Student Association, BSA, was hosting a celebration with food, clothing and live performances. Devotees sold bhajis (vegetable pakoras) and sweets from Govardhan Puja, Srila Prabhupada's transcendental books, and henna tattoos. The gathering was small, but the devotees remained patient and enthusiastic. Fired-up from the previous day's celebration, Advaita Pran and Bhakta Joe took several books and a mrdanga and hit the cold streets of Detroit and WSU campus. Although the cold air numbed their fingers, the two devotees were able to sell several books and distribute many Sunday feast invitation cards. Devotees at the booth were also successful at selling bhajis, sweets and books. As the time neared 3:30pm, the book distribution team packed-up and made their journey back to Devasadhana Mandir for Sunday feast.
Sunday feast at the Fisher Mansion, home of Sri Sri Radha-Kunjabihari, Jagannath, Baladeva, Subhadra, Gaura-Nitai, and Sri Nathji, was very ecstatic. Sri Nathji's Hall was flooded. Those who did not know how to swim learned quickly because Gaurasundara's sweet, melodious voice knew how to make everyone dance. The lively kirtan flowed into the Temple room where Bharath prabhu welcomed new guests, gave announcements, and Jagad Guru initiated congragational chanting with japa beads. Under Jagad Guru's expert guidance, everyone relished the Holy Names of the Lord. The Temple room became an ocean of transcendental sound waves where Krishna personally danced upon every tongue that vibrated these sixteen words: Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Devotees, swaying like trees, showed no signs of stopping for the Holy Names became sweeter and sweeter like sugar candy.
Srila Rupa Goswami stated in the 7th verse of Upadesamrita:
syat krishna-nama-caritadi-sitapy avidya-
pittopatapta-rasanasya na rocika nu
kintv adarad anudinam khalu saiva jushta
svadvi kramad bhavati tad-gada-mula-hantri
"The holy name, character, pastimes and activities of Krishna are all transcendentally sweet like sugar candy. Although the tongue of one afflicted by the jaundice of avidya [ignorance] cannot taste anything sweet, it is wonderful that simply by carefully chanting these sweet names every day, a natural relish awakens within his tongue, and his disease is gradually destroyed at the root."
A sumptuous prasadam feast followed the japa session allowing everyone to savor Krsna's mercy. As the majority of guests finished their meal, everyone was ushered into the Temple room for a big surprise at Gaur-Aarti. The conch sounded, indicating the beginning of aarti. Those who were still eating scurried into the Temple room. Bestowing Their lovely glances upon a sea of devotees, the beautiful smiling faces of Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha-Kunjabihari, Jagannath, Baladeva, Subhadra, and Gaura-Nitai were under blue lights and surrounded by countless candles, a first at Devasadhan Mandir. Radhe-Shyam and Tirthapada led a jubilant aarti and a mellow Sri Damodara-astaka prayer as devotees in awe offered ghee lamps to all of the dieties. Meanwhile, the sky grew dark and Guru prabhu and Arjuna prepared for the fireworks display. After aarti, the kirtan, led by the magnificent drumming of Srinivasji and Gopalji, and the transcendental voices of Tirthapadaji and Gaura-sundaraji, roared out of the main entrance and onto the driveway where the most dazzling fireworks display awaited them. Beautiful fountains of gold and white reached heights of fifteen feet. Children and parents held sparklers as Guru and Arjuna with amazing agility lit several fountains of various colors like red, orange, gold, green, blue, purple, and silver. Not wanting this weekend's festivities to end, devotees lingered in the prasadam room. While honoring more prasadam, devotees reminisced over the glorious pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Kunjabihari and Their sincere devotees at Devasadhan Mandir.
vayam tu na vitrpyama
uttama-sloka-vikrame
yac-chrnvatam rasa-jnanam
svadu svadu pade pade
"We never tire of hearing the transcendental pastimes of the Personality of Godhead, who is glorified by hymns and prayers. Those who have developed a taste for transcendental relationships with Him relish hearing of His pastimes at every moment (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.19)."
Click Here for Photos of Govardhan Puja, Go puja and Candle festival 2007
Detroit Rathayatra:
A Great Event Under New Management
by Sri Nandanandana dasa
Click Here for Photos of Jagannath Rathyatra 2007
From the reactions and feedback we got from everyone, this year's Rathayatra festival in
Detroit was the best one yet. A new team of volunteers had formed and with a great spirit of cooperation and dedication, headed by Venugopal prabhu and Srinivas Pejathaya prabhu (who, besides being a great coordinator/organizer, also happens to be one of the best Mrdanga players you can find), planned out the promotion, and arranged the day's events, which went wonderfully for the pleasure of Their Lordships, Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balarama, and Lady Subhadra. The weather could not have been better, and a great crowd of devotees attended to show their devotion to the deities.
All of our sponsors, senior devotees, our GBC, and the guests which ranged around 2500 attendees, were all blessed by the presence of the deities, and said how nice the festival went this year. We had some of our best kirtan leaders help with the chanting of the holy names of the Lord, such as Bhaumadeva Prabhu, Gaura Sundara Prabhu, Ajamila dasa Prabhu, as well as Tirthapada, Radheshyam and Sachi Suta Prabhus and others. So if you know how nice they can sing and chant the holy names, then you will know how nice the kirtan was as we rolled along the street on Belle Ilse here in Detroit.
The parade lasted almost three hours along a nearly two mile route, allowing everyone to have a chance at pulling the ropes to the cart that held the deities. Sometimes it would stop, and the kirtan would get louder and stronger, spreading the sacred vibration throughout the area. A truck of bottled water was near the front of the parade, within easy reach for anyone who wanted it. Prasada packets were also passed out amongst the devotees and guests in the parade. And numerous people driving around Belle Ilse also got the mercy as they saw the devotees and cart with the deities, allowing everyone to have darshan of Their Lordships.
When we finally arrived at the festival site, many people lined up for puja of the deities.
In the main tent a lovely program of various styles of dance was presented, along with a drama and lively kirtans. Many people also said that this year's prasada feast was the best yet, due to the potency of Mother Saroj who headed up the kitchen group, and who traveled along with her husband all the way from Vrindavana just to help out. The serving of the prasada was also very organized and well done. The tents with displays was also arranged in a different way this year, allowing everyone who lined up for the feast to go through the exhibit on vegetarianism before reaching the serving tent. Other displays were also well received, and a most popular one was the book tent and the spiritual paraphernalia.
The children's tent was also a place with much activity, and many of the children contentedly stayed there for three to four hours without hankering for their parents, allowing them to enjoy other areas of the festival.
So this year saw the best Rathayatra Detroit has ever had, and the festival team immediately had a meeting a few days later to start developing strategies for how to make it even better next year. Therefore, if this was the best Rathayatra yet, then next year's goal is to make it even bigger. So everyone should make a note that if you are able to attend, mark your calendars for next year's Rathayatra in Detroit to share in spreading the sound of the holy names and our devotion to Lord Jagannatha.
Jai Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra!!! Hare Krishna.
Click Here for Photos of Jagannath Rathyatra 2007
The Welcoming of Nitai Sachi-Suta
Into the Home of Venugopal and Aparna
March 17, 2007
Click Here for Photos of Nitai Sachisuta welcoming ceremony
One could know something of the transcendental auspiciousness of this gathering of Vaisnavas by seeing the front porch of the house literally covered by shoes, like snow in the wintertime and leaves in the fall, cover mother earth. All of the, now shoeless, Vaisnavas have come to help welcome Their Lordships Sri Sri Nitai-Sachi-Suta into the home of Venugopal and Aparna.
The ceiling of the basement is decorated with row upon row of balloons, beaming all the colors of the rainbow. The floor is soft white and the walls hold bouquets of fresh graceful flowers. The gas and water meters sport flowers. A devotee is playing a harmonium as the number of guests grows and the holy names of the Lord dance on the tongues of singers and in the air of the sacrificial arena. Yugala Kishore prabhu is directing devotees and organizing everything nicely.
There, in front of the arena of sacrifice, clothed in white, standing in copper bowls, with Their arms raised in victory, Naiti and Sachi-Suta mercifully wait to be bathed by loving devotees. Gorgeous flower garlands hang around Their necks and sweep down to Their knees. Behind Their Lordships, on an alter covered in orange cloth, five tiered ghee lamp trees give forth their illumination. A mataji is pouring a substance from a conch shell on to the transcendental body of Nitai. Another devotee offers a flowing substance from a conch on to the spiritual body of Sachi-Suta. Her Holiness Malati, kneeling in her orange sari, is devotionally making an offering to Their Lordships. His Grace Jagat-guru prabhu, sitting in a lotus position in white, performs his duties, directing these all-auspicious activities.
From her chair close to the basement stairs, with notes on her gracious lap, Malati begins to talk with the gathering about the ways of Deity worship. She points out how one needs to be mindful of trying to offer the best one has to the all-merciful Deities, Who agree to come into our homes to make where we live just like Vaikuntha, the spiritual sky. One can feel the mercy of Srila Prabhupada in the kind words Her Holiness is so generously offering us.
Bright orange flames dance up toward the basement ceiling as Jagat-guru chants mantras, sitting close by. Devotees have gotten handfuls of grains and at appropriate times are tossing the grains into the blazing sacrificial fire. Transcendental names of the Lord, the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, continue in kirtana, charging the atmosphere with joy and happiness. Pineapples, bananas, other fruits, nuts and flowers, all grace the arena of sacrifice.
Resplendent Nitai-Sachi-Suta now stand on the top of two flights of stairs, which rise up from the surface of the orange alter. They wear glowing outfits of gold, gorgeous flower garlands hanging down, gracefully, to Their knees. Their Persons are decorated with jewels of green, purple, pink, orange. Nitai’s crown of rows of jewels fanning toward the sky, is made even more beautiful by His smiling face. Sachi-Suta’s crown, although similar to His brother’s, sports a peacock feather of causeless mercy. Their arms are raised up, blessing all-directions with the pink palms of Their unlimited hands.
In front of Their Lordships, Her Holiness Malati gently rotates a glowing ghee lamp, offering Them the best she has, in hopefully pleasing flames. She, likewise, offers a napkin. Gaurasundara dasa is graciously leading a roaring kirtana for the pleasure of Their Lordships and the assembled devotees. His Holiness Radhanatha Swami’s image decorates the alter just below the Divine Brothers. A welcoming cake in white icing and multicolored decorations, rests at the bottom of the alter steps which lead up to the lotus feet Nitai-Sachi-Suta.
Venugopal and Aparna were offering the devotees and guests prasadam, so large in quantity, so varied in kind and so lovingly offered to Their Lordships and then to Their various servants, that there was transcendental gossip to the effect that, Mother Sachi herself must have helped with all of the preparations? The Vaisnavas were offered sitting places in two adjoining housing units, so huge was the amount of prasadam being offered and so numerous were the souls being served. As one sat and tried to honor all of the divine mountain of prasad heaped on one’s plate, there was a continuous flow of servers, coming right by where one sat, to offer yet more divine mercy in the shape of an almost unlimited variety of preparations. It was necessary for many bags of prasadam to be taken away to the homes of the devotees and the guests. We don’t think even Durvasa Muni, who eats with his 10,000 disciples, could have consumed all the prasadam available!!! There was a motion to award both Venugopal and Aparna recognition as direct assistants of Mother Sachi-devi.
When the basement, the scene of so many of the transcendental activities of the gathering, was almost empty of Vaisnavas, the fire pit bereft of flames and some unclaimed fruit and other items of prasadam lie at the arena of sacrifice, the Main Attractions still mercifully stood, in all Their glory, above and between the five tiered ghee lamp trees. With Their lotus eyes, it seemed, Nitai-Sachi-Suta, gently and lovingly, said "Thank You Our Dear Servants for the Wonderful Welcome".
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Click Here for Photos of Nitai Sachisuta welcoming ceremony
A Weekend At Devasadhan Mandir Celebrating the Birth of the Golden Lord
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
- Report compiled by Antariksa Das
Click Here for Photos of Gaura Purnima 2007
Devotee hands, lovingly working at making offerings for Lord Visvambara, moved through the transcendental atmosphere of Devasadhan, well before the actual day of His appearance. Before all the devotional cooking was done, it would be a major spiritual logistics problem to offer the numerous preparations to the Supreme Lord on His divine birthday. But, by His grace, it was accomplished, miraculously. Over 60 preparations were offered to their Lordships!
Since Gaurahari, a name styled by the ladies of the neighborhood on account of His golden complexion, was born near a nimba tree, His mother Saci-devi liked to call Him Nimai. The Lord has unlimited names and He has invested His potency in all these names. Thus, over 500 years later, the sounds of these names being lovingly sung and chanted, danced into the ears of hundreds of most fortunate souls, all weekend of this divine birthday party, at ISKCON Detroit.
Just as the moon was in full eclipse at the time of Nimai’s birth in 1486, way up here in 2007, the moon was also in full eclipse. It definitely added spiritual spice to an already indescribably tasty transcendental weekend. Perhaps it also helped the almost unlimited kirtans and bhajans that happened throughout the weekend, to be extra specially sweet? The devotees fasted all day Saturday March 3rd, the actual day of Gaura-purnima. During this time, it seemed as if all the karatalas, mrdangas, gongs, tambourines and other musical instruments were being played extraordinarily well by the celebrating devotees, for the pleasure of Gaurahari and all of His associates.
Dancing devotees manifested a gorgeous revolving and simultaneously dancing star shape. They were moved by the increasingly ecstatic roaring kirtan in front of Lord SriNataji, as the afternoon progressed. The Gaura-aratika at 7 pm cannot be described with ordinary human words. Gaura-Nitai were showering Their mercy on one and all, freely and powerfully. There was no end to the loving reciprocation between the Lords and Their devoted servants, as this kirtana happened eternally, somehow.
Following the ecstatic kirtan, Jagat-guru prabhu spoke some sweet words to the assembled devotees, concerning the meaning of this most auspicious event. As he spoke,Gaura and Nitai were lovingly fanned with camaras. This service was shared by several most colorful devotees. Indeed, the whole weekend was an unending festival of glowing hues of all the colors of the Lord’s magical rainbow. Only the Lord and His devotees are able to manifest such things, forever. As the camaras gently bathed the Divine Brothers in soft breezes, devotees flowed between the Temple room and SriNathji’s equally transcendental hall.
Somewhere in this atmosphere of devotion, the Panca-Tattva appeared in Their golden transcendental splendor. They were standing just as They do in the transcendental land of Mayapura. They mercifully and compassionately allowed anyone present to serve Their fully spiritual forms with different Abisheka substances such as honey, water, milk and yogurt. By Srila Prabhupada’s mercy, personal service to deity forms of Panca-Tattva was made possible. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Lord Caitanya loves drama. In Srinathji’s hall sat many devotees playing bhajans as if to call in a play about Gaurahari’s transcendental birth in Navadvipa so long ago and yet today. An old bent woman in a gray shawl begin to speak to the audience about the details of the Lord’s divine appearance. The curtains opened to a whole chorus of divine little actors. The Lord was being carried in the loving arms of one such devotee thespian. Thus was played out some of the unlimited pastimes of Visvambara’s birth and very early years.
The backdrops for this play were perfect in their colors and shapes. Several times the old bent woman narrator in gray shawl tried to help us understand the mysterious scenes we were being treated to, by the grace of little devotees. However, two very famous, or shall we say infamous actors, menacingly appeared on the stage. They think they can outsmart Nimai. One of these rascals has Him riding on his shoulders, thinking to do the Lord harm. By the Lord’s mystic power, the would be thief murderers find themselves right back where they first tried to steal the Supreme Lord. What a good lesson for all of us viewers!
How could there be more, evcn more ecstatic kirtanas and bhajans. That is precisely what continued to happen by the inconceivable grace of Sri Cairtanya Mahaprabhu. The assembled devotees were glad to honor the almost numberless kinds of prasadam which their loving Lords gave them on this most divine of festivals. Radha-Kunjabihari, Gaura-Nitai and Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balaramji and Lady Subhadra wore shimmering white night clothes for the close of this most auspicious of days. And would you believe it, the next day at Devasadhan Mandir was equally as jubilant in celebration of the one and only Gaura-purnima. All glories to Gaura-Nitai! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Click Here for Photos of Gaura Purnima 2007
Tulasi Vivah, A Most Powerful Wedding at Devasadhan Mandir
Sunday November 5th, 2006
- Report compiled by Antariksa Das
Click Here for Photos of Tulsi Vivah 2006
In the Tulasi Devi Mahatmya of the Padma Purana, the following conversation between Kartikeya and Lord Siva is recorded:
Kartikeya inquired, "My dear father (Lord Siva), which tree or plant is capable of giving love of God?"
Lord Siva replied, "My dear son, of all trees and plants, Tulasi Devi is the topmost. She is all auspiscious, the fulfiller of all desires, completely pure, most dear to Lord Krsna, and the top-most devotee."
How could a wedding ceremony between Tulasi and Krsna be anything but supremely auspicious? The arena of Their marriage was a beautiful elevated stage with four columns, decorated with red, blue and yellow lights, which supported an overarching canopy. The colorful festive stage seemed to float, near the front of Sri Nataji’s great hall. As men, women and children moved about the stage, a sacrificial fire began to blaze, which reflected the brilliant illumination of Sri Krsna and His most dear Srimati Tulasi Devi.
Spiritually powerful mantras are sung around the dancing flames, as spirit-souls immerse themselves in the bliss of the Supreme and His most beloved devotee. A virtual ocean of souls sit captivated, gazing at the auspicious activity of the wedding, from their places, stretching the full length of the Srinathji hall. This created an image so rich and colorful, that it only seemed fitting for such an occasion.
While the flames of the fire on stage danced on, the exquisitely beautiful ceremony flowed on like a most pleasing stream of nectar. The vibrations of the names of the Lord sounded everywhere, purifying all the three worlds, and more. Ladies carried vessels of vibrant shapes, helping build the mystery of this most auspicious wedding. At just the perfect time, there was Lord Krsna resting between two stunning Tulasi Devi, one at His left side, one at His right side. Devotees leaned on the nearby white railing, gazing at the sweet vision on stage.
After what seemed like an eternity and no time at all, the blazing fire had disappeared and people were filing by, one at a time, on the stage, offering Srimati Tulasi Devi and Krsna grains. Amid a prasadam feast, kirtana and gift giving, the evening was coming to a pleasing and satisfying end. Anytime we are fortunate enough to be in the presence of two transcendentally great souls such as Krsna and His beloved Tulasi Devi, all good fortune is the certain outcome. The light emanating from the faces of the sea of wedding guests, testified to this truth. All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga. All glories to the sponsors and well-wishers of the festival! Hari Bol.
Radha-Kunjabihari’s Birthday Dances With Govardhana-Puja and Related
Celebrations at Detroit ISKCON Hare Krsna Temple, October 22, 2006
- Report compiled by Antariksa Das
Click Here for Photos and Slide Show for Govardhan Puja 2006
On Saturday, many devotees were already very busy serving Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Kunjabihari by actions like moving colorful flowers from the marketplace to the waiting, loving hands of other devotees. And already the mysterious, divine Govardhana Hill was beginning to manifest through the sincere devotional service of so many souls at Devasadhana Mandir. We heard that the Hill would be as sweet as halavah, by the grace of Sri Krsna.
It was not long after the 4:45 am arati of the Deities, that the process of worshipping Govardhana Hill gathered even more spiritual strength. They were wearing Their night clothes of silver with backdrops of night black and whitish decorating circles. After Her Grace Malati gave a morning class on the glories of Krsna’s Govardhana Hill pastime, apples, oranges, bananas and other fruit was carried to the Alter for decorating and offering. Everywhere, devotees could be seen serving one another as they respectfully offered their love and creativity to the Lord and His all glorious Govardhana Hill puja.
In every nook and cranny of Prabhupada’s beloved Devasadhan, devotees were busy, making the magic of Govardhana Hill appear. In the prasadam room, fruit like KalpaVrksa trees manifested. In the kitchens, unlimited cooking was going on, in service of the day’s transcendental activities. Rainbow like flowers were becoming garlands and other arrangements for the pleasure of the all-merciful Deities. The transcendental mercy of the Lord was dancing the devotees to help Him manifest the incomparable detailed beauty and majesty of His beloved Govardhana Hill. Somehow, beyond time and space, the Hare Krsna Temple of Detroit filled up with hundreds of souls, come to join with others already there.
In front of Radha-Kunjabihari, there was now a divine mountain of inconceivable detail, in all the living colors of Vrndavana. Words fail to be able to convey but a speck of the divine glory of what had come through the loving service of Krsna’s devotees, big and small and in between. Around the Hill of Sweetness and Protection, was the offering of artwork by young devotees, so to speak, that depicted many scenes of Girigovardhan’s lila. It was able to put a smile on anyone’s face.
The Supreme Lord Krishna who lifted the divine hill just as easily as a child picks up a mushroom, gives protection to his devotees, just like He gave to His beloved friends, when King Indra tried to cause so much trouble. The pictures below show many souls dancing happily around the Hill Umbrella as other devotees sing the glories of the Lord to Radha-Kunjabihari, Gaura-Nitai, Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra, dressed in dazzling yellowish clothes with a gorgeous reddish background. Know that it is the 24th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada inviting Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Kunjabihari to appear in Detroit for the benefit of all souls here, free and conditioned.
With the multi-colored lights of Diwali shining every where, HG Malati delivered an enjoyable and enlightening lecture on the glories of Govardhana Hill, as she sat very near to Girigovardhana Himself, mercifully glancing out at His celebrating children. A group of devotees, sitting on the floor played bhajans for the Boy with the all-powerful Little Finger. Earlier in the other main Temple room, His Grace Jagad Guru prabhu had lovingly addressed the assembled devotees and guests, announcing the availability of Laksmi-puja, Chopada-puja and reminded us all that the wonderful activities we were experiencing are made possible by the inconceivable and unlimited mercy of His Divine A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.
A young boy was seen, smiling broadly, with some of the blessed blue water of either Radha-kunda or Krsna-kunda on his fortunate chin, a gift of the best Govardhana Hill she had ever seen, said Her Grace Malati. One can just try to imagine all of the divine images that flowed through this blessed evening. And, we will say that, just to the southwest of the divine Hill, as a fitting ornament for this evening, several devotees, with mrdangas, karatals, tambourines, gongs and Krsna’s gift of voices, played and sang in praise of the unlimited glories of the Lord and His unlimited pastimes, like the lifting of Govardhana Hill. We pray that everyone who graced this evening with their presence will be fortunate to live under the divine protection of the all-merciful Lord, who will even use a Hill like an umbrella, to protect His loved ones, if He likes. All glories to Govardhana Hill. All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga.
Click Here for Photos and Slide Show for Govardhan Puja 2006Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare