Kartik Yatra Day 1

October 17, 2008.

In the morning after mangala arati devotees started assembling in the parking area of the temple while more kept coming way past the departure time. I got myself seated in an IYF Bus with Saurabh Prabhu. I had hope to get Ajita Govinda Prabhu's association abut he went in the Sankirtana bus. The bus was full of known, acquaintances, unknown, new and old devotees. It was great. Everyone was excited to go to Sri dhama. There were many students who had just completed their schools and were in 1st year of their graduation. How fortunate they are, getting into Krishna Consciousness so early in their life before they step into the morally corrupting and stressful corporate life. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and the followers of his mission. (I felt like an old person, for heaven's sake I was in that age 8 years back.)

Faridabad devotees joined us on the way. I stuck a good friendship with one of them, Vaikuntha Murti Prabhu, who I had gone with last year on Srila Prabhupada Disappearance Day. We reached SriDhama by 10:00 AM. After reaching respective ashrams, devotees proceeded towards Phogla Ashram for breakfast. After this there was a lecture scheduled by Sridham Prabhu (ACBSP) where he explained the significance of Spiritual Master-Disciple relationship and the absolute necessity of being surrendered to Guru's instruction rather than acting whimsically on the path of devotion. The MC of the whole 3 day program was HG Vidur Priya Prabhu.

We all went to our ashrams for some rest, to come back for the evening program to the same place. In evening it was H.H. Prabodhananda Saraswati Maharaj and Dinabandhu Prabhu who gave lectures, followed by a delectable feast. VMP and I made it to Krishna Balarama temple just in time for the sandhya arati. The atmosphere was surcharged with exhilaration. Devotees desperately waiting for their lordships to give darshans and the kirtan was gaining tempo. The style of kartalas and mridanga beats, the melody, everything is different in Vrindavan. It is a uniqye style. The darshans opened followed by a roar of Radhe Shyam and Gauranga and Hari Bol by devotees. Deep Dana had started just after the gaura arti and before damodarashtakam.

Muktidata Prabhu was to lead the damodar prayers and the subsequent kirtan. However I went to the Devotee prasadam hall at the back of temple, where senior and resident devotees assemble for offering lamps and singing Damodarashtakam. I had heard about the uniqueness of this program from Gaurav(Blr) Prabhu. The special thing about this place is that after the damodar prayers a special prayer from Bhagvatam sung by the beautiful damsels of Vraja - the Gopi Geet is sung. In the temple hall, Muktidata Prabhu was making devotees jump up and down and dance ecstatically to his Kirtans. I joined back the main group again at 8:45 pm. By this time the congregation of dancing devotees had reach the Samadhi Mandir. There was loud uproar of Jaya Prabhupada Jaya Srila Prabhupada in all directions. The kartalas and midangas made a tumultuous sound which echoed in the Samadhi Mandir. Devotees were in no mood to leave and not a least bit tired. We then returned to our Sleep over bases. IYF boys had stationed at ....... Guesthouse on the Braj Parikrama Marg. Me, Nand Gopal Prabhu, and Saurabh Prabhu then sat talking while sipping hot milk and feasting on the light weight crispy rice. Went to bed late, knowing we had to get up early morning.

श्री वृन्दावन धाम की जय