By Deena Bandhu dasa

This year for the first time, the devotees organized a wonderful Vyasa Puja Celebration in the evening, inviting may leading citizens of Vrindavan to come and offer their homage to Srila Prabhupada on his appearance day. Usually they are unable to attend in the morning as everyone is involved in their own Nandotsava Celebrations for the day after Janmastami. So this was a wonderful opportunity for them to honor His Divine Grace.

The program was organized in the beautiful courtyard of Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir and the guests included Padam Shri Rasacharya Swami Ram Swaroop Sharma, HH Rajendra Dasji Maharaj, Malik Pithadishwar Vrindavan, HH Ramswaroop dasji Maharaja, President of Char Sampradaya Ashram, and HH Hari Shankardasji Maharaj, Mahant Vamsivat, Vrindavan. They were greeted and offered lovely garlands by the Vrindavan Management Committee of our temple. Then Jankinatha Prabhu introduced them to all the devotees and public gathered in the courtyard.

HH Rajendra dasji Maharaj offered garland to Srila Prabhupada and then glorified him for fifteen minutes. He said that no one could do this glorious work in this Kali-yuga except Srila Prabhupada! Then there was roaring applause and cheering by everyone. He continued on proving that Srila Prabhupada fulfilled the desire of Smt. Bhakti Maharani in Srimad Bhagavatam to go outside of India.

Swami Ram Swaroop Sharma, receiver of the prestigious Padam Sri Award from the President of India said, “Vivekananda was unable to do anything. He just spoke nicely, but Srila Prabhupada practically changed the whole world. Wherever he put his lotus feet there temples for Krishna sprang up. He requested all Brijwasis to kindly help Srila Prabhupada’s movement.

At the conclusion of the program, HH Srila Radha Govinda Maharaja very humbly thanked them in a very glorious way. He offered all of them nice gifts and Mahaprasad as Srila Prabhupada’s representative.

As I was not there and am traveling, I will try to get someone to upload some pictures for the pleasure of all the devotees.

In service of Srimati Vrinda Devi, Deena Bandhu dasa

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