ISKCON Panihati celebrated Panihati festival week this year from 22nd – 26th June, 2018 for the first time. His Holiness Bhakti Prema Maharaj was the chief guest for the entire event.
On the day of Ganga-puja i.e. 22nd June we went on Ganga safari via a hired boat from Panihati to Bagh Bazaar Gaudiya Math. About 400 devotees participated in the wonderful kirtans, eye opening lectures by Maharaj and other senior devotees and sumptuous prasadam.
The second day 23rd June was food festival wherein devotees put up prasadam stalls in the temple campus. This was accompanied by kirtan, discourse on importance of mahaprasadam by Maharaj and a magic show!
The third day 24th June Nirjala Ekadasi was marked by Sravanotsav with discourses for about 8 hours by HG Swarup Damodar Pr, HG Kamalapati Pr and Maharaj.
The fourth day and fifth day both were celebrated as Chida Dahi Mahotsav and Kirtan Mela (since there was confusion over date of festival with the local govt. body so we decided to celebrate on both the days). Whereas on 25th about 7,000+ pilgrims were served Chida Dahi and hot khichari prasadam, on 26th about 30,000+ pilgrims were served the same preparations afresh.
Kirtan mela team led by HG Kamala Gopala Pr left the audience spellbound by there magical voices surcharged with devotion on those final two days. The whole event was telecast live on facebook and Mayapur TV. Panihati Municipality commended ISKCON’s efforts on such an extended period of festivities and has promised there full support in ISKCON’s outreach programs.
For snaps visit https://www.facebook.com/pg/ISKCONpanihatiofficial/photos/?ref=page_internal