By Premanjana Das
17th Sept (Acc to English Calendar) and 23rd Sept (Acc to Vedic Calendar) marks the historic anniversary of Srila Prabhupada arrival in USA.
Defying all odds, after a long struggle in India, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada arrived in USA to carry out the order given to him by his spiritual master almost 40 years ago of delivering the timeless teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in western world.
Who could imagine at that time that a person with ‘strange appearance’ in saffron robes, having thick Bengali accent and Rs 40/- in his pocket would turn the tide of world in next 11 years by transforming the hearts of millions around the globe, establishing 108 temples, various farm communities, schools, restaurant in all continents of the world?
50 years later, his millions of followers in more than 650 temples are offering their sincere gratitude to His Divine Grace for the selfless struggles he had to endure to offer them a pure, meaningful life based on teachings of Lord Krishna.
Devotees at ISKCON Punjabi Bagh organized a special event on 25th Sept(Sunday) for more than 2000 members to commemorate the anniversary of Srila Prabhupada reaching USA after an arduous journey of 35 days on ‘Jalduta’ ship suffering 2 heart attacks, sea sickness at the advanced age of 70 years.
Program consisted of an elephant procession, “Reliving Prabhupada at Boston(Performance by Gauranga Band)” , “Bigwig in conversation with Srila Prabhupada(Puppet Show)”, Govindam Prayers(Yoga Acrobatics by students from blind school) and Prabhupada Katha by his three senior disciples: HG Pancagauda Pr, HG Hamsrupa Pr & HG RadhaKunda Mj.
The program began by carrying the deity of Srila Prabhupada on a decorated elephant accompanied by hundreds of devotees who were joyfully chanting and dancing in a procession from temple to the nearby venue. The stage program was initiated by suitable invocation, lamp lighting and a short address by HG Rukmini Krishna Das(Temple Co-President).
Many devotees were mesmerized when students from a blind school put up a Yoga Acrobatics show on different pastimes of Lord Krishna. Gauranaga Rock Band sang the poem composed by Srila Prabhupada on Jalduta a day before arriving at Boston. And then, all children rushed towards front to catch every glimpse of a Puppet show featuring conversation of Srila Prabhupada with various dignitaries. Then came the most awaited program of the evening…where by direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada shared their own exchanges and realization with Srila Prabhupada. Many devotees were moved to tears upon hearing the struggles Srila Prabhupada took to give the manking various valuable gifts in form of timeless knowledge, temples, farm communities, books, festivals, lifestyle and a whole culture.
Volunteers who served tirelessly at Janmastami Festival were also thanked by giving a small token of gift by senior devotees.
The program was concluded with a dinner feast for all.
“Hearing about Srila Prabhupada directly from his disciples relating their experiences is one of the most enlivening experience for me. If you would like to have a glimpse of pure love, dedication and sincerity: just see the lives of these disciples and hear from them” said Madhuri Devi Dasi.
“I am missing the most valuable treasure of Prabhupada’s teachings by not reading his books regularly. I have taken a resolve to read them everyday” said Premanjana Das