By Karunika dasi
Reports of Krishna Janmashtami celebrations across the world bear witness to the undeniable fact that ISKCON programmes are rapidly growing in popularity. Mauritius is no exception and on Janmashtami night, the ISKCON temples are the place to be!
This year the celebration fell on a Sunday, so there were big crowds at both our main temples all day. Prior to the festival, devotees distributed almost 30 000 invitations. Due to the expert directions and enthusiastic initiatives of Sarvabhauma Das, a regular preacher in Mauritius, in regards to using the resources offered by the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) for preaching purposes, one of the managers of the MBC himself approached the ISKCON festival manager to ask permission to make a free clip advertising Janmashtami celebrations and Sri Sri Radha-Golokananda’s Silver Jubilee. The gorgeous advert, enhanced greatly by the singing of Mahatama Das in the background, was broadcast at prime times during the week leading up to Krishna Janmashtami. It was accompanied by many pre-recorded as well as live TV and radio programmes featuring different ISKCON leaders who had visited Mauritius earlier during the year. The main event was aired live on MBC TV Channel 2 from 21.30 to half midnight. Lectures by the main visiting guests, His Holiness Nava-Yogendra Maharaja at Bon-Accueil and His Grace Jasomatinandan Prabhu at Phoenix, were the first items to be broadcast. Our guests were also kept busy prior to the event with several radio and TV interviews.
Throughout the day and night, a minimum of 45 000 people visited the temples. Guests included Honourable Mr. Bachoo, Minister of Environment & NDU; Honourable Mrs. Bappoo, Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity; Dr. the Honourable Mr. Bunwaree, Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations & Employment; Honourable Mr. Bundhoo, Chief Government Whip; Honourable Mr. Dulloo, A Leading Member of the Opposition Party; Honourable Mr. Dayal, Deputy Chairman of Committees; Sriman Somduth Dulthumun President, Mauritian Sanatan Dharma Temples Fedaration.
Mr Currimgee, a Muslim corporate owner and the new neighbour of Hare Krishna Land, Phoenix, kindly allowed us the use of his open space just across the Bhaktivedanta Swami Road, so the pandal area was much bigger than in previous years and really made a difference to the organisation. Different aspects of ISKCON were promoted in many sections and booths:
* the main tent, where bhajans, kirtans, plays, dances, lectures, abhishek and midnight arati were performed. The ISKCON Mauritius website (www.iskconmauritius.com) was also launched during the programme.
* the prashadam tent, where a hot freshly prepared meal of rice, two sabjis, pakora, puri, herbal tea and a packet of 4 different sweets was served to 10 000 guests. Seating arrangements were made for 500 people to be served at once and so the service was very efficient. In the meanwhile, prashadam was served to VIP guests in the temple restaurant. Ekadasi prashadam for those who were fasting the whole day was served separately at midnight
* booths of local ISKCON activities including Food for Life, Cow protection with actual cows to feed and Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture
* a very popular children’s corner where children had their own altar and stage on which they performed for over three hours
* a tent for the youth, where the crowd was entertained with rocking kirtan and short skits. This tent was bursting
In the centre of this wonderful programme were Sri Sri Radha-Golokananda, giving a dazzling and unforgettable darshan. The vigour of the long queue for darshan of the Deities was at one point so strong that it had to be held back by a man-made wall! The temple hall was packed and those who were still around at midnight crowded around the windows hoping for a glimpse of the nectar available inside.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada’s preaching spirit which continues to spread Lord Krishna’s glories throughout the world and allows us to take part in the sweetest of festivals!