By Dayal Mora

A six day pilgrimage from Ramsgate to Canterbury Cathedral via Margate and Whitstable.

The Kṛṣṇa conscious person is the perfectly peaceful person.

Everyone wants peace in the world. The peace marchers do not know how to obtain peace, but they want peace. I read a speech of the Archbishop of Canterbury in which he said, “You want the kingdom of God without God.” This is our defect. If you want peace at all, then accept that peace means to understand God. That is stated in the

Bhagavad-gītā. Unless you are in touch with the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, you cannot have peace. Therefore, we have a different peace formula.

[TYS 9: The Real Peace Formula]

I was reading some of Srila Prabhupada’s letters the other day whilst on a search for class material and I came across the following question posed by our Founder-Acharya:

“We have sacrificed our life for Krsna’s service, where is there scope for sleeping and gossiping?”

How relevant a comment it is. The question is: how can one fully engage himself and others in completely absorbing direct Krsna Conscious activities in a way which is inspirational and attractive to the general public yet respectable meaningful in the eyes of cultured gentlemen? How do we promote a spiritual culture without coming across as religionists but preserving image of serious practitioners of brahminical lifestyle? I suspect it’s the constant nagging in the heart of many a devotee. Based upon this year’s success we may have found a solution.

Somehow or another for the third successive year, this craggy windswept outpost on the edge of civilisation known as the UK has been very much blessed by bearing witness to a most auspicious happening. Padyatra is one of those festivals which is not easily understood by anyone who hasn’t actually participated and tasted the ecstatic mood, the freedom and the spiritual potency of this most complete and powerful display of Lord Chaitanya’s Sankirtan movement.

Therefore, in order for people to become happy in all respects, they must be taught to perform the easy process of saṅkīrtana-yajña, in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Otherwise, there can be no peace or happiness in the world.

[Bg 3.13]

From the moment the devotees arrived to Ramsgate, which was to be the starting point of our six day ‘Walk for Peace’, promising signs were immediately witnessed. Thanks to the expert work of our local man, Mantra Chaitanya das, the local tv news channel and newspapers had been heralding our arrival, thus as soon as the devotees arrived we were recognised and greeted with folded hands by passers by at Ramsgate Bandstand. The Mayor of Ramsgate was

very happy to join in the singing and dancing whilst we prepared the ox and cart, set up the deities and decorations, distributed our literatures and leaflets and struck up an enthusiastic kirtan, led by HH Mahavishnu Swami, complete with hat and accordion. Books were flying out and confidence was high, after all we had one of the giants of worldwide Padyatra, the tireless purveyor of prasadam, his grace Parasuram Prabhu, with us. What could possibly go wrong?!

Forgetful men do not know the right path for peace and prosperity. However, the sages know it well, and therefore for the good of all men they are always anxious to perform acts which may bring about peace in the world. They are sincere friends to all living entities, and at the risk of great personal inconvenience they are always engaged in the service of the Lord for the good of all people.

[SB 1.1.4 / PURPORT]

A beautiful scenic Kentish coastal sojourn was the prescription. Passing through Broadstairs, a mere hours stroll from Ramsgate even with two tons worth of oxen plus cart in tow, we saw a beautiful situation unfold. Rolling into the Broadstairs bandstand area and drawing a big crowd of onlookers the kirtan became truly rocking with the legendary Harinam Ruci boys doing what they do best. We were welcomed by the Chairman of the local district council, a former Mayor Himself, and his wife. They were so much favourable, publicly endorsing the event and supporting future Hare Krsna preaching activities in the region.

A mile or two further up the road we arrived at our first campsite, Joss Bay, where devotees were able to pitch up their tents, take a bath in the ocean and wait for dinner to be prepared. The kirtan didn’t stop until late into the evening and devotees were so enchanted in the pure spiritual atmosphere created and in anticipation of what was to unfold in the coming days.

Although I’m a witness to and thus a firm believer in the effectiveness and magic of Padyatra as a deadly transcendental weapon in the ISKCON preaching armoury, what is just as certain is the immense capacity of this festival to bring devotees closer to one another in a mood of friendship, servitorship and mutual appreciation and respect. It cannot be emphasised enough the necessity for us to engage in this and similar events regularly to enable unlimited opportunity for devotees to engage in the six loving exchanges.

Regarding the Festival programs, you should not stop because it is not economic. You can earn from book-selling and then spend for the festivals. The festivals are very good for attracting the people, then you can easily inject the Krsna conscious poison into them.

[Letter to: Hansadutta: Bombay 12 October, 1973]

Day 2 saw us pass through the seaside town of Margate and received by the Mayor there at the clock tower at high noon. From here our team continued on, via another beautiful coastal walk. It was an ekadashi day so heaps of cheese and fruits, nuts were provided for these heroes of the Sankirtan mission, at least for those who weren’t fasting.

The Padyatra seems to draw the charitable spirit out of everyone we meet. Although staying five nights in various types of campsite we were not charged a penny for this and we met some extremely nice people who did some serious service for the devotees. Of course an army marches on its stomach so this was actually the greatest expense. Fortunately we have here at ISKCON London such an exalted and open minded temple president as Jai Nitai Prabhu, who gave us a generous budget with which to put on this event.

Herne Bay and Whitstable were next inundated with the Holy names as we edged closer to our final goal – a historical walk up Canterbury high street to be received at the gates of the Cathedral by their representatives and the Lord Mayor of Canterbury.

The final evening prior to that was super auspicious. While I found myself rustling up a big pot of top class halava for the devotees, the others were preparing for an initiation ceremony. Last year we were fortunate enough to witness the wedding of two of our Padyatris at a beautiful seaside campsite between Sandwich and Dover. It was an especially sweet occasion which will always be remembered by those who attended. This year the fire sacrifice symbolised the acceptance of vows from three of our crew and was one of those beautifully spontaneous padyatra moments when you remember why we love Krsna Consciousness. The kirtan rocked until 1:30am!

In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is clearly stated that in this age of Kali the only successful performance of yajña, or sacrifice, is yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyaiḥ: the best type of sacrifice is simply to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

[SB 4.7.41 / PURPORT]

The last day of our walk for peace! Bank holiday weekend in Canterbury and the streets are packed! A bunch of 40 devotees plus representatives from the Cathedral and the local interfaith group joined us as we marched down the cobbled historic high street. Handing our balloons, cookies, books, leaflets and the Holy Names, we were an unexpected sight to behold!

Upon arrival at the gates of the Cathedral we let rip our final kirtan, in the ecstasy of the moment Jai Nitai Prabhu was lifted up into the air by a group of brahmacharis! Everyone was having a great time as we celebrated the end of our six day yajna!

Welcoming us to Canterbury and expressing their delight at having us there, the dignitaries received the gifts we had lined up for them. The picture of the Cathedral Librarian wearing a set of Srimad Bhagavatam on his holy head would surely bring a smile to the lotus lips of Srila Prabhupada!

Some well spoken words from HH Mahavishnu Swami informed the audience about the science of the chanting, and Mantra Chaitanya Prabhu, who co-organised this hugely successful event, explained to the smiling dignitaries how the Hare Krishnas are here to stay in

Canterbury! The Archbishop has already received a Bhagavad Gita from us recently and there is every chance we can be received by him personally next year at the end of our fourth Walk for Peace event! As we know, meeting the Archbishop of Canterbury was an unfulfilled desire of Srila Prabhupada, now fulfilled as the Archbishop has met Srila Prabhupada in the form of His books.

Thank you very much Your servant,

Dayal Mora das

Padyatra UK key jaya! Srila Prabhupada key jaya!

For photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/157905040@N04/29404042297/in/dateposted-public/