38th Sri Gaura Purnima festival – reports and pics

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By Tusti Mohan Krishna das

38th Sri Gaura Purnima festival starts Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir Mayapur, 24th of February, 2009.

Dear devotees.

Dandavat pranams.

With great happiness and joy we inform the vaishnava community that the Sri Gaurpurnima festival in its 38th edition starts at Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir.

After The morning darsan arati program, all the devotee went to Srila Prabhupada Park for the inaugural ceremony and flag hoisting that declares officially the beginning of the most transcendental festival in the universe. This festival was founded by Srila Prabhupada himself in the year 1972. For the gracious occasion we have the special visit of HG Balaji Swami who is one of the head pujaris of Balaji Tirumala Mandir in Tirupati, who did the official ritual ceremonies and chanted the special mantras assisted by HG Bhadra Caru prabhu for the pleasure of Sri Sri Gaurnitai the presiding Deities of this magnificent event.

The flag hoisting was done by HH Gopal Krsna Goswami and HH Lokanath
Many lectures are been given simultaneously today, the Bengali lecture was given at 6 am by HH Jayapataka Swami as also all the other lectures were delivered at the same time in different halls and pandals. In this way there would be time for the flag hoisting ceremony. All are eagerly waiting for the Maha Abhisheka tomorrow on the 25th. All will have the opportunity to serve Sri Sri Panca Tattva Bhagavan deities in a very special form.

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Aroti for the Panca Tattva Deities after the Maha-Abhisheka

Dear Devotees.

Dandavat pranams

I would like to send a short report and pics on the second part of the Mahaabhisheka of the Panca Tattva deities. This year there was no pushpa Abhisheka. Therefore at 10 am the Maha Abhisheka ended and HG Hari Sauri prabhu announced that we have 2 hours break, then we come back to the get darsan and while there will be the main aroti to the Deities.

At 12 noon the bhoga was been offered to Their Lordships, the arati was almost at 1 pm, The pujaris were not sure who was going to do the main arati as HH Jayapataka Swami was supposed to do but due to his physical limitations some alternatives were there. HH Gopal Krsna Goswami approached me to ask Gurumaharaja, which I did. But in fact Guru Maharaja´s reply, was that he wouldn’t be able to do full arati to the Deities. Narashimha Kavaca prabhu came to HH JPS´s room and asked him his opinion and it was finalized that HH Gopal Krsna Goswami does the Main arati while HH JPS does same arati on the right side in front of Srivas Acarya. Please see pictures.

The morning Bhagavatam class was given by HH Sivaram Swami, the kirtan also was performed by HH Radhanath Swami early morning.

HH Aindhra prabhu was leading Kirtan. At the time of the darsan arati of the deities HH Lokanath Swami started leading a great kirtan for Their Lordships that made all dance and sing all the time during the arati with ecstatic and surcharged energy. It was unforgettable.

As you can see in the pics, the arrival of departure of HH JPS is an event by itself, the highlight of all these days. Upon his arrival on the wheel chair GM was placed on the side of Srivas Acarya in front of the altar, then was helped by devotees to stand up with the help of the walker while 2 devotees were taking care of him on each side. Jagjivan prabhu was assisting GM with the paraphernalia of worship. Although he is sick and physically limited, still he could manage to be in Mayapur and do arati to His most beloved Lords. It is only by the grace of Krishna and the prayers of all of devotees.

Many activities are happening in Mayapur including the daily night performances on the main stage.

I am adding in this texts an attached file with few pictures including 2 from Abhisheka, since I sent few earlier that I hope all of you got them.

Sri Sri Panca Tattva Bhagavan Ki Jay. Srila Prabhupada Ki jay. Gaura premanande, haribol.

Ys

Tusti Mohan Krsna das