By Srivas Caitanya Dasa
The launch of the 2009 Deepavali Damodara Festival in Malaysia was highly anticipated by the devotees of Sri Jagannatha Mandir, ISKCON Kuala Lumpur (SJMKL) for two reasons. One was that the venue of the launch was to be at the temple premises itself, unlike previous years when it was held in the Kuala Lumpur city centre. The other major reason for the excitement and joy was that this year’s launch was to be graced by the presence of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaja. HH is very dear to the devotees of the Malaysian yatra, most being his disciples.
A popular local political figure, YB Datuk Saravanan, Deputy Minister of the Federal Territory and Vice President of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) was also invited to grace the launch of the Deepavali Damodara Festival. The launch took place on the 4th of October 2009, a day before the commencement of the Damodara Masa. The evening event commenced with a speech by the organizing chairman, HG Srivas Caitanya Dasa, who is also the Congregational Development (CD) Minister at SJMKL. HH Jayapataka Swami then shared his views with the congregation where he expressed joy and happiness at SJMKL devotees making the special effort during the month of Damodhar to spread KC amongst more people in Malaysia. Maharaj’s speech was followed by a multimedia video presentation, wherein on the success and organizational mechanics of the Damodara program, as handled by the Congregational Development Ministry (CDM) of Sri Jagannatha Mandir over the past years was outlined. Thereafter, a theatrical performance of the Damodara Lila was presented by the TASK Team of SJMKL.
The evening’s highlight was the entourage to usher the arrival of the Deputy Minister. The grand welcoming procession was made up of a cow and calf; to usher in auspiciousness and this party was also made up of a procession of drummers, trumpeters and traditionally dressed “gopis and gopas”.
After the launch was initiated by YB Datuk Saravanan, His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaja offered a ghee lamp to officially commemorate the launch. HH’s gesture opened the avenue for the assembled devotees to offer ghee lamps individually to His Lordship.
For the next 45 days, the whole of the Malaysian yatra will be busy going from home to home, making it possible for the general public to offer ghee lamps to His Lordship seeking his causeless mercy.
As part of an international sharing effort, the CDM of SJMKL has provided various other yatras in Australia, Philippines, Bombay, Pune, Delhi, Chennai, South Africa, Fiji and Mauritius with the updated Damodara kit. The 2009 kit comprises an altar calendar for offering the ghee lamps and a booklet explaining the Damodara Program.
With the bleesings of Lord Sri Damodara, Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva, Subadra Maiya and Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasunder, we pray that the Damodara Program will bring inspiration to other ISKCON Centres and facilitate the spreading of Krishna Consciousness, fulfilling the aspirations of HDG Swami Srila Prabupada.
A soft copy of the alter-calendar and the booklet is available here
http://rghost.net/users/hemalan/releases/damodara-deepavali-2009
For pictures on the event, click
http://picasaweb.google.com/dr.srivas/DeepavaliDamodara2009OfficialLaunch?feat=directlink
your servant,
Srivas Caitanya Dasa,
Congregational Development Ministry,
Sri Jagannatha Mandir, ISKCON Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia