By Devaki Devi Dasi
Inspired by HH Lokanath Maharaja the Bangladeshi devotees had arranged for a three-months’ Padayatra to tour the entire country in order to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu taking Sannyasa. Eight Padayatra parties had traveled around the major districts, putting on big Pandal programs every night. Various local VIP’s and members of Parliament of both Hindu and Muslim background were taking part in these Pandal programs, and even giving financial support aswell.
The devotees were not even taking a break for a single day and were happily tolerating all kinds of personal inconveniences and austerities which the cold season brings along, as a sacrifice in order to glorify Lord Caitanya Maharprabhu. Although Bangladesh is a Muslim country, those 18% of Hindus residing here have mostly heard about Mahaprabhu, infact they all have a certain pride in feeling that He took birth in THEIR country – Bangladesh being East Bengal and meaning literally “the place of Bengalis”. Even the more educated Muslims also know about Mahaprabhu and are often showing great respect. No matter whether Muslim or Hindu – when studying Bengali literature at the University every student learns about Him since Lord Caitanya had great influence in Bengali literature and poetry.
On the 18th of January all these eight Padayatra teams assembled for a massive Padayatra Maha-Festival at our ISKCON Swamibag Ashram in Dhaka, with around two thousand ISKCON devotees gathering from all over the country. HH Lokanath Maharaja and HH Bhakti Purusottama Maharaja were heading up the festive event.
During the day the devotees arranged a gigantic procession through the streets of Dhaka. Around ten thousand devotees and people at large joined this huge Harinam Sankirtan party from start til finish, stretching for the length of around one kilometer. Devotees were carrying banners and beautiful posters of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada. A large diarama of Mahaprabhu was pulled along in a nicely decorated Ratha cart, and the murti of Srila Prabhupada was riding in a horse cart. The sound of two hundred mrdangas were beating the holy name into the Hindu’s hearts, and were shattering the hearts of the Muslims! It was simply a grandiose parade, demonstrating victory of Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtan movement in a Muslim country! The procession was well arranged and protected by numerous policemen who happily blocked the busy trafic in the streets of Dhaka to allow this massive procession to pass – many of these policemen were Muslims and were eagerly serving Lord Caitanya’s devotees with big smiles in their faces.
Throughout the whole day massive kitchari distribution was going on at Swamibag – the devotees had converted three thousand kilos of rice and dhal into the well liked spiritual food. The entire prasadam hall was layed out with plastic foil, the rice and dhal was spread out all over the ground, nicely mixed and filled into buckets to be served out.
Our altar in Swamibag temple with Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra, Sri Sri Gaur Nitai and Radha Madhava was very wonderfully decorated – the whole altar was surrounded by a gorgeous flower-house, with fruits and garlands hanging from the ceiling. Lord Jagannath Himself looked splendid – dressed up for the festive event of Mahaprabhu’s 500th Sannyasa jubilee celebration.
A huge Pandal tent was errected at Swamibag, and the beautiful decorations created a festive mood. Throughout the whole afternoon and evening a stage program was performed, with several dignitaries and VIP’s of Dhaka city and government taking part, the chief guest being Mr Dilip Boruya, the Minister for Industrial Development – a practising Buddhist himself. Devotees were speaking on different aspects of Lord Caitanya taking Sannyasa, and HH Lokanath Swami highlighted the program with his most amazing kirtans, giving the celebration the ultimate transcendental conclusion: to chant the holy name in great happiness and bliss.
Who would ever think that such festival can take place in a Muslim country – in such grandiose and splendid style……!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and his faithful servants…..!
Your servant, Devaki dd