On March 17 the ISKCON Ahmedabad temple devotees conducted their thirty-third monthly one-day padayatra. Called the Glories of Gaura-hari, a shorter walk this time of just 6km, the padayatra was held to promote the glories of Gaura-purnima, the appearance day of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Under the organization of Ministry of External Affairs Government of India and Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Prayagraj hosted at least one person from every country at the occasion of the sacred Kumbh festival. Kumbha Mela is unique and world's largest event in which hundreds of millions of spiritualists converge for a holy dip at the confluence of the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna and invisible Saraswati. UNESCO has recognized this festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of the humanity.

The month of March brings Nyepi - the day of silence throughout the whole of Bali. In the Balinese lunar calendar (Saka), Nyepi is New Year's Day. It is a day wholly dedicated to rest, staying in, turning off the lights and keeping quiet for 24 hours. It is one of the biggest and most unique ceremonies of the year, where staying in and resting is enforced by law. It is practiced island-wide where the Balinese dedicate an entire day to introspection and spiritual cleansing.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left His house (where the Yoga Pitha is situated) in the early morning heading to the Ganga. He crossed the river by swimming on His way to Katva to take sannyasa. When Saci mata understood that He was not in the house, she left looking for him, asking the villagers " Did you see Nimai?" In their hearts, the eternal associates of the Lord in the form of villagers, just remained silent. By seeing their behaviour mother Saci said:" You are just merciless."

The next stop was the house of Saranga Murari, the famous guru who initiated a dead body that was floating in the Ganga in the early morning. His very unique pastimes made the devotees laugh when they heard the incredible activities of this unique vaishnava. The most humble and sincere Vasudeva datta was also living in this house and His beautiful deities are still there: Radha Madhan Gopal, they are very tall and Gopal has light blue body with big lotus eyes. Once Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to this place and for the pleasure of the devotees he saved a tree which was giving shadow in the c...

So, we can't describe the happiness of the devotees to visit such sacred places! Champahati (or the market of jasmines) are one of the most beautiful places in Navadvipa Dhama. The Lordships Gaura Gadhadara are forever worshipped here. They were installed by Gadadhara pandit's nephew. Campahatti is also the place where Jayadeva Goswami wrote his world famous Gita Govinda poems. In this very sacred place Jayadeva Goswami and his wife Padmavati had the darshan of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna! Every year the Parikrama party stop in Champatti and have a great time with Katha...

In February, the leaders of the Sri Mayapur International School had requested me to spend quality time with their pupils aged 11 to 18. We had decided to first welcome the boys with a group of teachers for two days to Nityananda's abode, and then a bus-load of girls and their teachers. What a wonderful excursion! Our children are very special, and they start chanting in japa and kirtan already at a very young age. If we can inspire them to develop good chanting habits from the very beginning of their life, it will give them a wonderful start to their way back home, back to Godhead. <...