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<\/center><\/p>\nRURAL PROJECTS PREACHING TOUR REPORT<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n August\/Sept-2014<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Sixth in a series of 7 articles covering ISKCON Rural Projects<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Introduction<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Both Rama Laksman prabhu, Director for IDVM Secretariat located in Sri<\/span> Mayapur along with Arjuna Krsna prabhu, Co-Director for IDVM Department of<\/span> Education undertook an extensive tour to various ISKCON rural projects in<\/span> India.<\/span><\/p>\n Their travels took them to Nilachal Dham, a new project under ISKCON Juhu<\/span> temple close to Mumbai in Maharashtra, Nandagram Farm in Gujarat, Pathmeda<\/span> on the border of Rajasthan and Gujarat, Panchavati in Tamil Nadu, close to<\/span> Salem, Venu Madhuri in Maharashtra, Govardhan Eco Village in Maharashtra, a<\/span> project run under the ISKCON Chowpatty temple and last to Gokul Dham near<\/span> Govardhan Eco-village \u2013 Showcasing traditional models to Modern society<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n We began our month long sojourn of visiting and understanding the various<\/span> farm communities and models across the country with the famous Govardhan<\/span> Eco-village situated in WADA district in Maharashtra about 2 hours drive<\/span> from Mumbai. Our first experience, not knowing how to reach the place in<\/span> itself a mercy of Lord Krsna, as we were literally near a crossroad,<\/span> contemplating on how to reach, as we did not properly know the directions<\/span> nor the exact location, a speeding van suddenly screeched to a halt and we<\/span> saw devotees, dressed in saffron, who saw two stranded Brahmacaris and<\/span> <\/p>\n We reached the famed farm and devotees immediately gathered around us like<\/span> ants around honey and we were made to feel very welcome in a very short<\/span> time. Because of cold weather, both of us got fever and resident devotees<\/span> very kindly took care of us and within a short time, we were on our feet and<\/span> met the senior devotee, who is managing the farm, Sanat kumar prabhu, who is<\/span> a veteran of sorts, as he has been serving there from the beginning. We had<\/span> detailed discussions with him ranging from education to cow protection and<\/span> agriculture, as especially agriculture is his speciality. This farm is<\/span> unique of its kind, in the sense that it shows to Modern world and the<\/span> modern people, as to how a village life looks like and since modern man is<\/span> used to modern amenities, he will get those amenities in a traditional<\/span> environment, so that the experience can bring about a change in a gradual<\/span> manner.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The farm has its beautiful temple of Radha-van bihari, gorgeous life-sized<\/span> deities, where they have Mangala arati at 4:15am<\/span><\/span>, they have a \u2018Gurukul\u2019,<\/span> with about 20 children, who regularly attend Mangala arati and other<\/span> festivities by performing \u2018Sankirtana\u2019. We began exploring the farm,<\/span> beginning with the kitchen. We were shown how most of the oil requirements<\/span> of the farm was done through \u2018cold\u2019 pressed process. There are clearly<\/span> demarcated Brahmacari and Grhastha quarters and close to 5 guest houses,<\/span> which was built with traditional technologies such as CSEB, compressed<\/span> earthen blocks and with modern amenities such as classrooms and conference<\/span> halls for the visiting guests, who could have their seminars and other<\/span> gatherings in a natural environment. They have a big \u2018clientele\u2019 list, who<\/span> regularly make WADA their preferred destination for such meetings.<\/span><\/p>\n Varieties of plants and flowers have been planted in a planned manner and<\/span> they are a source of delight for children, who can engage in a treasure hunt<\/span> across the farm. We came across a group of 100 such children from Mumbai and<\/span> they had a fun game, wherein they had to collect some specimen varieties<\/span> from the field and they came with all their leaves and did not leave us till<\/span> we answered their questions. We were astonished that most of the kids did<\/span> not know how a \u2018banana\u2019 leaf looked like. City kids living in concrete<\/span> jungles need exactly this kind of an experience and exposure to get back on<\/span> earth.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We next visited their \u2018Water treatment\u2019 plant and this was a delight.<\/span> Acquired at a cost of 10 lakhs, this makes usage of water in critical times<\/span> very relevant. All the water that is collected from the bathrooms are<\/span> separated into two streams, those which are used while bathing and those<\/span> which are coming from Toilets are collected separately and waste is<\/span> separated from the water, which is then purified and sent to the plants and<\/span> trees via a piping system. Thus water is not wasted and sewage is used as<\/span> manure. A big garden with huge \u2018Pappaya\u2019 fruits were testimony to the power<\/span> of manure.<\/span><\/p>\n We, then visited their \u2018Goshala\u2019 with about 60 \u2018Gir\u2019 cows and they were very<\/span> well cared for by the devotees. They all looked healthy and happy and<\/span> opportunity is given to visitors to do some \u2018Go-seva\u2019 by brushing and<\/span> grooming the cows, who very eagerly come and show their necks and backs to<\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of the most important activities done in the farm is training devotees<\/span> for taking up upcoming responsibilities in temples by giving them full day<\/span> Srimad-Bhagavatam classes and there are about 40 devotees, who are on the<\/span> verge of becoming Brahmacaris (Celibates) and undergoing all these studies<\/span> in a \u2018Sattvic\u2019 environment is a definite plus for making the minds calm and<\/span> relaxed. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the farm and look forward to<\/span> longer future visits to Govardhan Eco Village.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n Belgaum in Northern Karnataka.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"img4\"](\"http:\/\/www.iskconvarnasrama.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/img4.jpg\")
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\n showed mercy on us and when we approached them like a hungry man approaches<\/span> food, we found that they were devotees from chowpatty temple on a visit to<\/span> WADA farm. We just thanked the Lord with all our hearts and one devotee<\/span> seriously told us that \u2018Lord Krsna personally sent you this vehicle.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n be nicely scratched. The Goshala has separate wards for the sick and the old<\/span> cows as well with good space for them to move. The farm also has some<\/span> donkeys, goats, dogs, in separate enclosures, as an answer to those<\/span> visitors, who might questions, as to why only a cow should be given<\/span> protection and not others.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n