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\u015ar\u012b \u015ar\u012b K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a Balar\u0101ma \u015aobh\u0101-Y\u0101tr\u0101 Celebrations in Himachal Pradesh<\/p>\n
Aseem Krsna Das
\nIn the Brahma-sa\u1e41hit\u0101, Lord Brahm\u0101 glorifies the Supreme Lord\u2019s residence, Goloka, as a place
\nwhere every word is a song and every gait a dance, where the soil is purpose gem and all water is
\nnectar. Such a place is ever blissful and free from all miseries. There is always a festival in the
\nspiritual world. It\u2019s a place where every resident is constantly engaged in the service of the Lord.
\nThat is the nature of the Lord\u2019s transcendental abode. Each one of us would be eager to experience
\nand have a glimpse of such a sublime realm in this material world. Indeed, it\u2019s possible to create the
\n\u2018Vaiku\u1e47\u1e6dha\u2019 atmosphere in this material world, as the Supreme Lord Himself confirms to N\u0101rada
\nMuni "…tatra ti\u1e63\u1e6dh\u0101mi n\u0101rada yatra g\u0101yanti mad-bhakt\u0101\u1e25." The Lord says that He remains where
\nHis devotees engage in glorifying His activities.
\nThe Supreme Lord performed various transcendental pastimes for us to remember and glorify. Out
\nof their immeasurable compassion, our previous acharyas and \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da introduced to us a
\nvariety of ways to serve the same Supreme Person who is the Lord of our hearts and our most dear
\nwell-wishing friend. They taught us to celebrate various festivals for the glorification of the Lord. The
\nLord is satisfied through these celebrations and the devotees also get a chance to experience the
\nglimpse of the divine happiness belonging to the realm of the spiritual world.
\nOne such grand festival, the K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a Balar\u0101ma \u015aobh\u0101-y\u0101tr\u0101, was celebrated recently in the cities of
\nDharamshala and Palampur, situated in the hills of Himachal Pradesh. These festivals provided a
\nwonderful opportunity to one and all to serve the Lord through different ways and receive His
\ntranscendental blessings. Let us have a short glimpse of the festival in these two cities.
\nA large gathering of devotees arrived in advance from various places in India and abroad to
\nparticipate in these festivals. A large group of local people also gathered to welcome the Lord. The
\nstarting points for the \u015aobh\u0101-y\u0101tr\u0101s were the temples of the local devatas.
\nWhile some devotees sang harin\u0101ma, other devotees joyfully danced to the tunes of the k\u012brtana. The
\nprocession passed through the main market area of the towns. Amazed onlookers relished the
\nLord\u2019s transcendental pras\u0101dam, which was continuously being distributed from the chariot. They
\nsatisfied their sense of sight by having the wonderful dar\u015bana of the Lordships, who were decorated
\nprofusely with fresh flowers. The book distributors distributed \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da\u2019s books with full
\nenthusiasm and the cooking team prepared pras\u0101dam for the devotees and 56 bhoga items for the
\nLord. The puj\u0101r\u012bs were also engaged in their service to the Lordships and the managers were busy
\nensuring all comforts for the Lord and His dear devotees.
\nAll of us were fully engaged and absorbed in one service or another. Everyone was happy and
\nblissful. Lord \u015ar\u012b Caitanya Mah\u0101prabhu has unlocked the treasure house of unlimited bliss by
\nintroducing the Sank\u012brtana movement for us. Surely, this would be the way in the spiritual world
\nwhere every word is a song and every step a dance. The influence of the Lord\u2019s association was
\nnoticable. Every single person who participated in these programs took back home a smile that was
\npriceless.
\nMany people received \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da\u2019s mercy in the form of his books. About 300 transcendental
\n\u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da\u2019s books were distributed, which included 100 mah\u0101-big books.<\/p>\n
\u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da has said, \u201cSo, this festival, taking part in these\u00a0festivals, means\u00a0a step forward for
\nour self-realization.\u00a0Rathe ca v\u0101mana\u1e41 d\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e6dv\u0101 punar janma na vidyate.\u00a0Simply by seeing the Lord on
\nthe chariot, one makes advancement for stopping the repetition of birth and death.\u201d (Ratha-y\u0101tr\u0101 –
\nLondon, July 13, 1972)
\nThe Jagann\u0101tha Ashram, Dari, Dharamshala was the organizer for the \u015aobh\u0101-y\u0101tr\u0101s in Dharamshala
\nand Palampur. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Palampur district, Shri Abhayram Das, played the
\nkey role in organizing the Palampur \u015aobh\u0101-y\u0101tr\u0101. Shri Abhayram Das, an initiated devotee in ISKCON,
\nis wonderfully utilizing his esteemed social position in preaching the glories of the Lord.
\nHis Holiness Subhag Swami Maharaja most mercifully blessed us with his divine presence throughout
\nthese festivals. He delivered the most valuable discourses at the beginning of both of these
\nprocessions. His discourse inspired the local people to accept Krishna Consciousness with utmost
\nsincerity and seriousness in their lives, and also recharged the batteries of old and new devotees
\nalike in their pursuit of Krishna Consciousness. Association with and guidance from a pure devotee
\nspiritual master, a representative of \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da, gives us the necessary push and impetus to
\ncontinue our endeavor for achieving the transcendental position or love of Godhead, which is the
\nperfection of life.
\nMay the Lord bless us with more and more bliss and happiness by giving us a chance to participate in
\nsuch festivals meant for His glorification.
\nAll glories to \u015ar\u012bla Prabhup\u0101da!!!<\/p>\n