ISKCON (International Society for Consciousness: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada) WORLDWIDE PLEASE POST IN YOUR TEMPLE newsletter 2015

On the road in Vraja Mandala 2014

South Russia New Zealand South Afrika Lithuania PADAYATRA WORLDWIDE Dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Founder- of the International Socity for Krishna Consciousness newsletter 2015 EDITORIAL By

As you may have already heard or read, the immediate goal of the Padaya- tra Ministry is to celebrate ISKCON’s 50th birthday with 50 from Gaura Purnima 2014 till the end of 2016. We are inviting all the dev- otees worldwide to participate in this glorification of ISKCON and Srila Prabhupada. This goal is very feasible, as Padayatra is basically a low- cost project of variable duration that can be carried out in many different “The basic principle is this: styles - a one-man venture like Bhaktimarga Swami in Canada; a weekend Induce them to chant and take prasadam. padayatra as an outing for the congregation around your city or your farm; You’ll be successful… If they have got little brain then krsna-upadesa; other- a summer padayatra ; an annual walk or a continental or trans-continental wise, Hare Krsna upadesa. Chant Hare walk. Padayatra can be done in different ways, according to the geography Krsna. Yes, go village to village. It is a of your country, your available time, resources and manpower : with a bull- very noble attempt. And if you sincerely ock cart or a cart pulled by a horse, or just as an extended harinama with a preach, Krsna will give you intelligence, palanquin carrying Sri Sri Gaura . no doubt.” (Instructions given on September 1976 by Srila Pra- You can walk and drive if you live in a country with long empty or des- bhupada to Lokanath Swami and his team before they ert stretches, or you can walk and fly (or take a boat) if you want to move started their padayatra from Vrndavana to Mayapur) from island to island. You’ll be able to get more ideas, tips and practical Editor in Chief: -- Lokanath Swami guidelines from the Padayatra Manual which you can download from our Assistant Editors: -- Gaurangi Dasi, Dinanukampa Padayatra website. Dasi and Lilasuka Dasi Compiler and Production Manager: -- Gaurangi Another reason why we think this goal of 50 padayatras is within our reach Dasi is that the Padayatra Ministry achieved a much larger goal in the past. At the Lay-out and design: -- Kurmarupa Dasa time of Srila Prabhupada’ Centennial in 1996, we offered 105 padayatras, Printed by Vinayak Print Media, Noida some of which took place during the Padayatra Week which was scheduled Contents just before World Holy Name Day. In fact, the Silver Jubilee of ISKCON Editorial - 1 could well be the occasion to revive the Padayatra Week. Every year World Pune Dindi - 2 Holy Name Week is gaining more and more momentum and scope. What Tamil Nadu - 4 better way to celebrate it than with a padayatra, as devotees in Mauritius Parasurama’s Vraja Mandala Padayatra - 5 are already doing ? Andhra Pradesh - 10 Dindi - 11 The last reason to be very optimistic about reaching that goal is that to this Odisha 2014 - 14 day there are already 30 padayatras done, on the road or scheduled. During Padayatra - 17 Srila Prabhupada’s centennial we counted the number of countries where a New Zealand - 20 padayatra took place, but for ISKCON’s 50th birthday each different pa- 21st Czech Padayatra - 21 dayatra in the same country is counted as one, unless they are continuous or Interview with Nrsimha Caitanya Dasa - 22 annual walks. This new system allows us to honour the various padayatras South Russia - 24 taking place in India and other large countries. Canada with Bhaktimarga Swami - 26 Besides Padayatra India, on the road since Radhastami 1984 and now on Suriname - 27 its sixth tour of the country, there are several other padayatras going on in South Africa - 28 India. The party of Visnuswami Dasa has been travelling with bullock cart Lithuania - 31 Mauritius - 33 in Andhra Pradesh for almost two years. Every year four dindi are Slovenia - 34 taking place in Maharashtra and a well-attended padayatra in Orissa. A two Legalities - 35 week-walk took place in Tamil Nadu, and other walks are planned in Tir- The Route - 36 upati, Kanya Kumari, Kerala and Goa. Special stories - 37 Looks like it’s time for anniversaries. 2014 marked the 500th anniversary 50 benefits of Padayatra - 39 of Lord Caitanya’s walk from Puri to Vrindavana, where He performed the Cover photo of Parasurama’s Vraja Mandala Vraja Mandala Parikrama, and the 500th anniversary of His travels through Padayatra by Dharmatma Dasa Maharashtra, which devotees cele- the past seven years. Having been structions of our senior padayatra brated with a two month dindi from well trained by Rajaram Dasa, the leaders to render service to the other Kolhapur to Nasik. 2015 is the 50th previous Padayatra leader, and his devotees have changed my life. Each anniversary of ISKCON foundation own father, Munipriya Prabhu, the participant on padayatra is a unique with the arrival of Srila Prabhupa- present leader, he’s very concerned devotee, very dear to the Lord. It was da in America. ISKCON Mayapur about training new devotees and ex- on padayatra that I really understood and ISKCON Kolkata are planning panding the program. that the best preaching is by our together a padayatra from Mayapur As a result the Czech team is plan- own exemple, and that I was ready to Kolkata in conjunction with the ning to go to Slovakia for one week to sacrifice my entire life for the anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s after their own walk in Czech Repub- sankirtana mission of Sri Caitanya boarding the Jaladuta in Kolkata. lic. In this way they want to create Mahaprabhu, in order to be like these Padayatris will arrive in Kolkata to awareness about padayatra in the senior loving devotees. The brightest celebrate Srila Prabhupada’s depar- hope of igniting a few sparks. Nr- memory of my entire life is the taste ture to America on August 13, 1965 . simha Caitanya also hopes that Pa- I experienced during the padayatra. I Padayatra is a good way to celebrate dayatra will inspire more devotees to wanted to chant the maha-mantra, to this event, since Srila Prabhupada is distribute books to and preach to the read Srila Prabhupada’s books and to the ambassador of the Holy Name to villagers, especially if they are your serve with an intensity of desire I had the western world. next door neighbours. never known before. » This year I took part in many pa- The benefits or organizing a pa- Whether you live in a city or a vil- dayatras : Czech Republic, Padayatra dayatra and participating in one are lage, in Asia or in South America, India, the Dindi from Dehu to Pand- many, for you, your temple, your whether you’re a brahmacari or a harpur through Pune, the walk retrac- , your country, and the general busy grhastha, young, old or in-be- ing Lord Caitanya’s travels in Maha- public. In this newsletter we listed tween, let’s all have a grand celebra- rashtra, the annual ISKCON Vraja only fifty of them. You also can have tion for the Golden Jubilee of ISK- and Navadvipa Mandala Parikramas, experiences and realisations similar CON by chanting, dancing, feasting, and the Sri Ksetra parikrama in Ja- to the ones of Padmalaya Devi Dasi, preaching and enjoying together on gannatha Puri. I was very happy to who participated in the 2014 walk padayatra ! Please help us achieve see that Padayatras are thriving. I in South Russia: “I cannot compare that goal of fifty padayatras for the also feel very much encouraged by this experience of padayatra with pleasure of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and the statements of Nrsimha Caitanya anything else, and I’m not sure it is Srila Prabhupada. Do not hesitate to Dasa, a 24 year old devotee who’s possible to do so, as each moment on contact the Ministry’s coordinator. been active in the management of padayatra is unique, transcendental We are here to assist you. padayatra in the Czech Republic for and filled with happiness. ..The in-

1 Iskcon Pune’s 18th Dindi Walk by Toshan Nimai Dasa FROM DEHU TO PANDHARPUR

Dramatic singing and dancing from all the varkaris, men and women alike The principle of simple living and being fully dependent on God is vis- ibly conspicuous during the entire vari walk. Most of the pilgrims carry only as much luggage as can be fit- ted into a small handbag. They either cook in open fields along the way or eat whatever is arranged by the hosts in the town of their next destination. At night they sleep wherever a place is available – in schools or on the open ground. in Vedic culture, but after seeing their Many ladies carry a tulasi plant on dancing I realized that these ladies their heads while walking. Undaunt- were more free and happy in express- ed by the scorching heat of the sun ing their ecstatic emotions than their or even occasional rains, the pilgrims so-called advanced city counterparts. persevere and cover 10-15 kilometers everyday. The varkaris’cheerful spir- Joyful receptions for Walking along its are not dampened by the austeri- the pilgrims one million other pilgrims ties of the walk. They are constantly This year marked the 18th anniver- The vari or dindi from Dehu to singing traditional bhajans in their sary of ISKCON Pune’s participation Pandharpur via Pune is hailed as the local languages, mostly Marathi, and in the Dindi Yatra. On June 19 2014, greatest walking festival celebrat- chanting the holy names of Krishna 140 devotees from ISKCON Pune ed by the devotees of Lord Krishna while playing various instruments. started from Dehu, birthplace of one who appeared as Lord Vitthala in the The men in the vari sing so expertly holy dhama of Pandharpur in Maha- in Indian classical music tunes that I rashtra. The litteral meaning of vari couldn’t believe these simple village is “the undertaking of the annual pil- men possessed such prolific talents, grimage to Pandharpur”. and yet they would use it only for The pilgrims or varkaris are men the glorification of God. Accompa- and women, young and old, from all nying this musical feat, there are dai- walks of life, age and socio-econom- ly discourses on Bhagavat Dharma ic status. They walk alongside each and very dramatic dancing, with the other, never for even a moment being men gyrating, forming circles while aware of their differences or status. holding hands, making rows and then They are all united in their faith in running between the rows, all this Lord Vitthala, who awaits His meet- accompanied with facial gestures ing with over one million of His which I am not able to describe. The devotees walking from Maharashtra ladies’ dancing was also extremely and north Karnataka while constant- energetic. Many people say that la- ly chanting Jaya Jaya Krishna dies are kept in bondage and are not Hari, Jaya Jaya Rama Krishna Hari.” given sufficient chances to progress

2 of the greatest saints of Maharashtra, Sant (Saint) Tukaram. The partici- pants consisted of around 70 matajis led by Satyavati Devi Dasi, 21 young brahmacaris from ISKCON Pune’s Devotee Training Program, some se- nior brahmacaris, and men from the Pune congregation. A few devotees from other temples also participated. The padayatra was presided upon by the beautiful Deities of their Lord- ships Gaur Nitai riding majestically on the bullock cart. The procession lasted for 18 days with a one full day stop to rest. The walk through villages, cities, mountains, plain ter- with the japa session, followed by stove, gas cylinders, and cooking in- rains and along the fields exposed the mangal-arati and the Srimad-Bhaga- gredients, made it possible to prepare varkaris to a variety of different ex- vatam class. Laxmi Narayan Prabhu breakfast items like poha (chipped periences. Our ISKCON procession inspired and stimulated the devotees rice), upma, and idlis. Lunch would was like a boat travelling in the vast in the morning Bhagavatam classes include sabjis, chapatis, rice, dhal sea of other pilgrims. Everywhere with the teachings of Prahalada Ma- and a sweet. devotees were welcomed with col- haraja. He would tell them that just orful rangolis, flags, festoons and a as Prahlada Maharaja never asked Enthralling the crowds display of massive hoardings on the the Lord for any protection but was with devotional dramas important squares of the city put by given it, similarly all the varkaris ISKCON devotees performed short local municipal corporations or pol- walk without much arrangement and street dramas along the way, based iticians, and shop owners. Lord Vitthala takes care of them. on different stories such as the spar- Hoardings are some kinds of panels The devotees started walking row’s determination to retrieve her made of flex boards (plastic), gener- around 8:30 am. The melodious kir- eggs from the ocean and ’s ally the size of a big rectangle. They tanas along the walk and the grace- help, excerpts from Bhagavad-gita, portray pictures of Lord Vitthala, ful dancing of devotees attracted the three types of austerities (Hira- great Maharashtrian saints such as onlookers wherever the proces- nyakashyapu’s in ignorance, Dhru- Tukarama or or con- sion went. After Gaura-arati Laxmi va’s in passion, and Srila Prabhupa- tain welcome messages for the pil- Narayan would give classes for the da’s in transcendental goodness). grims. The varkaris were received brahmacaris based on his personal The Indian BTG had published a with great joy and given fruits, water, experience and realizations as a long special issue dedicated to this pil- and prasada along the way. standing brahmacari in ISKCON. He grimage, and devotees distributed was assisted by Parthasarathi Prabhu, 13,400 copies of it. Along with that, Life at the ISKCON camp who took care of the other manage- we distributed 300 copies of Bhaga- Laxmi Narayana Prabhu, an enthu- ment details. Sripad Seva Prabhu and vad-gita and hundreds of other siastic and experienced padayatri, led SachinandanVigraha Prabhu never books, such as Lokanath Swami Ma- the whole team. He has the valuable disappointed the devotees with their haraja’s books on Lord Vitthala and experience of leading a bus book dis- expert cooking skills. Needless to Pandharpur dhama. tribution party for many years,and say it was a challenging task to cook At the final destination of the day originally he comes from a village. wholesome meals daily for over a devotees enacted dramas based on All these assets made him the suit- hundred devotees. It is their dedica- stories such as Kailash, the brahma- able person to lead the party, which tion and desire to serve that makes na and the cobbler, the life of Saint he has been doing for many years. it possible year after year. Many vil- Purandar Das (a great devotee of The devotees embraced the austerity lagers freely donated vegetables and Lord Vitthala), the prodigal son, Am- of getting up very early in the morn- milk for our prasada. Such generos- barish and Durvasa Muni -which tells ing and taking cold baths in open ar- ity, as well as having a truck carry- us of the dangers of offending vais- eas. The day would start at 4:30 am ing all the kitchen utensils such as a navas- the boatman and the scientist

3 story, the Kazi and Lord Caitanya story, and many more. These dramas completely enthralled the audience. At night, devotees would general- ly stay and rest at local schools or sometimes in the houses of villagers who generously opened their homes. It was in this manner that the entire distance of more than 200 kilomerers was covered and the padayatra dev- otees reached their final destination, Sri Pandharpur Dham. There they were happily received by the ISK- CON Pandharpur temple devotees. The pinnacle of the padayatra was Dr. Vishal Oza: The continuous hand deeply and needed stitches. the special interactive session with chanting of the holy names and the I applied the dressing onto her in- Lokanath Swami Maharaja the last simple life of the varipadayatra has jured hand and she never complained day. Maharaja distributed prasada inspired my spiritual life. I was af- about anybody and she was perfectly and gifts, acknowledged and thanked fected by observing the simple and calm. This incident and many similar the participants for their various ser- austere life of the other varkaris. I experiences touched my heart and I vices, spoke encouraging words and offered medical assistance to the look forward to joining the pilgrim- shared valuable realizations. devotees. One elderly lady cut her age again in the future.

TRIAL BULLOCK CART PADAYATRA IN TAMIL NADU by Sadasivananda Dasa

In February 2014, during the ISK- CON Leadership Sanga in Mayapur, a few devotees, including myself (manager of the Pudukkottai cen- ter, later used as the padayatra of- fice), met with Lokanath Swami to discuss our project of establishing a padayatra exclusively for Tamil Nadu. Istadeva, a previous Padayatra India leader now residing in May- apur, kindly sent an experienced pa- dayatri, Sri Krishnananda Dasa, to Nadu on a trial walk with the Deities uting 20 Bhagavad-gitas and 100 assist and guide our new Tamil Nadu of Sri Sri Dayala Nitai-Gauracandra, BTGs. After the trial run, Prasanna team, who got in action right away. and see how it went before going on Shyam couldn`t take it forward as he On April 3rd a full-fledged tour of the entire state. didn`t have enough devotees. He’s launched the padayatra, even though Three devotees, including the leader, now trying to organize a solid team, there were still a few final touches to Prasanna Shyam Dasa, traveled for mainly of Tamil-speaking devotees. be added to the cart and the altar. The two weeks to Madurai, crossing 15 plan was to initially travel in a couple villages, holding 2 home programs Contact: Prasanna Shyam Dasa: [email protected] of districts in the central part of Tamil and 2 public programs, and distrib-

4 ONE MONTH VRAJA MANDALA PADAYATRA

WITH PARASURAMA DASA by Dharmatma Dasa A Dynamic International Party from Mayapur, who strayed from The 28th Vraja Mandala Padayatra/ the ISKCON Parikrama Party to join Parikrama started on October 8th, us from time to time. He’s a sweet 2014 at the same place and time as young devotee who has a lot of ex- the annual ISKCON Vraja Mandala perience with oxen, and he leads Parikrama led by Lokanath Swami nice kirtanas. In total we were five and his team. As usual this Vraja pa- grhasthas and five brahmacaris. dayatra was led by Parasurama, an For the first few days going through Irish devotee living in the UK, assist- Vrndavan and Mathura we would ed by an international team. camp with the large ISKCON There was Arjuna and Krishna Mayi parikrama party (around 1,300 dev- ly showing its age. Before we left from the UK and Estonia, veterans otees) but we would go on our own Vrindavan, Nekram Prabhu put some of 12 and 8 padayatras respective- to distribute bananas and booklets. yellow paint on it, changed the wheel ly, Loka Saranga and Madhu Pandit In general we would come into their bearings, pumped up the tires and from the Czech Republic, Vaikuntha large camp to take prasadam and gave the cart a thorough washing, but Vijaya from Russia and myself from spend the night. As we entered the the frame has serious rust problems the US. countryside we went more and more so the cart will need to be replaced in Parasurama organized the whole into small villages that the padaya- the near future. thing, he drove the oxen the entire tra had visited over the years. There Parasurama has a battery system run time, distributed prasadam and books, we would have kirtana and show our by solar panels on top of the cart. It guided and patiently engaged the rest movies at dusk. At times we would was malfunctioning so we had to re- of us. He certainly fits the description spend the night in the villages or on sort to alternatively charging the two of the busy person mentioned in this the outskirts. Generally we would large onboard batteries that power popular saying “If you want something not be far from the ISKCON Vraja the sound system and movie projec- done, ask a busy person, as he’s always Mandala Parikrama group, travelling tor. On the back of the cart is a large got time to do one more thing.” like them through the twelve forests picture of a smiling Srila Prabhupa- of Vraja. da, and the maha-mantra in Hindi. The back inside of the cart has a Adventures with the oxen beautiful Krishna lila picture, and on Our party consisted of an 18 year either side of the cart is a large Hare old oxcart graced by small Gaura Ni- Krishna mantra in bright red. tai, Lord and very small It’s always an adventure being with , and Subhadra Parasurama. Sometimes you feel that Deities. Meena, the ox with down- everything is happening on a wing ward pointing horns - which appar- and a prayer. In others words things ently is auspicious- and Narottama, aren’t entirely prepared but you’re with a beautiful set of large horns, hoping they’ll succeed. Usually you Bhakta Charles from Vrindavan and were the driving force. Both were do a lot of praying and really have Vanamali Govinda also joined us veterans who’d done this service to depend on Krishna. For me as a for the first week along with Abhay over the years. The cart was definite- first-timer it was a wonderful adven-

5 ture. I’ve survived and relished two A funny sight was Parasurama steer- On the average we distibuted 300 kg Scandinavian Ratha-yatra Tours with ing the oxen and distributing banan- of ripe banana prasadam every day, Parasurama and crew so the padaya- as and books at the same time, which which in a month adds up to 9,000 tra was the next step, an equally chal- led to a few near misses. Luckily kg (close to 20,000 pounds). The ba- lenging and interesting experience. Indians are used to this and nothing nanas and books are all paid for with Our oxen come from the Krishna untoward happened. Thankfully the donations that Parasurama secures Balarama Mandir goshala. Parasur- bullocks have an automatic pilot over the year. Pretty amazing! ama tries to pick ones that he’s had feature built in, and they just plod When we arrive in a village with the good experience with previously, along when Parasurama has his back oxcart, the Deities, the books, the ba- but they’re not always available. So to them and half of his body digging nanas and the harinama, it’s like the sometimes it’s hit or miss. At one deep into the bin of bananas. circus has come to town. It’s a big point we had to trade our black and sporting event for the children. They white ox as he was constantly mak- 40,000 books, 9 tons of bananas get very excited, climb on the cart ing unsolicited left turns, sometimes and some hard hitting movies ! with great joy (once a large group of into traffic, vendors stalls, and parked Each year Parasurama prints 40,000 children was trying to topple over the cars. Parasurama had to constantly small books, thanks to Bhima Prabhu cart) and, very enthusiastically, fight remind me not to pass too close to and the Mumbai BBT. for the banana prasadam. That’s why him lest I get gored. He had this look in his eyes that said, “I’ve got to find my way back to the goshala.” Maybe he was pretty smart after all, and he got his wish. The original oxen were shod at the goshalla in Vrindavan, but when we traded the black and white ox for another, the new one needed to get shod, as walking on the pavement and gravel roads are hard on their hooves. Now that tractors are re- placing oxen for farm work, there are fewer men who shoe oxen, thus it took a while to find one. The man uses a strategically placed rope to gently bring the ox to the ground and into a position where all four hooves are accessible and then proceeds to nail the iron shoes on. It was a little stressful on the ox as it was blazing hot but Parasurama was sitting at the ox’s head, soothing him.

6 villages were very remote and rarely visited by foreign devotees so we be- came the biggest show in town. They would be there at night as we pitched our tents and when we woke up they would be waiting for us. It could be a little unnerving but they were mostly very friendly and harmless except for a couple of the village punks whose only way of getting attention was to do or say something foolish. In most of the villages that we crossed, villagers would come out and feed our bullocks grains as a sign it’s easier to throw the bananas rather villagers. He brings out the Krishna of appreciation. They really see them than individually hand them out. consciousness in them and their chil- as the symbol of religiosity, and they The adults get into it also, but it’s all dren. We give freely and don’t expect are dependent on the cow and the done in a good spirit – no violence anything from them in return, which oxen for their livelihood and main- or nastiness. Everyone’s very happy, has a profound effect on them. Then tenance. I was very moved by this except maybe a few of the real small they become very anxious to render exhibit of reverence for father bull. kids that didn’t get a banana. some service. One day we passed through a larg- Every year Parasurama makes a er town and the teachers came out to hard-hitting movie in Brijabasi which invite us in their school. There were covers topics such as cow slaughter at least 20 classrooms of different in India, the illusion of material hap- levels and ages. The children were piness, and the importance of Krish- well behaved and joined in reciting na consciousness, so it definitely hits the maha-mantra and enthusiastical- home. Before that movie we showed ly took part in kirtana. They chanted the Little Krishna Series. Hare Krishna like pros. We distribut- In the evening I was going out doing madhukari (begging prasadam from door to door), usually in pitch black, as the majority of the small remote villages don’t have electricity. I was very humbled to see how the brijba- sis were very happy to give us rotis, dal, buttermilk and dahi (yogurt). Once we saw a well with a sign at- tached to it saying, ‘With love from This wonderful padayatra service Rajan, Anju, Nalin, Anshul, Chadha ed notebooks, pencils, bananas and brings to the villagers of Vraja a from London UK’. Parasurama ex- booklets. I especially liked the baby much needed personal interaction plained that these devotees had do- class. It was such a wonderful expe- with ISKCON devotees. Sadly, some nated laksmi to have this much need- rience. So sweet and happy ! Again of the large and small ISKCON par- ed well built in the village. He’s the the simplicity of it all is heart warm- ties come to the places of pilgrimage, one who had it built and put the sign ing. You don’t need so much to be in or near the villages, but don’t in- to honor these generous devotees. happy! teract with the local villagers, besides taking photos of them and discarding Close contact with the Brijbasis A few scary moments garbage by the wayside. There’s not Everything we did, whether it was Once we had a few very scary mo- many personal connections. Over the the mixing of the oxen’ food, cooking, ments. I was up front doing kirtana years Parasurama has developed nice bathing, sleeping, and so on seemed when all of a sudden there was abig relationships with so many of the to fascinate the villagers. Some of the commotion and a lot of shouting.

7 One big white bull had charged our kms per day doing harinama and dis- worked the oxen in the fields. The oxen, knocking anyone in his way, tributing. It was exhausting at times temple is well maintained and the getting things flying around, includ- but we always had a lot of water to get pujari very friendly. We slept inside ing a few kids. Happily no one was us through it. Sleeping out in or near the temple and bathed hurt or injured. This white bull was the villages and the main parikrama, from the well outside next to the the head of this small village; he real- rinsing out our cloth daily and bathing bullocks. Bathing in the moonlight ly was a beauty, big, strong and pow- either out of buckets or at the village next to dozing oxen while looking erful, and very territorial. The villag- wells, was just wonderful and exhila- out over this beautiful Surya Kund ers are probably used to dealing with rating from my perspective. gives you a beautiful taste of Vraja. this type of thing, but Madhu Pandit Parasurama Dasa: What makes Pa- I was doing great for fifteen days, was not. He grabbed a large bamboo dayatra special is you have about six full of enthusiasm and strength, al- pole and fearlessly went after the hours of harinama daily, Deity worship, beit, a little frazzled by the heat, but bull, who reluctantly retreated, and book and prasada distribution, preach- I came down with severe food poi- was then quickly fended off. I will ing programs and cow protection. soning after taking village food one not forget the look he gave Madhu Vraja is Lord Krishna’s home, it evening. I was running a high tem- with his big red eyes. is called Vraj Dhama or sometimes perature and every bone in my body Another time, as we were walking Madhurya Dhama, and the sweet- ached and I had constant diarrhea. I to one of the bathing ghats we were ness can also be seen in the mood of struggled to make it to our next stop summoned by some devotees who the local people, the Brijbasis. at Varsana where we had modern and needed help rescuing a young bull We stopped at Surya Kund, the place clean facilities but it was too much; who had a broken foot. He was very fearful and undoubtedly in a lot of

pain, so he resisted attempts to be led to the awaiting truck that was sent from the animal shelter. After some effort and close calls of getting hit with his sharp horns, the devotees, again led by Parasurama and Arju- na, held on to him and he was load- ed into the truck. Everyone was very relieved and happy as the alternative was probably death for him. Sweet but exhausting & purifying where Radharani would worship the so I returned to where I was staying When Parasurama advertised for Sun-God. It is a wonderful and long in Vrindavan. devotees to join his party, he said walk to get there and we distributed There my host saw my plight and they should be somewhat physically books and bananas to many villagers took me to the Bhaktivedanta Hos- fit. Even at 71 I considered myself to we met on the way. You really get a pital on the Parikrama Marg where I be in good shape so I signed on. For sense of sweet village life. Groups was diagnosed with a severe stomach me, with my pita constitution, the ex- of ladies and girls carried water pots infection stemming from the food treme heat was the biggest problem. and cane on their heads while sing- poisoning. The doctor admitted me We generally walked from 3 to 20 ing sweet songs, and men and boys and gave me two bottles of electro-

8 lytes and a heavy antibiotic and anti parasitic and medicines for the pain and diarrhea. After four days some of the symptoms abated and my host gave me a small amount of banana, dahi and plain rice made by his wife. His father was a doctor so he had some experience. I decided to return to the US, twelve pounds lighter, not sure how long it would take me to re- cover in Vrindavana. In retrospect it was one of the most wonderful experiences in my life. To be wandering the forests, villages and roads that were blessed by the lotus feet of Lord Krishna and His Associ- ates is more than I can fully fathom. I know my sickness was due to my past and present sinful activities and was meant for my purification. My thanks go out to Parasurama for his amazing service to the Holy Dhama and for inviting me to take part in my small way.

9 ANDHRA PRADESH ALREADY TWO YEARS ON THE ROAD! By Visnuswami Dasa

A small but dynamic party preparation from South India)l to vanized metal sheeting, and turned The Padayatra Andhra Pradesh party more than 500 people that day. We it into a regular kitchen. The cost of might only have four to five devotees stayed in Khammam for 40 days, approximately Rs.130,000 was cov- – at the moment Srinivas Sevanan- daily walking to different locations ered by the Padayatra party, Raghava da Dasa, Dasa, Chandra in the town and distributing books. Goswami Dasa, and a loan from my Mouli, Umamaheswer and myself - This was a great success. family. It was pulled by two oxen, but our preaching is still potent and but due to a shortage of manpow- effective, especially in villages. We er, we only used that kitchen for 25 are proud of our book scores: 310 big days. The oxen and the kitchen cart books and 2,000 small books for the are currently housed in my home vil- month of 2014, 335 big books lage, waiting for new padayatris to and 2200 small books in April, and join our team. 250 big books, 40 medium and 2,500 Since the beginning of our walk on small ones in August. Of course we December 2, 2012, Padayatra Andhra distribute books all the time, these Pradesh has passed through 335 vil- are just samples. lages and travelled more than 2,100 km in five districts. We have distrib- uted 5,250 big books, 4,500 medium Lively harinam in my and 50,000 small ones. native village We are now heading towards the On October 12, our bullock cart Basara of Adilabad districts to at- party reached the village of Dan- tend the Godavari River Puskaralu, a thalapally in the Warangal district, twelve day festival that comes every which happens to be my birthplace. 12 years. With nearly 1 million peo- In the past I had already performed ple daily taking a holy bath in the Go- harinam there many times with other davari River we are planning to sell devotees. As a result there are now at least 500 books each day. With the around ten persons chanting japa reg- mercy of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and our ularly, and many interested people. A enthusiastic efforts, we hope to reach Sometimes devotees travel with us group of thirty devotees offered us a our goal, to cover at least 1,000 villag- for a few days. At the end of January warm reception and garlanded us to es and distribute 100,000 books. 2014, two Russian devotees joined us the sound of a lively kirtana. On the in Jagannath Puri: Kavicandra Dasa 16th we had a program of chanting and Jai Tirtha Dasa. They performed and preaching, attended by eighteen melodious kirtanas and engaged in devotees and thirty villagers. book distribution. Alas, seven days Finally on October 23, 2014, we later they left for Sri Mayapur Dhama. approached the city of Hyderabad, capital of the Telangana State. How- Wonderful festivities for ever, two problems stopped us from Gaura-Purnima entering the city: finding grass for On the 19th of March we celebrat- the oxen and having to walk through ed Gaura-Purnima in the city of heavy traffic. So we just kept walk- Khammam. This joyous celebration ing in the surrounding areas. included nagar sankirtana, abhishe- Above: Serious new chanters ka, chappan bhoga, and krsna-katha. An appeal for manpower More than 150 people attended our At the beginning of the year we Contact:Visnuswami Dasa festival, and we distributed prasad- had constructed a 6 x11 feet (1.8 m [email protected] am of yellow rice and ponga (a rice x 3.3m) cart, made entirely of gal- 09849209837

10 A 64-DAY PADAYATRA MARKS THE 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF LORD CAITANYA’S TRAVELS THROUGH MAHARASHTRA

By Vraja Prema Dasa

A joint effort between Maharashtra temples & preaching centers On the occasion of the 500th anni- versary of Lord Caitanya Mahapra- bhu’s visit to Maharashtra during His south India tour, the WIDC (Western Indian Divisional Council, which includes all the ISKCON temples and centers in Maharashtra, Guja- rat and Goa) organized a Sankirtana Padayatra from Kolhapur to Nasik. Devotees followed the very same path which the Lord had taken - also walking and visiting the same places He visited Kolhapur, Aravade, Pand- harpur, Satara (Krishna-venna San- gam), Pune, Mumbai, Wada, Tryam- bakeshwar and Nasik. This oxcart padayatra started on March 29th 2014 in Kolhapur and ended on June 1st in Nasik. Lokanath Swami was its chairman and I the Lokanath Swami joins the party from Tasgaon to Aravade overall coordinator. A core team of Walking in the footsteps of 8-10 devotees walked the entire way, Lord Caitanya including some well-trained devotees Since Mahaprabhu had entered Ma- to take care of the Deities and the two harashtra through Kolhapur the first oxen Arjuna and Vrindavan. phase began from our ISKCON Kol- This was the first padayatra walking hapur center in the presence of between several ISKCON temples Rama Govinda Maharaja, who spoke and centers in a relay system. Each on Gaura lila. Around 150 devotees temple or center was assisting the pa- from different temples and centers dayatra core team by taking care of in Maharashtra had gathered in front a specific phase along the route and of the padayatra cart for the morn- organizing prasad, accomodations, ing program, after which we headed satsanga programs and kirtanas. towards the temple of the self-man- The padayatra was divided in eight ifested Deity of Mahalaksmi (Ksi- Above: Serious new chanters phases. Hundreds of devotees from ra-bhagavati). 13 to 70 years old participated in this Maharaja and I took the pilgrimage with great enthusiasm, small Sri Sri Gaur-Nitai Deities in- some joining for a phase or two or side the temple. That was a historical just for a few days. moment, as Lord Caitanya had en- Sri-Sri Gaura-Nitai enter the Laksmi Mandir

11 tered this same temple only five cen- turies before. The Caitanya-carita- mrita (Madhya-lila,9.281) mentions that Mahaprabhu also visited many of the 250 temples in the city, such as the Langa-Ganesh temple and the Cora-parvati temple. The first day we covered around 27 kms. It was very hectic because most of us were walking such a long distance for the first time in our life. The next days we divided the walk Pandhapur Padayatra group near the Candrabhaga River into two parts, also because of the vade welcomed us at the entrance The Caitanya-caritamrita (Mad- high summer temperatures, from of their Sri Sri Gopal Mandir. hya-lila, 9. 283 to 303) narrates that 35°C to 45°C. We walked from 6:00 The proof that Lord Caitanya did during His eleven-day stay in Pand- travel via Aravade is that on the path harpur, Lord Caitanya was invited for from Pandharpur there is a village lunch by a brahmana who had very called Gaurgaon, obviously named much appreciated His ecstatic danc- after Gauranga. ing and chanting. At the end of the meal the brahmana informed Him Holy bath in Pandharpur Dhama that Sri Ranga Puri, one of the dis- We had arranged for padayatra to ciples of Sri , was arrive in Pandharpur on April 10 residing in that village in the house because the next day was Chaitra of a brahmana. The Lord rushed to Ekadasi (Kamada Ekadasi), when that place, immediately manifesting thousands of people gather from am after the morning program till ecstatic symptoms at the sight of Sri all Maharashtra. When our dindi Ranga Puri; both cried tears of love 10:30 am, took lunch and rest in the reached Pandharpur so many oth- afternoon, and then got on the road while embracing each other. er dindis were gathered together in They spent six to seven days to- again in the evening from 4-6:30 pm. Lord Vitthala’s temple. Our padaya- There was a good arrangement for gether, continually talking about tris did a huge harinama and made Krsna. When Sri Ranga Puri left for juices, cold drinks and plenty of wa- thousands of people dance. ter. Many villagers came forward to Dvaraka, Lord Caitanya stayed four The next morning we all took bath more days in Pandharpur, taking bath take darsana and give donations in in the holy Chandrabhaga (also the form of grains, vegetables and in the Bhima River and visiting the called Bhima) River and did an temple of Lord Vitthala. grass for the oxen. abhiseka of the utsava-murtis of On arrival we did the evening pro- The next day, padayatris participat- Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai. Then our dindi ed in mangal-arati to Sri Sri Radha gram which consisted of sandhya of around 200 devotees entered the arati, a lecture and prasada. On the Pandharinath in the ISKCON Pand- temple of Lord Vitthala. After 500 harpur temple. fourth day we took lunch and rest years, Gauranga Mahaprabhu was at the beautiful Sri Ram Mandir again entering the Pandharpur tem- in Sangli. Lokanath Maharaja’s niece ple in His murti form to take darsana had arranged the evening program of His beloved Lord. and prasad at their house in nearby Sundarlal Prabhu led a very won- Kaulapur. Maharaja came there with derful kirtana, and everyone was ju- his senior disciples and gave a spe- bilant, turning on themselves while cial lecture on Mahaprabhu’s Ma- holding their ears with their hands, harashtra visit. He also joined us for the right hand holding the left ear, some time on the way to Aravade, his and the left hand the right ear, a sym- native village. bol of asking forgiveness for one’s When we arrived there he and se- offenses. After darsana devotees did nior devotees from ISKCON Ara- nagar sankirtana through the city.

12 Satara to Nasik via Pune, Nagar where Chowpatty devotees places of Nasik, Kala-Ram Mandir, Mumbai and the Wada farm had arranged prasada, accommoda- Kapildhara and Panchavati Taket. In Satara we went to the Krish- tion, a drama and krsna-katha. Due to heavy rains during our stay in na-Venna sangam where Mahapra- Because the oxen could not walk Nasik we could not do nagar sankir- bhu had taken bath.In the presence properly on the road from Tilak tana only indoor programs. of more than hundred devotees we Nagar to Juhu, we used the tractor to On June 3-4, ISKCON Nasik, tem- held an abhisheka of the utsava mur- pull the cart and walked along doing ple president Gopalananda Dasa and tis of Gaura Nitai right in the river harinama.The next day was Nara- Narasimha Kripa Dasa organized a bed. Then devotees visited many simha Caturdasi and Lokanath Ma- big closing festival. After the wel- local ancient temples, including the haraja performed kirtana, pravacan coming of VIPS and guests, there one where Sri Chaitanya Mahapra- and nagar sankirtana. was an abhiseka of Sri Sri Gaur Ni- Pandhapur Padayatra group near the Candrabhaga River tai, roaring kirtanas, and a ceremony with the distribution of certificates. Lokanatha Maharaja talked about Lord Caitanya’s travels through Ma- harashtra and His visit to Nasik. He explained that we were also remind- ed of Sri Rama, since Nasik is locat- ed near Panchavati, the place where Lord Rama had traveled to and spent some time. It was in Panchavati, on the banks of Godavari, that was kidnapped by Ravana. Five hun- dred years ago, when Lord Caitanya walked through this area, it felt like Sri Rama coming back. As the over- all coordinator, I thanked everyone for their cooperation and support. bhu had obtained the Sri Krsna-kar- We had been disappointed by the From 9.30 pm onwards a delicious namrita of Bilvamangal Thakur. initial low participation of devotees prasada feast was served to all the Every day there was krsna-katha by in Mumbai, and thanks to Juhu tem- devotees. Pune and Nigadi senior brahmacari ple president, Braja Hari Prabhu we We estimated that close to 50,000 preachers.The Pune devotees gave us had 70 devotees walking to the ISK- packets of peanuts and sugar crystals a warm welcome. Radheshyam Pra- CON Mira Road temple. That day prasada were distributed along the bhu, president of the New Vedic Cul- we distributed halava instead of our way. Needless to say that there was tural Center, did kirtana and walked usual peanuts and sugar packets. lots of Gaura-katha - we had close with the party for two days. After Mumbai we continued with to fifty preachers during the whole After a halt in Kharghar we head- 26 devotees to the Virar center, then dindi- during the morning Bhagav- ed towards ISKCON Juhu in Mum- reached the Wada farm project which atam class and every evening after bai. On the way we stopped in Tilak at the time had 35 residents. Rupa-ra- sandhya-arati. News about this event ghunatha Dasa organised dynamic were published in 35 national and satsanga programs there, as he had international newspapers. Contacts done all along the route. From there with the media and organizing press we walked to Tryambaka, 28 kms conferences were done by a very dy- from Nasik. Lord Caitanya had also namic lady, Srimati Lucky Kulkar- visited the murti of Lord Siva called ni, who had been sent by the WIDC Tryambakesvara. chairman, Gauranga Prabhu from A wonderful closing festival in ISKCON Chowpatty. This padayatra Nasik was successful due to the coopera- After the Deities and the devotees tion of the Vaisnavas in Maharashtra took bath in Rama kund the pa- and the blessings and intense desire dayatris had darsana of various holy of Lokanath Swami Maharaja.

13 ODISHA 2014 Continuing the tradition started by Srila in 1992

By Bhaktin Ekaterina, two Olgas, and Varshani Dasi (Russian devotees from the preaching center in the Kuzminki area of Moscow)

Padayatra in Jagannath Puri, India

Padayatra Odisha teams up including Acarya Dasa, the lead- and when we arrived in India we with Padayatra India er, because the other padayatris had went straight to Bhubaneswar. The In 1992, Srila Gour Govinda Swami gone to participate in the Vraja Man- very next day we set off to join Sri Maharaja started an annual padaya- dala Parikrama. There was very good Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s padayatra tra around Odisha, and this tradition cooperation between the two parties, army, passing by the airport to pick continues up to this day. During the and we were very much inspired by up another fired-up devotee. The trip month of Kartika devotees walk their dedication. We could see how took a few hours and it was already from village to village in the middle the Padayatra India devotees were so getting dark. The time for the evening of the Odishan jungles, all the while nicely organized - they have much nagar-sankirtana was drawing clos- chanting the holy names. more experience- and how they are er, and the devotees were calling us In 2014 the main leaders and par- very effective in their preaching tac- on our cell phones, asking: “Where ticipants from the Odisha group tics. We learned a lot from them, and are you? Come quickly! We are wait- were Advaita Acarya Prabhu, Mad- we hope that in our future padayatras ing for you!” We were burning with ana Mohana Prabhu, Trailokanath we will imbibe their expertise. the desire to join the kirtana. When Prabhu, Gunarnava Prabhu, Dhruva we finally arrived in the village of Maharaja Prabhu, Aksa-Hari Prabhu Jumping out of the car to join Dhenkikote, we saw in the distance and others. This year was different the kirtana the effulgent flood of the sankirtana as the Bhubaneswar devotees did not For us, the padayatra is a much an- party getting closer and closer. We bring their own Deities and their own ticipated event. Our prayers to Sri did not even wait for the car to stop. bullock cart. Instead, on October12, Sri Gaura Nitai every year include: As it slowed down, we jumped out, they teamed up with the Padayatra “Please, take me with You on padaya- finally joining the sweet nectarean India party who was then walking in tra!” By Sri Sri and Gauranga’s kirtana. All the villagers were partic- Manoharpur in the district of Kendu- mercy, ten western devotees from ipating. Nobody stayed home. jhar; they travelled with them during Russia, France, Estonia, and Ireland Every day, beautiful Ni- the whole 21 days of their padayatra, ended up on Padayatra Odisha. It was tai-Gaurasundara, along with Srila until October 31st. Only six devotees a very intense journey right from the Prabhupada, were seated on Their from the Padayatra India were there, beginning. We started from Moscow, chariot pulled by two powerful Kank-

14 rej oxen from Gujarat, distributing to one and all the most sublime benedic- tion. The six magnificent oxen were creating a sensation with the Odishan villagers who had never seen such beautiful large bulls in their lives, be- cause in Odisha, the cows and bulls are somewhat short. A deep friendship developed between the Russian devo- tees, and the oxen, especially Nanda and Nrsimha. Undaunted despite rain and heat Every morning the padayatra moved on to its next destination, ac- companied by an enthusiastic hari- nama, paying no attention whatso- ever to the heat or bad weather. The high spirited devotees distributed tions, He bestows His mercy to one books, held school programs, and and all, especially those who are very enthusiastically chanted and danced. simple hearted. Every day, many vil- We especially want to point out the lage people followed the cart for quite kitchen devotees, whose service is a distance. On October 26, when we so important, as all the padayatris started from a village named Kantia- depend on sumptuous prasada to get pada, one small girl about five years the strength to perform their services. old joined our harinama. She was ob- The kitchen department devotees viously from a very poor family. On were serving everybody tirelessly, all this particular day we walked more the while keeping themselves unno- than 8 km, and the girl walked bare- ticed. The Lord especially values the foot and danced with us the entire service of such selfless and humble way. Later, when we came to know servants. They cooked rice and dal- ma, a traditional Odiya dish, along with subjis and other preparations for the transcendental pleasure of Their Lordship Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundara. One evening we witnessed how de- voted the padayatris are to their ser- vice. It was raining heavily but that did not deter them from performing gaura-arati. The sound of the kir- tana attracted the villagers and the whole square filled up very quickly. The rain was no match for the plea- surable chanting of the holy names of the Lord. Everybody can take part, even a five-year old girl Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy is boundless, unbiased and uncondi- tional. Overlooking our disqualifica-

15 that she had followed us , we asked, “How were you able to walk such a long distance?” She hung her head and only shyly smiled in answer. Devotees gave her Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundara’s ma- ha-prasada and then drove her home. While leaving the car she smiled, waved at us, and happily ran home, clutching the garlands to her chest. Every day we were witness to such touching events. Srila Prabhupada’s mercy is so great that through the con- gregational chanting of the holy name, he unifies all souls into one big family. On October 27 we observed Sri- la Prabhupada’s disappearance day. People from different villages joined us to glorify Srila Prabhupada. October 31st was the last day of our combined padayatra, but we didn’t want to leave each other’s company. The next morning we saw the Pa- dayatra India devotees and cart off with a somewhat heavy heart. We were really happy to see them again at the ISKCON Krsna Balarama Mandir in Bhubaneswar, Srila Pra- bhupada’s last founded project, in front of Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja’s samadhi. Our paths met once again a few days later in Jagannatha Puri, and our happiness knew no bounds! At the end of this Odishan padayatra I realized that the strength that pulls us to happily undergo the austerities and difficulties that we encounter on pa- dayatra comes from Srila Gour Gov- inda Swami and his followers.

16 Report by Abhiseka Dasa & Vaikunthaloka Dasa Arriving in Mayapur for the 2014 Gaura Purnima festival (Abhiseka Dasa) On February 27, 2014 Padayatra India, led by Acarya Dasa, walked the last kilometers from Lord Jagan- ’s temple in Rajapur to May- apur’s Candrodaya Mandir. This marked the return of Padayatra India to Mayapur after ten long years. The padayatris were welcomed at Pitha by a joyous kirtana party. Fol- lowing the two Mayapur elephants, Vishnupriya and Laksmipriya, the

PADAYATRA INDIA || Odisha || Andra Pradesh

party kept swelling as it got closer to the Nama-Hatta building where Lo- kanath Swami and a large group of impressive and majestic oxen do not on the road, the padayatra party also international devotees welcomed the exist in West Bengal. took part in the 25th Navadvipa Man- travellers with kirtana, garlands, joy- dala Parikrama.The ever smiling and ous cheers and even some cakes for beaming face of Candra Vamsi Dasa, Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundara. the pujari distributing caranamrita The oxen usually rested in a nearby from the cart, was a living testimony field or at thegoshala ; they deserved to the blissful and transcendental na- some rest after months of intense ture of Padayatra (below). service on the road. The Deity cart remained stationed in front of Gov- inda’s Restaurant during the entire festival, except when the padayatris participated in the Saturday night el- ephant procession or went out for a A large sign placed near the cart gave little walk. the public more information about the When they brought the six Kankrej purpose of padayatra, and invited oxen near the Deity cart, the animals onlookers to offer support and dona- became instant celebrities, attract- tions. Besides taking a well-deserved ing devotees and visitors alike. Such break from the demanding pace of life

17 Padayatra India teams up As soon as people heard the sound ery day. On some days it rained so hard with the Nama-hatta devotees of the maha-mantra coming from the that all we had to do to take a shower in West Bengal padayatra cart, they ran out of their was to stand outside for a few seconds. On March 19th, Padayatra India homes to get the Lord’s darsana and Yet we continued our regular program left Mayapur towards the villages some prasadam from the Deity cart. of sadhana, book and prasadam dis- of Bengal. We visited several plac- Padayatris and Nama-Hatta devo- tribution and evening harinamas. As es of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya tees enthusiastically distributed an a result, while in Bengal, Padayatra and His prominent devotees: Advaita increasing number of books in Ben- India distributed a total of 5 000 maha Acarya’s home in Shantipur , Harida- gali. In just ten days, from April 20 big books, 87,500 small books and sa Thakura’s bhajan sthali in Phulia, to 30, they sold 3 Bhagavatam sets, prasadam to more than 210,000 peo- Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s home 2 Caitanya-Caritamrita sets, 400 big ple. Roughly one million people re- in Birnagar, Mahesh Pandit and Jaga- books, 4,400 mag- ceived the darsana and caranamrita of dish Pandit’s home in Chakdaha, the azines, and 8,000 small books. Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundara. location of the famous Panihati rice festival, and Sivananda Sena’s home and ’s birthplace in Ku- marahatta.

ISKCON Nama-Hatta devotees as- sisted us from the very time we hit the road. Vasudev Nandan Dasa from the Nama-Hatta head office in May- apur, later replaced by Sudama Sakha Bengalis warmly welcomed the pa- Dasa, were our main preachers. With Celebration of Padayatra dayatris with maha-prasada feasts. other local ISKCON Bengali devo- India’s 30th anniversary in Although friendly, most people do tees they cooked daily bhoga offer- Pandharpur not seriously follow their spiritual ings for the Deities, served prasa- (Vaikunthaloka Dasa) tradition, they eat fish and chew pan da, and most importantly helped us On September 2, Radhastami day, while wearing sacred tulasi malas. organize evening programs in each a group of devotees celebrated Pa- We were very disturbed to see so village. The program consisted of dayatra India’s 30 years on the road. many shops openly selling beef. nagar sankirtan, Gaura arati, book Many of them had come to ISKCON Most of the population of Bengal is distribution, Bhagavad-gita lecture, Pandharpur from all over India , espe- non-vegetarian, except for ISKCON japa session and devotional video cially from the Maharashtra temples and followers. shows. Mostly women and children and preaching centres, to participate The last days in Bengal took place came to the program, and danced in this joyous double celebration. during the rainy season. It rained ev- with great enthusiasm. While the balance of the Padayatra

18 India party was travelling in Odisha, pinath is known as Khirachora Go- kanath Maharaja and a lively kirtana, Acarya Das and two other padayatris pinath (the one who stole khira). We walked on the seashore towards the joined Lokanath Maharaja and about also got to taste this divine khira, but ISKCON Puri temple. On the way 800 devotees to hear the glories of at the cost of 25 rupees for each pot. we stopped at the hotel where some Srimati Radharani. The evening was It was well worth it. GBC members were staying. There set aside for Padayatra katha, during Lokanath Maharaja and some GBC which Maharaja and padayatris such Walking in Lord Caitanya’s members made a presentation of Pa- as Akhiladhara Dasa, a Prabhupada footsteps dayatra India. After relishing nice disciple who has been on the road From November 8 to 15 Padayatra prasadam at the ISKCON Puri tem- in India for many years, shared their India was based in Jagannatha Puri ple we went to the Gundica temple. travel experiences, adventures and at the ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Ash- The next day we arrived in Danda realisations. ram, a very beautiful place on the Bhanga at another ISKCON temple. beach, just four kilometers from the It is the place where Lord Nityanan- Tasting the famous Gopinath’s samadhi of Haridas Thakur. During da broke Lord Caitanya’s danda and khira in Remuna this time we received the visit of four where Lord Caitanya got the darsa- On August 4th, our Padayatra par- sannyasis : Lokanatha Swami, Rad- na of Kakreshar Mahadev. The fol- ty entered Odisha. We stopped in ha Raman Swami, Bhakti Rasamri- lowing day we went to the temple of the village of Chandra Ishvar, home ta Swami and Bhaktivinoda Swami, Sakshi Gopal. of the large ISKCON temple of Sri who took turn giving lectures. As During the month of Kartika five Sri Radha Gopinath, where Gauran- they were staying in the Royal Ho- devotees from Padayatra India trav- ga Prema Maharaja gave inspiring tel two kilometers from us, we had elled with the Padayatra Odisha par- lectures during the morning and eve- many very inspiring meetings with ty from Bhubaneswar, while the rest ning programs. them, either at their place or ours. We of our party went to Vrindavana to Devotees from the local Nama-Hat- really appreciated their invaluable participate in the annual Vraja Man- ta centers joined our party, assisting personal contact and the blessings dala Parikrama. us in many valuable ways, including they showered upon us. After Orissa our party is heading to the distribution of books in Oriya, On November 16th the Padayatra Hyderabad. the local language. India party, accompanied by Lo- Contact Acarya Dasa (Hindi and Marathi): In the town of Jaleshvar we visited 0989 0939782 the famous new temple of Kaliya. We also stopped in the village of Re- muna, where the famous lila of the theft of khira (sweet rice) took place. Over 500 years ago, the great saint Madhavendra Puri was traveling to Puri to get some sandalwood for his Sri Gopal Deity in Vrindavana. In Remuna he saw the delicious khira offered to the Sri Gopinath Deity. He desired to taste it so as to offer it to his Gopal Deity. Since Madhav- endra Puri only accepted food that was offered to him, he left the tem- ple without tasting the khira, as none was offered to him. After finishing his worship of Sri Gopinath, the pu- jari lay down to rest. In his dream Sri Gopinath instructed him: “Get up. I hid a pot of khira under my garment for my devotee Madhavendra Puri. Go and give it to him” The pujari did as he was told. Since that time Go-

19 Yasodadulal Dasa revives the padayatra spirit in New Zealand Since February 2014 Yasodadulal Existence. has done four small padayatras in The 5th padayatra was a one day New Zealand with different teams. motorized journey called the ECO His mood is to go on short walks (Everybody Come Over )Tour. Thir- with a mission. The first one in the ty devotees travelled in a bus around far North called “Pioneer & Pilgrims various suburbs of Christchurch City. Tour” lasted ten days and included a The tour did a circuit of devotees’ group of twelve national devotees, homes, taking darsana of their Dei- men, women, youth and children. ties, hearing Krsna-katha and sharing The second one in the deep South, light prasada. The Padayatra Deities, “From Schist to Saffron dust” cov- Sri Sri Nitai Gaurachandra, Who ered 100 kms in ten days. The six- were named after the Temple Dei- men team consisted of two devotee ties that were destroyed in the 2011 fathers - Yasodadulal Dasa, Reagen earthquake, were carried on and off and their sons plus a horseman the bus into many homes of devotees friend. On the third, an eight day pa- accompanied by a lively kirtana. In- davan lila, including picnicking with dayatra “Lessons on the Mountain,” side the houses His Grace Bhurijana the gopas, the killing of Aghasura the two participants were father and Prabhu told stories of Krsna’s Vrin- and the Brahma vimohan lila. son, Yasodadulal Dasa and Dhanan- jaya. On the fourth padayatra, twen- ty Christchurch devotees walked for three days around Christchurch with a F.I.R.E. theme : Freedom In Real

20 SUMMER PADADAYATRA IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC KEEPS EXPANDING

by Kasturi Manjari dasi

Summer 2014 : Our 21st Czech we were immediately transferred di- wonderful, and we want to expand it Padayatra was such a blissful and rectly to the spiritual world! He also even more for the next years! unforgettable event! We walked for participated in two evening programs Padayatra bhakta vrinda ki jaya! sixteen days in the South Moravia for the public, where he addressed Padayatra leaders : region of the Czech Republic. This the crowd and led lively kirtanas. Muni Priya dasa: muni.priya@ year’s padayatra was special in When we arrived in Hodonin, the gmail.com many ways. At the beginning of the biggest town of this year’s route, Nrsimha Caitanya Dasa: walk approximately thirty devotees there was a yearly folk festival , and [email protected] from the Euro Bus Tour joined us our great bharat natyam dancer, Lila for three days. These enthusiastic , had the opportunity to dance young devotees from different coun- on the main stage for twenty min- tries were a great source of inspira- utes, while some 1100 visitors were tion for us. eagerly looking at ,her performance, During two evening cultural pro- admiring her skills. grams they danced, performed a Altogether, we held 13 evening pro- mime show about a soul trapped in grams, with a total of approximately the material world and a mridanga 1200 guests. During these programs, show similar to the ones done by we distributed around 2600 coconut Mayapuris, with two drummers sweets, 591 packs of prasada, and playing different techniques to enter- 800 maha bananas thrown from the tain the public. cart. Different TV stations came to One of the Bus Tour participants shoot us three times. did an attractive show of different We distributed a record number of dancing styles ranging from bharat books (2,862) which is almost the natyam to Bollywood dance. There double of last year (1,473 books). was also some bharat natyam from Another memorable fact is that our our dancers, and the Shyam perfor- beloved ox Nanda, who is now fif- mance, which was more like a drama teen years old, walked with us for dance about the soul lost in the ma- the tenth time. That was his last pa- terial world and its final reunion with dayatra though, he now deserves Lord Krishna. some rest on the Krsnuv Dvur farm Then, a historical moment occurred: where he will be well taken care of. after ten years, Lokanath Swami, He really did a great job throughout the Padayatra minister, visited our the years and we will miss him a lot. Czech Padayatra. His holy presence If we look at our 2014 Czech Pa- was so transcendental and sweet that dayatra as a whole, it was simply

21 THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING OTHERS Gaurangi Devi Dasi interviews Nrsimha Caitanya Dasa from the Czech Republic

Lokanath Maharaja visited padaya- temple. He was always simple with tra in Czech Republic for the second everyone, and talked to them in ways time. they could relate to. Gdd: What other things did you do Gdd: Since how many years are you on padayatra ? organizing padayatra with your fa- NCd: I was also taking pictures. ther ? There are many pictures from 2005 NCd: Since 2007. In 2005 Rajaram to 2009 which were taken by me. wanted to give the responsibility to Gdd: How did you come to be part somebody else, and it was given to of the management team ? Were you my father. Since then he had sever- trained more by Rajaram Prabhu or al devotees doing advance party, the by your father, Munipriya Prabhu ? main one being Gadadhar Prabhu, NCd: I would say both. My father but when he got married he could no Gdd: Since when have you been ac- is taking care of the external cultural do it any more. We had nobody to tive on padayatra in Czech Republic ? aspect of padayatra, organizing the do the advance party, so I agreed to NCd: Every summer since 2004. I programs, doing advertisement, hav- do it with another devotee, who also was coming before but I became ac- ing articles published in the newslet- had other services on padayatra. I did tive in management during the sum- ters. this for two years and that’s how I be- mer of 2004. Rajaram taught me practical things came involved with organization. Gdd: When was the first time you about the internal workings of pa- Gdd: So, do you want to continue went on padayatra ? dayatra. His most important instruc- with this service ? NCd: It was about 17 years ago. I tion was to take very good care of the NCd: Of course I want to continue was then seven years old. All I re- devotees. For example, when they with padayatra, but I like to give ser- member is that for one breakfast wash their clothes in the morning be- vice to others. Rajaram Prabhu asked Nandan Acarya Prabhu had made fore walking with the cart, they hang me to train other devotees so that’s special rice; it was very simple but them on a rope. Rajaram instructed what I would like to expand on. very good. the advance party, usually consisting Gdd: Do you like to train others ? Gdd: You were then 7 years old. of two or three devotees, to take the NCd: Yes, because I don’t know What did you do ? clothes down and hang them again in what will happen to me, or to any- NCd: I was riding on the cart and the new place so that they would be body else. Some devotees just stick having fun with the other kids. Later dry when devotees arrive. to their service, but when they leave my service was to walk in the back of Gdd: It’s very personal care. What there is a big gap. I think that when the party, using a flag to slow down are the other things he told you about we start doing a service, we should cars. I did not want to go on harina- taking care of devotees? immediately find another devotee ma because I was scared. I was too NCd: He always said that devotees and train him so that he can replace self-conscious and I thought that ev- need very nice prasadam and to take us in future. erybody was watching me, so I felt good rest, otherwise they are not in- Gdd: That’s very good, a long term uncomfortable. spired. He did not like it when some- vision. Anything can happen, we can Gdd: That has changed happily! one was lazy, and he could be heavy get sick or die. So, how are the other NCd: Until 2004 we came to the with them, but he always mixed his young devotees - the second genera- summer padayatra for just a few chastisement with some jokes. He tion devotees - cooperating with you days, because padayatra was either was like the father of all devotees ? Are they interested ? too far from our home or Rajaram on padayatra, and those he chastised NCd: They like padayatra. Some Prabhu had taken it to some oth- took it like that. He was very personal come for a few days, from time to er countries. In 2004 we stayed on with people and had a non-sectarian time. Lila Mohini Dasi is special, she padayatra for one week, then went way of preaching Krsna conscious- comes every year to do pujari ser- back home, and came back after ness. He did not stress that people vices and bharat natyam dance. The three days. 2004 was also the year have to become monks or go to the padayatra is more like a holiday, it’s

22 THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING OTHERS not like the strict life in the temple, party and a place to keep the oxen... to Brno, the second largest city af- therefore it is quite attractive for my Any problem to be hosted ? ter Prague. That makes already three generation. NCd: Usually it’s OK. So far we places in the countryside that can Gdd: Yes, on padayatra there is managed to have free accomodations have their own padayatra. Next year something for everybody. You told almost everywhere. In big cities or we are planning to go to Slovakia me that you wanted to take padaya- towns we have to pay rent for a stage for one week after our own walk in tra to other countries ? for the program. We could have some Czech Republic. In this way we want NCd: Yes, Srila Prabhupada said places for free without a stage, but to create awareness about padayatra we can have millions and millions we want to have a stage program on and we hope to ignite a few sparks, of such carts. Bhaktimarga Swami the main square. so to speak. I have a secret medita- is walking alone, it’s also padaya- Gdd: It seems that your programs tion about doing Padayatra around tra. I like things we are doing now, are very successful, I see you’re tar- New Simhacalam in Germany. Now with the cart and public programs. geting the children and in this way we have only one pair of oxen that I think there is a certain preaching their parents also come along. can work and just recently we bought field which is not developed enough, NCd: At one point, when some a new pair of young oxen that will do especially for farm communities, and brahmacaris wanted to take over, this service in following years. There that is village preaching. Padayatra they were saying that the main thing are many devotees around who like is a very good tool for this. Because on padayatra was the procession and padayatra, others who joined the from the farms the devotees usually book distribution, and that the eve- movement on padayatra or were on go to preach in the cities, but they ning program was just something ex- padayatra for years, so we just need can and they should also preach in tra, but now I see that although we to ignite the spark again and things nearby villages. distribute many books on the way, will start moving. Recently I was thinking that pa- the procession is like a big advertise- Gdd: I see that the padayatra seed dayatra could be done like a fair, ment for the evening program. has been planted in many hearts al- every year we could go the same Gdd: Yes, people leave these pro- ready. Are you hopeful it will contin- route, just changing the nightly cul- grams with a good impression of the ue to grow and produce many fruits tural programs. In Czech we have a Hare Krishna devotees. I see that you and flowers in the form of more farm and a devotee community in the make them participate a lot. walks? countryside, and the Prague temple NCd: Yes, we make everybody NCd: Yes, with the mercy of Sri- has also moved to a village, but we chant and dance. People buy books, la Prabhupada and Sri Sri Nitai do not preach to the villagers living kids participate in the dancing con- Gaurasundara. around. Sometimes I hear that the test and the girls get gopi dots. When people in villages in the Czech Re- some of the people who got books public just know us a cult, in fact on the road come in the evening we they do not know who we are, be- encourage them a little more to read cause we preach and distribute books them, and like that they’re starting only in the cities. their spiritual life. Gdd: Book distributors do not go to Gdd: Czech Republic is one of the the villages ? rare countries to do padayatra every NCd: Not much. At one time they year for the past 21 years now. Do were doing everything, the villages you want to continue every year? also. There was a big wave of book NCd: I think we could make at distribution in the nineties, but now least five padayatras every year. there are not so many book distrib- It’s not that we would have to be utors, so they are focusing in the big actively participating in all of them cities, because in the villages you but I would like to inspire others to won’t meet as many people as in the lead. In Czech our Prague temple is towns and cities. now located in a village on the out- Gdd: In fact padayatra is perfect skirts, then we have farm about one for villages. We can see that in the hour drive from Prague, plus a nice villages of India, it’s so easy to or- community of devotees called Nava ganize a program, find hosts for the Nandagram in another village close

23 PADAYATRA SOUTH RUSSIA Understanding & Practicing the Essence of Devotional Service - Service to the Vaisnavas By Padmalaya Devi Dasi

This year, by the mercy of Srila had also caused inundations on the clothes to soak in a bucket because Gurudeva, I was able to participate banks of the rivers, making bathing she did not have time to wash them, on padayatra for the first time. I very problematic: we had to jump I wash them myself. Or if someone cannot compare this experience with from the shore of the river onto a has left behind some dirty kitchen anything else, and I’m not sure it is rock and then into the water. When utensils, I see that it’s for me to do possible to do so, as each moment on we wanted to come out of the river it, as Lord Caitanya Himself would padayatra is unique, transcendental after having taken our bath we had probably have done the same thing. and filled with happiness. to grab onto fallen trees and roots The Caitanya-caritamrita mentions sticking out from the sides of the riv- the services that the Lord rendered Challenging times with heavy er bank. It was very slippery, and we to His devotees : garlanding them, rains, inundations, mud and would often fall into the river, along serving prasada, and even washing cold with all the things we were carrying. their clothes. These instructions of Thanks to the mood of the senior our padayatra leaders have changed devotees who took very good care The important thing is not my life. I try to remember how each of the padayatris, we easily accept- where we render service, participant on padayatra is a unique ed all the austerities we encountered but with whom devotee, very dear to the Lord. on the way - the ascetic life in the I went to padayatra to distribute forest, taking bath in freezing rivers Srila Prabhupada’s books and was On padayatra I wanted to serve and having our tents inundated with prepared to tolerate all kinds of aus- with an intensity of desire I had water. terities and trials to accomplish that never known before We travelled in the forests of South goal. However, after having been on This summer I really understood Russia for about one month. I viv- padayatra for some time, I came to that the best preaching is by our own idly remember one place where we the realisation that this was not the exemple. When I saw all the love camped out, a forest near the town essence of the many services we of- that was in the heart of Bala Gopal, of Lermontovo. We had a tough time fer to the Lord. What is important is Vijay Gopal and Maha Pra- there due to the bad weather condi- not how many books one distributes bhus, the only thing I then wanted tions. It was sunny during the day and hearing the devotees praise you to do was to become like them. As I but at night our party experienced with Ki jaya! during the morning said before, the essence of padayatra a harsh downpour of rain. It rained program, but with whom I do this and our preaching is not the num- so much that the roads had become service. On padayatra, the word ‘I’ ber of books distributed or the num- muddy, and the puddles of water that does not exist, we are a large team, a ber of harinamas we did. Padayatra had formed during the night wouldn’t big family. changes people’s heart and makes even dry up during the day because Bala Gopal and Vijay Gopal Pra- them become devotees. It was on pa- of the cold weather. bhus, the two padayatra leaders, dayatra that I understood that I was We witnessed cars getting stuck in once said, ‘The important thing ready to sacrifice my entire life for the mud and rivers turning cold and is not where we render service but the sankirtana mission of Sri Cait- muddy from the constant rain. Our with whom.’ These simple words anya Mahaprabhu, in order to be like lives were made very difficult indeed encouraging us to serve the other these loving senior devotees, and not when it came to washing our clothes devotees have penetrated deep into because Srila Prabhupada had prom- and bathing. Whenever we did our my heart. By their own exemple ised that the Lord would bring back laundry in the river, the clothes would these senior devotees inspire others to Him all the book distributors in get covered with a layer of mud, and to do wonderful things. So now I try this very lifetime. I saw with my own because it was so cold and damp they to live by using this simple rule: if eyes how the method given by Srila wouldn’t even dry. The heavy rains I see that one devotee has left her Prabhupada is working. The brightest

24 PADAYATRA SOUTH RUSSIA Understanding & Practicing the Essence of Devotional Service - Service to the Vaisnavas

memory of my entire life is the taste Our procession was done Indradyum- which usually took from one to six I experienced during the padayatra. I na Swami’s style, i.e. one loudspeak- hours. But we still sold books there. wanted to chant the maha-mantra, to er amplifying the kirtana and two We distributed a total of 8,000 BBT read Srila Prabhupada’s books and to lines of devotees chanting and danc- books and 2,000 prasadam sweet- serve with an intensity of desire I had ing, with beautifully dressed matajis balls. The highlights of our padaya- never known before. gracefully dancing in front. During tra were the visit to the Vaishnava I also understood that there is no life our walk I conducted a two-week rural community of New Varshana after padayatra. I tried two times to Harinama Sankirtana course. It gave Dhama (fifteen devotees and two leave padayatra, each time asking a history of the Sankirtana Movement cows) 20 km from Nosorossiysk, my temple leader to do it just for a from Lord Caitanya’s times to to- the harinama in Sochi, place of the little time, but then I understood that day, some knowledge and practice of 2014 Olympic Games, the visit to it was not possible for me to go away. Vaishnava musical instruments (mri- the Black Sea, the participation of The taste I received on padayatra danga, karatalas and harmonium) Danishtha Dasi and Sri Radha Dasi, does not allow me to now live the and the basics of singing and dancing. the two sankirtana leaders from Ka- way I used to live before. Each place Rasika Dasi: The people we meet zakhstan, and the presence during I find myself in - the temple, my are receptive to our harinama, they the entire walk of two wondeful teen home or on sankirtana- is padayatra. dance, accept our prasadam sweets -agers, Madhavi and Narayani. Let’s Because padayatra is not the place and buy books. Sometimes the police not forget Maha Shakti Prabhu, who where it happens, but it’s a mood of arrests us and takes us to the Police kept everybody on padayatra in a service. It’s only with this mood that Station, but even there we continue jolly mood with his good jokes. it’s possible, not only to sell books in chanting and distributing books. the street, but also to give Krsna to In Russia there are many atheists people. My only desire is to be able and radical Christians, and those peo- to stay in the company of these exalt- ple often complain about the presence ed devotees and that Krishna allows of the Hare Krishna devotees. Since me to serve them one way or another. the government does not always al- low harinama we tried to organize Four month padayatra it in a very nice way so that nobody in South Russia complained. But sometimes the po- by Narada Dasa lice stopped the harinama and took Last summer we walked from June to the entire group of devotees to the September in a district of South Russia, police station to check our papers, Vijay Gopal and Bala Gopal starting from Essentuki and proceed- ing towards Suhumi. We did harinama in all the cities and villages we went through with our Deities called Doyal Nitai Vijay Gauranga. Our padayatra party varied from 22 to 35 devotees: 5 to 20 locals and others from Belarus and Ukraine. The party was composed of one brahmacari (myself), three chil- dren, four teenagers, two vanaprasthas and a majority of grihasthas.

25 THE WALKING MONK COMPLETES CANWALK 4 By Nitai Priya Devi Dasi

In 2013, Bhaktimarga Swami, “The graveyards, and sleeping in a tent at To know the land you must walk the land Walking Monk ”, began his fourth night, interacting with other travel- cross-Canada walk - would end with trek across the planet’s second larg- lers, encountering wildlife, and the balloons and streamers, fanfare and est country – Canada. He temporar- securing of wisdom that comes from such, and deservedly so! Yet Bhakti- ily left the marathon road to see to the road.” marga Swami reflects humbly on his other duties, and in September 2013 Canwalk 4 conclusion ritual: “Gen- he concluded one leg of his pilgrim- Growing interest in erally, I go for touching the nearest age in Taber, Alberta. The westbound « Tales from Trails » ocean when putting closure to such “Canwalk 4” reconvened on May Bhaktimarga Swami’s presentation, a pilgrimage. But this time I had the 24th, 2014 from Taber and ended on “Tales from Trails” was much sought desire to take the final steps to the June 29th in Burnaby. after and celebrated in the towns he lotus feet of the Krishna Deities at The Walking Monk: It’s been one visited. Audiences gathered at com- the ISKCON temple in the heart of big-time adventure once again trek- munity centers and yoga studios to Burnaby, British Columbia.’’ king a great piece of the globe, Cana- hear of his adventures and insights, Bhaktimarga Swami: The very final da. I ventured through this land with which were well documented by me- step was actually a full obeisance its multiple eco-systems, seeing it in dia attention. Media coverage had before the magnanimous avatar of awe and offering it a service. become a regular feature of Mahara- Krishna, Sri Chaitanya, who was a ja’s daily life when walking through popular mover of legs – a pilgrim “Walking the Wisdom of the populated areas. When comparing Himself. My heart did indeed melt Road” documentary features the different phases of Canwalk 4 he momentarily as I glanced at the smil- “The Walking Monk” noted that the first leg of Canwalk ing brass image of the Chaitanya On this leg of the marathon, Bhakti- 4 had substantial and inspiration- Deity. There is power in the Deity. I marga Swami was temporarily joined al participation from local schools, could feel it, especially now. by Canadian filmmaker Michael and while the second leg through I lost some pounds. I lost some kar- Oesch, who had contacted the Walk- the provinces of Alberta and British ma. From trees we learn tolerance; ing Monk as a fellow trans-Canada Columbia was not as geared towards from the wind, creativity; from wa- walker. The two became fast friends, these encounters, it had other, albeit, ter, gravity; from the sun and moon, as those who have shared the perils harrowing highlights: “I wanted to energy; and from people, hospitality and priceless moments of crossing get off the beaten path and walk the and kindness. Canada’s pristine and rugged natural old route the Greyhound (bus line) I was determined to make this a qui- beauty are bound to do. used to struggle with on the danger- et finish as far as a marathon pilgrim- Oesch was producing a documen- ous switchbacks and corners. Daru- age is concerned. It doesn’t require a tary, “Walking the Wisdom of the ka couldn’t drive on that old road, it big hoopla necessarily. It’s a walk for Road”, and wanted to include Bhak- was too neglected and not road wor- peace, after all – inner peace. And the timarga Swami’s presence and per- thy for a car, so we were much more walking is only meant to continue. spectives on walking in his film. in the wilderness. We saw bear dung And continue he will. Bhaktimarga Oesch joined the Walking Monk and around, and we were a little con- Swami plans to honour Srila Prabhu- his trusty support persons, Daruka cerned, ‘Are we going to be okay?’ pada’s journey from Boston to New and Karuna Sindhu, for the first few It was part of the old Dewdney Trail York, and the upcoming 50th anni- weeks of the trek. Bhaktimarga Swa- which had to do with the gold rush.” versary of ISKCON in just that way. mi recounts: “In comparing notes of treks of both Michael and me, you Taking his final steps to Krish- For more information and to read could hardly tell we were different na’s lotus feet about his daily walking adventures, people. We both like the self-im- You might expect that such a feat - please visit posed life of simplicity, the naps in a man in his 60’s completing his 4th www.thewalkingmonk.net .

26 SHORT REGULAR PADAYATRAS IN SURINAME By Partha-sakha Dasa

That padayatra was attended by the route with the procession before re- same amount of participants as in the turning home. first walk, but this time more local people joined the procession which ISKCON devotees : first to ended each day at a Hindu temple – hold a religious procession in the Rama Mandir and the Sri the Nickerie district Mandira- with lecture, kirtana and We had a simple but elegant hand full plates of prasada for everyone. drawn cart to carry Sri Sri Gaura Ni- The sweet taste experienced in the tai. As usual we were escorted by the Walks usually ending at Hindu past padayatras inspired us to orga- police – five policemen on bikes, and nise more walks in 2004 and 2011 two on motor bikes. It is their rule, temples in Paramaribo and Nickerie with 50 as they want to ensure a peaceful and Since 1996 we have organized sev- devotees each time. In 2004 we even orderly procession, with no religious eral padayatras in Suriname, a small clashes. The policemen were so kind country in South America with a that they also added an ambulance population of half a million people, at the end of the procession, in case about 45% of them . The first medical attention was needed. For padayatra took place in October Nickerie it was a big thing. 1996, the year of Srila Prabhupada’s While walking through the town we Centennial. We walked for one whole distributed burfi and other sweets, day in the capital of the country, Par- many pamplets but no books alas. amaribo, and ended with a festival managed to have an oxcart. Many Everyone was blissfully chanting at the ISKCON temple. Around 70 people, especially the Hindus, were and waving colourful flags. As much devotees participated, included dev- attracted by the kirtana. They waved as I can recall only ISKCON has ever to the devotees, offered pranams done such a religious procession in from their balconies, and came out the Nickerie district. At the end of of their houses to see the procession the day we held a dynamic program and receive prasadam, a book or a at our Nama-hatta centre with kirta- pamphlet. na, full plates of prasada and an en- Cow puja to inaugurate the livening lecture. 2014 padayatra Our last padayatra, held in Nieuw-Nickerie on July 7th 2014, was attended by 50 devotees and otees from Guyana, Trinidad, and the guests. It was organised by Govin- Benelux. Around that time we also da Madhava Syam Dasa, Janakinath held another two day padayatra in Dasa, a former president of the Su- the Nickerie district, located 230 km riname yatra visiting from the Neth- from the capital and bordering Guy- erlands, and myself. We started the ana. This district has a large Hindu walk by worshipping Sri Sri Gaura community and ISKCON devotees Nitai and offering a special arati to have a Nama-hatta center there, go mata in the nama-hatta centre. headed by Govinda Madhava Shyam The cow came from a local farm- Dasa. er who was enthused to engage his Nickerie’s capital city, Nieuw-Nick- animal in the puja. The cow and her erie, is the second largest city in the owner got so enlivened by this ex- country with 50,000 inhabitants. perience that they walked half of the Janakinath Dasa

27 PADAYATRA REVIVAL IN SOUTH AFRICA

by Radhaprema Devi Dasi

Given the repressive laws in South tion and launched padayatra South Africa prior to 1994, the idea of pa- Africa on November 10, 2012. With dayatra was at best not possible. the excellent support of the Sri Sri Post democracy meant that there Radha-Radhanath Temple of Un- was greater freedom to exercise re- derstanding and the congregational ligious and cultural activities. That’s devotees, about 140 devotees, in- why, on September 3, 1994, one hun- cluding men, women and children, dred chanting and dancing devotees joined the ten-kilometre long pa- wheeled the country’s firstpadayatra dayatra. The venue for the launch cart along the main street of Durban of padayatra was significant: the Sri to the city hall, with the mayor of Laksmi Narayan temple hall in Mo- Durban, Mike Lipchitz, cutting the beni Heights. Srila Prabhupada only inaugural ribbon. In 1996 padayatra visited South Africa once, and it was went with the same Deity cart and in this hall, on 8 October 1973, that a Prabhupada murti to each of the in his address to the congregation he thirty nama-hatta centers in great- indicated his desire for an ISKCON er Durban. It happened mostly on Temple to be built in Chatsworth, a weekends, usually ending with a hall sprawling township about 14 kms program. from Durban, the largest city in the Kwazulu Natal province. Amid great struggles, but driven by Srila Pra- of the palanquin where they gently The 2012 padayatra to the bhupada’s instructions, the devotees placed the life size murti of Srila Pra- Temple of Understanding in completed the Sri Sri Radha Rad- bhupada. In the Indian township of Durban hanath Temple of Understanding in Chatsworth people offered water and The idea of doing padayatra again 1985. fruits to the padayatra party. Wom- in South Africa emerged during a For the 2012 padayatra to the en and children rushed out of their visit of Lokanath Swami to the coun- Temple of Understanding devotees homes, waving enthusiastically, try- try. A small group of enthused disci- built a lightweight aluminium pa- ing to get a glimpse of Srila Prabhu- ples, headed by Sadhana Shakti Dasi lanquin and artistically decorated it pada whom they assumed to be a real and her husband Bhakta Vinod, took with flower garlands of brilliant yel- person being carried on a palanquin. her guru’s request as their instruc- low and red roped around the pillars En route, the support offered by the

28 pada murti of Sadhana Shakti Dasi, munity and the main purpose of this replaced Srila Prabhupada large padayatra was to get the devotees to murti on the palanquin. The distance preach to this community. Unfortu- was reduced to about four kilometres nately the area is not safe and the nec- because it enabled a more intense essary arrangements for police escort preaching program with the target and private security had to be made communities, including the distribu- prior to the event. Crime in this area tion of japa beads. is rife and people have been killed for simple items like cell phones and business community, which included Burlington Heights 2014 : giv- shoes. Our police escort consisted of the tiny corner plaza shops and the ing mercy to the poor in a high two vehicles with four police officers large manufacturing industry, was crime area clad in official police uniform and overwhelming. The padayatra party In 2014 three padayatras were carrying batons and guns. Although thought they would meet scorn and held in KwaZulu Natal. Both of them we felt safe in the presence of our hostility, but the group was pleasant- started in rather affluent areas and Gaura Nitai Deities, we had to take ly surprised by the reception offered ended in the poorer section of the precautions to protect the devotees to them by the Christian and Muslim town. On July 5th a group of devo- who undertook this padayatra, espe- communities. The fact that Muslim tees embarked on a 6 km padayatra cially the older ones and the children. businessmen were appreciative of from the Temple of Understanding in The transcendental chants cut the padayatra party can be attribut- Durban. The devotees, largely disci- through the crisp morning air and ed to the fact that the idea of pull- ples of Lokanath Maharaja, under- within seconds the little children had ing a chariot is not entirely new to took this spiritual walk as part of the come out from their homes driven the Muslims. In South Africa, in the celebration of their Guru Maharaja’s by curiosity. A few of them walked early 1990’s a major Muslim festi- forthcoming vyasa-puja. Another alongside the chanting party, others val called Mohurram was celebrated padayatra started in the affluent area clapped spontaneously while the rest by the Indian community. And thus, of Burlington Heights, an exclusive looked on, intrigued at the sight be- the traditional offering of fruit, wa- suburb that boasts opulent homes fore them. This was clearly a first, ter and money we received were in with lavish designs. Our chanting in and the sweets and books were re- the spirit of piety already known to this area did not draw out the people, ceived with cupped hands and bend- the many that we passed on our way although a few endeavored to take ed knees. Devotees distributed about back to the temple. a peek. Of course the high security 50 books –Srila Prabhupada’s books Along the road, devotees distributed walls meant to protect its residents translated into isiZulu, the name of Ekadasi prasadam- packets of roast- from theft to their property insulated the language spoken by the African ed peanuts, sugar candy, raisins and them from any sounds on the street. citizens in KwaZulu Natal. Children coconut flakes. The vibrant kirtana After a short downhill walk, we en- also understand English as they at- lured both the shy and the intrepid tered the poor area which stands in tend the local school where English onlookers to rhythmically move to stark contrast to the palatial homes is the language of instruction. As the the music. Children ran alongside the and well maintained roads we had books and sweets were being dis- palanquin, hoping to get a response just left behind us. The area that we tributed, unhurried mothers coaxed from Srila Prabhupada! A support were targeting is mostly populated their children to participate in the of- crew distributed fruit and water to with low cost housing for the unem- fering of sweets. Even the dawdling devotees during the long and hot ployed and the poor. It is predomi- man, slumped on the roadside, after a walk. As Srila Prabupada looked on nantly occupied by the African com- night of revelry, glanced quizzically from his palanquin, the devotees en- at the deities. As we meandered our thusiastically distributed his books way across the streets, we noticed (500 that day). Even elderly matajis the luscious vegetables growing walked the entire distance. in small garden patches before the During the subsequent week-end homes. Equally interesting were the padayatras held in the townships of homes and roadside industries which Phoenix and Welbedacht in the same consisted of car wash and repair fa- province, the Deities of Sri Sri Gaura cilities, tuck shops and tables with Nitai, along with the small Prabhu- fresh green vegetables for sale such

29 as spinach, potatoes and tomatoes ies which gives them better opportu- – staple food for most. Tuck shops nities to earn a living. These areas are are little shops operating from peo- often referred to as squatter camps or ple’s homes – they build a small sec- informal settlements. The homes are tion alongside their home and stock generally made of wood and tin and it with daily goods like bread and are constructed overnight. Because cakes. Many of these home owners of the Human Rights Declaration, are employed by factories and also moving these residents is not easily as maids/helpers. Clearly, with this possible. The residents came out of padayatra, we had touched the resi- their homes with much enthusiasm dents of Burlington Heights in a dis- and accepted prasadam. Of course, tinct way, and importantly negotiated entering such a settlement is ordi- Srila Prabhupada’s books into the narily not possible without police es- modest homes of the underprivileged cort. We were aware of the risks but and hopefully into their hearts. did not take a police escort this time, as the area was more familar to many Kartik 2014: padayatra teams devotees. We drew comfort from the up with Food for Life and fact that Their Lordships were with biryani to the poor and needy, who nama-hatta devotees in Verulam us and, feeling safe in Their merciful thankfully received them. Biryani is a dish where a variety of vegetables and rice are cooked together. It is a common preparation especially for Food for Life South Africa It has been estimated that almost 30% of South Africans are food insecure. In Verulam it meant that there was no certainty of a next meal for many of its residents. In its vision to cre- ate hunger free zones, Food for Life South Africa presently feeds 10 000 children daily. Laxminath Dasa, a stalwart food distributor (several million plates in his lifetime with ISKCON) cooked the meal with the assistance of a vis- On October 25, during the last days embrace, ventured forth. iting Chinese scholar who distributed of Kartika, another padayatra was The kirtana session headed by the prasadam with much joy. On this organised in Verulam, a town 28 Madhumangal Dasa was vibrant unusually cold day for Durban, the km north of Durban. Although it is with synchronised melodies from warm meal was relished by all. Little mainly inhabited by Indians, over the three sets of karatalas, two mr- children came out of their homes with the years it has become populated dangas and two djembe (African their own utensils for second help- by other race groups. There is also drums). These drums are very fa- ings. Over 86 books were sold within a growing African population who miliar to the African communities, a few kilometers of the padayatra. have moved in and settled informal- given their origins in central Africa. This was a joint effort by devotees ly in this area. The padayatra route The staggering men reeking of al- from the different nama-hattas in was designed in a way that took us cohol danced boldly and a few chil- Verulam and Phoenix, a nearby In- through a relatively affluent area to- dren in ragged clothes enthusiasti- dian township, as well as the Food wards a very poor community in an cally ran alongside the deities, thus for Life representatives. At the end informal settlement. It is not unusual receiving the mercy of Gauranga of the padayatra, the devotees were in South Africa for communities who Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda. treated to a sumptuous lunch feast have no fixed dwelling to gravitate The Food for Life team served prepared by Paripurna Radha Devi towards more affluent towns and cit- about 600 plates of deliciously hot Dasi`s house in Verulam.

30 Twenty Years of Padayatra / Ratha-Yatra by Ananda Gaurangi Devi Dasi in Lithuania

An attractive blend of Padaya- -prasada distribution, book distri- ital), Kaunas, Siauliai, and Palanga. tra, Ratha-yatra, harinama and bution, garland making, and so on. I During the harinamas, we distribute cultural program also consult with some senior devo- Srila Prabhupada’s books in Lithua- When the Lithuanian Padayatra tees and get advice from the previous nian and prasadam sweets, which are started in 1995, it was well received organizer. well received by both young and old by the citizens who were essentially This traveling festival takes place in onlookers. Whenever possible we in- inspired by their newfound freedom all the biggest cities, Vilnius (the cap- clude a simple cultural program with and independence from USSR in devotees performing bhajans and 1991. Padayatra Lithuania has since dances on a carpeted stage. We plan become a colorful annual event, tra- to increase the duration and variety of ditionally held at the end of June. these cultural items in the near future. This festival presents an interesting Travelling is done by bus, and rent- fusion of Padayatra and Ratha-ya- tra ideas in the form of a decorated hand-driven Ratha-yatra cart carry- ing the smiling Deities of Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra (who came from Jagannatha Puri many years ago), and long harinamas. Krishna Katha Prabhu was the organizer from 2001 to 2011, and I’ve been doing it ever since. I don’t have a special or- ganizing team but I find devotees to take charge of different departments

31 ed accommodations arranged in ad- we called it Padayatra Baltic 2014. vance. There are about fifty devotees It was a tiring drive to Tallinn and by in the bus party, both young and old, the end the devotees were weary but brahmacaris and grhasthas We no- very inspired. The Ratha-yatra in the ticed that more young devotees are rain was a fun experience. The most joining our bus party in the past year. notable introduction to Padayatra There is also a Harinama Team who 2014 was an innovatively refur- always joins our party: about twenty bished chariot for the Deities and a brahmacaris– mostly from Estonia new and comfortable car with special They are too heavy to be carried on and a few from Lithuania- who trav- seats for the Deities. a palanquin. el on their own bus, and the six dev- Again this year we were blessed Each day of the Padayatra took the otees of the Deity team in their own with the presence of Bhakti Caitanya following format: staying in different car. Devotees join our procession for Swami, whose presence has become hotels or guesthouses, having an early a while along the way, especially in synonymous with Padayatra Lith- morning program with Srimad-Bhaga- the bigger cities. The highlight of our uania. It can no longer be imagined vatam classes given by Bhakti Caitan- tour is the final Ratha-yatra taking without his association. All the in- ya Swami, breakfast, Ratha-yatra, and place at the resort city of Palanga, spiration, all the shakti, advice, sup- lunch. Thereafter we would go back to which attracts both devotees and the port and maintenance of our festival the place where we stayed. If not too general public. come from him. Bhakti Saran Santa late, we would fill some evenings with The presence of wonderful guests Goswami usually participates in all melodious kirtanas. makes this an exceptional event ev- the Ratha-yatras, although he doesn’t In 2014 we distributed lots of ery year. Travelling sannayasis have travel with the padayatris. The Esto- prasadam (about 1500 sweets during a heavy schedule but Padayatra nian Harinam Sankirtana team was each Ratha-yatra) and 1000 books, Lithuania has been blessed with the there as usual. The number of con- the biggest ever. During the two presence of Bhakti Caitanya Swa- stantly travelling padayatris reached largest Ratha-yatras we also held a mi since the very beginning and our 70, which included the bus party and cultural program with traditional In- Lithuanian sannyasi Bhakti Saran the Deity team. With local devo- dian dances and bhajans. On the last Santa Goswami. For the past few tees joining in different cities there morning, we had a book distribution were about 100-150 devotees par- awards and then gave recognition ticipating in every Ratha-yatra. The and expressed our gratitude to every last one, which was also the biggest, single devotee who worked tireless- took place in the resort city of Palan- ly to make this wonderful festival ga. This Ratha-yatra attracted devo- possible by giving time, efforts and tees from all over Lithuania and the laksmi. Padayatra’s expenses are number rose to 150. For such a small always far greater than the income, country as Lithuania, this is truly a and we are very grateful to all our big number. The center of Palanga generous sponsors. It was a truly joy- was flooded with the holy names, ous moment when Bhakti Caitanya beautiful colours and happy faces. Swami inspired us all with his words All the sincere souls created a devo- of encouragement and when Bhakti years we also got the regular visits of tional atmosphere inspiring people to Saran Santa Goswami spoke on the Nruhari Prabhu, a senior UK devo- chant and dance together. The dura- importance of book distributors. tee spending most of his time in New tion of the Ratha-yatra, from four to Padayatra Lithuania 2015 is York. Being a great saxophonist he six hours, depends largely on the size planned for June 15-20. We will have enlivens our padayatra very much. of the city. Prior to the event, we have a Ratha-yatra in Vilnius, Kaunas, Si- to get a permit from the government. auliai and, as usual, in Palanga. The Padayatra Baltic 2014 In some cases the city does not allow detailed program of this festival will The 2014 Lithuanian Padayatra the cart procession because of the be made available shortly on the Pa- was held from June 16 to 22. This limited infrastructure of the roads, dayatra website. year, it extended to the Baltics with a and harinama is the most conve- is con- Ratha-yatra and a few harinamas in nient. Then we do it without Jagan- firmed and we are hoping to have the capital city of Estonia, Tallinn. So nath, Baladev and Subhadra because many more special guests this year.

32 MAURITIUS CELEBRATES WORLD HOLY NAME WEEK 2014

WITH PADAYATRA By Ayodhyanatha Dasa Vrishabhanu Prabhu joined the par- ty, inspiring the padayatris to dance and sing with greater enthusiasm. Devotees distributed packs of bundi sweets (a sweet made from chick- pea flour) along the way. The walk ended at the Vacoas Mandir presided by Visnu Tattva Deities and various demigods, like in most Hin- du temples in Mauritius. The priests the way the devotees sing, dance and warmly welcomed the devotees, and distribute packets of halava and bun- As in previous years Padayatra expressed their appreciation of this di to everyone they meet. Many of Mauritius organised a padayatra to walking event. A full feast prepared the people are such enthusiastic re- mark World Holy Name Week 2014. by the padayatra Mauritius devotees cipients of the Lord’s mercy that they The walk was scheduled from the was served to everyone present : rice, chant and dance with the harinama 3rd to the 5th of September. The first salad, dahl, kofta balls, rasgulas and sankirtana party. day started off from the Henrietta bus lemon drink. The last day of Kartik is Ganga station located in the center of the The next day, the walk resumed at snana day, and thousands of Mauri- island. However, due to heavy rain, the same Kabir Mandir and ended tian Hindus go to the beach at Flic only about fifteen determined devo- at ISKCON’s Hare Krishna Land en Flac to worship Mother Ganga. tees participated in this 4km walk to a in Phoenix. The local village peo- Then they spend the rest of the day Siva temple called the Glen Park Va- ple served orange juice and sweets enjoying themselves at the seaside. coas Shivala Hall. Devotees stopped (laddus and gulab jamuns) to the The padayatra team had kirtana at at covered places along the way –bus padayatris, and many also joined the that beach all day. The padayatris stands and verandas of shops- where kirtana procession for a while. Upon also joined the Food for Life team in onlookers could bring offerings to the arrival at Hare Krishna Land, all the preparing and serving to the crowds Deities. At the end of this austere but devotees did parikrama of the tem- free pakoras, juice and a very popu- blissful day the padayatris relished ple three times and then entered the lar dish in Mauritius called briyani, a hot herbal tea and spicy kitchri served temple hall for an ecstatic kirtana, sabji cooked with rice. by Shatrughna Dasa. followed by evening arati and class. The day ended at twilight with In the evening, cyclonic conditions The successful three-day padayatra the chanting of the Damodarastaka were declared over Mauritius, so the ended with another sumptuous feast. prayers. Hundreds of lamps flickered following two days of padayatra in the night, their light reflected in the were postponed to a week later. On Padayatris organise special Indian Ocean, while the chanting of the 13th the padayatra team started harinamas during Kartika the devotees filled the air. The devo- off from the place where they had left Every day during the sacred month tees’ hearts were filled with bliss and off ten days before. The procession of Kartika, padayatra Mautitius or- all looked forward to Kartik 2015. comprised about twenty men, seven ganises harinamas in different towns women and three children. The pow- and villages. The party is accompa- erful kirtana vibrated through the nied by Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundara , streets of Vacoas, inspiring onlook- Srila Prabhupada, Nrsimhadeva and ers to join the chanting and dancing. Damodara Krishna. During the hari- On that day the temple president of namas, the devotees stop at different Hare Krishna Land in Phoenix, Ajay homes and public places so that the Caitanya Prabhu, and other leaders residents of the area and passerbys such as Pancha-Tattva Prabhu and can offer a lamp to the Deities. All

33 SLOVENIA: ECOCARAVAN 2014 by Urukrama Dasa

A two-part padayatra in two different regions This year’s summer padayatra set off at the village of Kuteževo near Ilirska Bistrica and concluded in the town of Velenje, 170 km away, in the north- eastern part of the coun- try. The distinguishing feature of the 2014 Ecocaravan was its division into two parts in different regions. The first part took place in the south near the Croatian border, walking to- wards the town of Postojna. The second part kicked off at the village of Gornji Grad in the region for the night, mostly in elementary of Celje. Many devotees and pa- schools and gym halls. dayatra supporters participated. During the week, the number of Big book distribution and participants totalled between 35 and prasadam scores for a small 40, and on weekends it rose to 50 country or more. We could count 8 matajis Padayatris distributed more than during the week and more than 15 1,900 Śrila Prabhupada’s books to on weekends. On the average there Slovenian and tourists who were were around 3 children; among them eager to gain spiritual knowledge. initiator, took the most precious care young Narayan and 6-year-old Ka- Quite an impressive number! We of the Deities and their transport. lindi were undoubtedly among the firmly believe and hope that by read- most active. There were also a few ing these books they will get inspi- No adventures without dangers devotees in their sixties. All glories ration through Paramatma, and thus In everyone of our padayatras to our eldest participant, 76 year old seek spiritual answers and solutions there has always been some special Bhavananda Ray Prabhu! to their daily challenges and prob- situation, either comic or dangerous, lems. We equally hope that they will and the 2014 Ecocaravan was no ex- Visit of advanced souls and eventually join us in our endeavours ception. Just before arriving in Pos- dignitaries to raise people’s awareness about the tojna we experienced a good rush of We have always been honoured and importance of going beyond the an- adrenaline. As our procession could inspired by the presence of notably imalistic mentality prevalent in our not walk on the narrow road which advanced souls – this year again we society. We also distributed around was dangerous due to heavy traffic, had the great pleasure of welcoming 3,500 leaflets on our Ecocaravan we had to use the grassy border of a Prahladanandana Swami and Kratu project and more than 15,000 deli- landing field, with the permission of Prabhu. We were encouraged by their cious coconut biscuits. As we know airport authorities. The situation was remarkable lectures as well as by prasadam, a gift of mercy, is the in- rather exciting, but we feared that their presence in sankirtana, where dispensible and secret weapon of the somebody might get hurt as we saw both unveiled unparalleled spiritual devotees. It is also well worth men- a plane arriving on the horizon. Ev- strength. Among the important peo- tioning that during this padayatra erything ended well though, and the ple and dignitaries paying honour- the full-size Deities of Sri Sri Nitai plane started its landing just after we able visits to padayatra were school Gaura Nataraj were travelling with reached the opposite side. One more principals and mayors. They very us. Lalita Govinda Prabhu, our par- evidence that Krishna protects His kindly offered us facilities to stay amount event organiser and project devotees, no matter the situation.

34 LEGALITIES

Legalities involves obtaining various permits and examining a vast number of local laws which vary from country to country and state to state.

Create A Non-Profit Organization Advantages: funds raised independently can be legitimately banked. You can also issue tax-exempt receipts, get cheaper vehicle insurance and protection against an accident or law suit against ISK- CON.

Permits And Legal Documents 1) Permits for: Walking: In procession on the streets and sidewalks. Driving: Ox or horse carts on public roads. Distributing books and prasadam, collecting donations, holding festivals and carrying large signs and banners. 2) Legal documents: Insurance for all Padayatra vehicles and trailers and valid driver’s licenses for devotees. Updated vaccination certificates and insurance for the animals as Padayatra will be held respon- sible for the damages caused by the animals to destruction of private property or rampaging a farmer’s field. Personal identification papers (passports, visas and permits ) to be carried by everyone . 3) Other documents: Always procure next of kin and medical details. Written permission for minors: Minors admitted only with the parents’ written permission. Waiver for all participants: All walkers sign waivers giving up their rights to sue Padayatra against any accidents. 4) Practical considerations: Timeous application of permits. Originals are kept with Padayatra organizers and copies issued to: Procession leader Sankirtana book distribution leader Ox care taker Communication team Advance party crew

Dealing With The Police And Various Authorities 1) Deal personally with them: Inform them of your plans in detail by giving them the exact number of carts, animals, people, banners, loudspeakers, route to be followed and the exact schedule of events. Provide names, contact numbers of leaders and devotees responsible for permits and security. 2) They are here to help you: Giving advice and providing an escort for the parade. Suggesting better routes and places for accommodation.

Don’t Overlook Important Details 1) Noise restriction: Consider the “disturbance level” if planning an enthusiastic mangal-arati outdoors or close to pri- vate habitations and enquire about the legal hours to make noise.

2) Cart escort: Devotees acting as escorts of the cart and traffic controllers should wear bright safety jackets and carry specific signs (Stop! Slow down. Slow vehicles, etc.)

35 THE ROUTE

The main service of the advance party is to drive and check the entire route. CONSIDER ALL THESE IMPORTANT FACTORS

1) Time factor: How much time do you have for the walk? Will the walk be done in one stretch or different sections? Do you have to be at a particular point at a specific time for functions/ festivals.These need to be planned and advertised well in advance. Make a detailed schedule including walking days, rest periods, festivals, etc. Plan a reasonable daily walk. The average daily walk is around 8 miles (14 kms).

2) Legalities related to the procession format: Permission might be required for harinama with palanquin on country roads and city streets as well as for a procession with carts and oxen. Ensure you are abiding by the rules of the road.

3) Number of people you’ll meet: These vary depending on your route and your target: do you want to avoid large congested cities, especially if you have an oxcart, or walk mainly through small towns and villages?

4) Special events taking place: Let your route coincide with a Vaisnava festival and/or public events taking place in the area. Prepare an alternative plan with the help of the authorities. Leave the carts and oxen behind and drive the devotees to the festival location.

5) Weather conditions and topography of the roads: The performance of the animals and daily progress of the devotees will depend on the weather (cold, damp, searing hot, rainy ), topography (flat, hilly, mountainous) and road conditions.

6) The advance party: This party takes note of the exact mileage between different cities and villages, road condition, road blocks, construction, bridges or passages with low overhead clearance, etc. It inquires from the local population and officials about public events or planned road repair in the area. It makes an accurate map by chalking out a continuous route and getting all the details (names of the roads, streets, villages, towns and cities). Makes sure the route matches the itinerary on the map. It keeps track of the location of the accommodations, festivals, home programs, special visits, etc.

36 Special Stories

Not a nightmare, just village kids going crazy for halava By Vaikunthaloka Dasa

It happened in 2014, while Padayatra India was in Uttar Pradesh. One day we stopped in the Siva temple of a small village. That evening I was very tired and I laid down my sleeping bag under a tree, because there was not any other free space. It was approximately 9 pm, and our evening program had not yet ended. I quickly fell asleep in spite of the fact that it was very noisy. I was peacefully sleeping and having happy dreams when suddenly a crowd of wild screaming children ran directly over me, some with their shoes on. Was I having a bad dream? You can imagine how I felt in this situation. I did not understand what was happening and I did not know what to do. After some time I realized that it was the village children who had trampled me. I learned that some local man had come around the devotees’ camp to distribute a bucket of halava he had made, which generated an instant queue. When children from a distant place heard about the queue for halava they quickly surrounded the man from all sides. All at once they began to pull him to try to snatch some of the delicious sweet from him. Bucket in hand, the man jumped on a small elevated mound of earth to continue his distribution from a safer place. The children followed him there, but it happened to be the place where I was sleeping. Since there were no other place to go I had to try to go back to sleep in the same place, all the while praying to Krishna that He saved me from the enthusiasm of the children for halava. Happily the man with the halava was gone, and bucket probably empty by then.

Participating in the largest walking event in the world By Ekacakragram Dasa

In July 2001 a group of devotees, all dressed with dhotis, kurtas or saris, participated for the first time in the biggest walking event in the world: a four-day walk in the area of Nijmeghen in Holland. The event, organised by the Holland National Walking Federation, had been taking place for the past forty years. Depending on their age and gender, participants can choose walking three distances: 30 km, 40 km or 50 km. Of course one can do less, but they will not get an official medal from the Queen. Devotees went withharinama and prasadam, and danced and chanted for the entire 30km, but it was a little too intense for the devotees and a little too much for the public. So the next year we just did one hour of kirtana and chanted japa during the walk. We got many opportunities to talk with people during the walk, as there was nothing else to do besides walking. People got an opportunity to ask the questions they had wanted to ask for many years. There were about forty devotees and congregational members coming and going during the four days. Fifteen devotees walked the entire four days, including Bhaktimarga Swami. I took the opportunity to introduce him as a famous walker in Canada, who was in all the newspa- pers and on TV. People were very impressed to hear he had walked 8,500km at an average of 35km a day for nine months. He is a very kind sannyasi who has the art of listening to others, so he was very appreciated by everybody, and I let him do the preaching all day. Over the four days a total of 45,000 people participated in the three categories of walks. Everybody had to wake up at 2.30am and assemble in the middle of the city at 3.30am. It was a very special atmosphere to see so many people ready to walk together early in the morning. It was such a nice experience having mangala-arati and walking with so many people, talking all day about Krsna, and associating with devotees. We became well-known in the camping ground. It was a kind of holiday, exhausting physically but mentally very refreshing.

37 Following in the dancing foot- steps of St. Francis of Assisi

By Shyamasundara Dasa

This happened in Italy during the walk to Assisi in 1990. In the first village we went Lo- kanath Swami was telling the dev- otees not to be afraid to preach and he showed them what to tell people, “Krsna consciousness is not new. We want to make your faith alive. All the saints are saints of God.” Satsvarupa Maharaja had sent as a gift a large painting of St. Francis, and the devotees put it on the cart with the murti of Srila Prabhupada. Walk to Assissi The banner read, “Peace Walk to Assisi: Homage to St. Francis of Assisi.” So people could see that the devo- tees of Krsna revere and glorify all saints, not just those of their tradi- tion. In fact we camped for a few days at the bottom of the hill where St Francis performed austerities, and also went to the cave where he used to pray. We, the Hare Krsna devotees, felt that the saint was very much present with us, maybe even more than with some of the Fran- ciscan monks, with whom we had friendly exchanges overall. In one monastery the priests were Assissi Padayatra cart eager to hear more stories of India, and in turn they told us stories of their saints. In one church there was a statue of St. Francis with raised arms, and one young padayatri boy thought it resembled devotees chanting in harinama. Unfortunate- ly one of the monks was not favour- able to the devotees and created problems. In another monastery one Francis- can monk was complimenting us for the beautiful way we were danc- ing. He was so happy to look at the devotees, for it reminded him that St. Francis was also dancing for the Lord. Assissi Franciscan monks

38 FIFTY GOOD REASONS TO GO ON PADAYATRA OR ORGANIZE ONE You will be….

1. Getting purified and rejuvenated by chanting and serving all day long 2. Fulfilling Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s desire to see the holy name resounding in every town and village of the world 3. Uniting different kinds of devotees around Srila Prabhupada and the holy names 4. Engaging the oxen in serving Their Lordships instead of keeping them idle on our ISKCON farms and goshalas 5. Getting in shape by walking, dancing, and engaging in physical activities like setting up the padayatra camp, washing pots or shoeing oxen 6. Escaping your daily routine, either at home or in the temple 7. Seeing directly the hand of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai in daily events and miracles 8. Traveling in the company of devotees and a cart carrying the Deities of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Srila Prabhupada 9. Trying out new services : cooking, advance party, reporting, organising, contacting with the media, taking care of the oxen, and so on 10. Distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books the easy way, with the harinama party in the background 11. Having lots of healthy spiritual fun and adventures 12. Going on a transcendental vacation with your kids and family 13. Developing your dormant affection for oxen by living around them and caring for them 14. Erasing the misunderstandings you had with some devotees by serving closely together (there’s no time to keep grudges for long on padayatra) 15. Preaching the best way, by showing to the public a group of happy and loving devotees of Krishna 16. Engaging people in the Lord’s service by receiving fruits, flowers, vegetables, hay or grass for the animals, a place to camp, refreshments, shelter in the rain, etc. 17. Purifying the much polluted ether of the world 18. Practicing our motto « Simple living and high thinking » 19. Discovering the joys and fun of austerities 20. Living in nature by camping, bathing in rivers and oceans, or gathering around a camp fire 21. Relieving the anxiety Lord Caitanya feels by seeing the plight of the Kali Yuga wretched souls 22. Leaving all your electronic gadgets behind for a while 23. Understanding and practicing the essence of devotional service –service to the Vaisnavas 24. Discovering your own country and area the best way, on foot 25. Getting the best media coverage you could ever hope for 26. Explaining to ignorant people the difference beween an ox, a bull and a large goat ! 27. Reawakening the sleeping souls encaged in plants, trees, insects and birds’ bodies 28. Making passersby smile, wave, forget their misery for a while, and maybe chant and dance with the padayatra party for a few kilometers 29. Taking a shower in the open on a rainy day 30. Loosing the few extra kilos you got by eating too much maha. prasadam at the temple 31. Learning how to play new musical instruments to accompany the kirtana 32. Forgetting your car, house, bank balance, job, material possessions and anxieties 33. Using your two God. given legs for what they have been designed . to walk 34. Lying down wonderfully exhausted after a full day of service and sleeping like a log 35. Helping to dispell the misconceptions people may have about the Hare Krishna devotees 36. Opening a window to the spiritual world by joyfully participating in the colorful harinama procession

39 37. Getting your kids away from TV, internet and video games, learning Krsna conscious games and rendering various services 38. Establishing deep friendships with the devotees, your hosts and the people you meet on the way 39. Feeling you are part of a wide, wonderful and variegated spiritual family 40. Giving people the knowledge they so much need to find peace and happiness 41. Participating in one festival after another, enjoying one sumptuous feast after another 42. Going to mangal arati under the stars 43. Getting to appreciate devotees you never really knew 44. Marveling at the wonders of Krsna’s creation 45. Seeing this world for what it really is, a place of birth and death and suffering 46. Serving the Vaisnavas in so many ways, big or small 47. Walking your way back to Godhead 48. Forgetting your difficulties, troubles and challenges, or getting a new perspective on them 49. Learning to depend more and more on Krishna 50. Realizing your great fortune of taking part in the Sankirtana Movement of Lord Caitanya

BOOK TO BE RELEASED IN 2015

VRAJA MANDALA DARSANA by Lokanath Swami This book is a vivid presentation about the wonderful pastimes that be reinforced and you may well be of the experience of taking part in Lord Krishna, His friends and com- blessed to personally undertake this ISKCON’s yearly Vraja Mandala panions performed in these places. pilgrimage and walk in the holy dust of Parikrama. The readers will be tak- Each day of the parikrama is repre- Vraja with devotees from all nations. en through a sacred, thirty-day tour sented by a chapter of the book. By This 400 page book includes route of the twelve forests of Vraja. All reading from your own home you maps to facilitate your navigation along they will remain immersed in will be transported to Vraja within and photographs to enhance your the most important activity - hearing your mind and heart, your faith will meditation on the Lord’s abode.

40 Official ISKCON Padayatra Website Mauritius www.padayatra.com Ayodyanatha Dasa : [email protected] New Zealand Website manager: Gaurangi Dasi Yasodadulal Dasa: [email protected] [email protected] Odisha Webmaster: Yadukulesvara Dasa Advaitacandra Dasa, leader ( Oriya and Hindi only): Contents (regularly updated): 943 738 9778 Reports, schedules, contacts Pune Dindi Newsletters (to be downloaded) Parthasarathi das (Solapur TP) [email protected] Russia Padayatra manual (to be downloaded) Narada Dasa: [email protected] Photo gallery Slovenia Videos Urukrama Dasa: [email protected] History of Padayatra South Africa (Durban area) Songs, poems and much more Radha Prema Dasi; [email protected] Suriname Padayatra Ministry Partha Sakha Dasa: [email protected] Please send news, articles, reports, photos, questions and Tamil Nadu suggestions on how to improve the Padayatra Newsletter Prasanna Shyam Dasa : prasannashyamdasjps@gmail. and the Website to the Ministry’s coordinator Gaurangi Dasi com gaurangi.lok@gmail Vraja Mandala Padayatra Parasurama Dasa: [email protected] VRAJA MANDALA DARSANA by Lokanath Swami Contacts Andhra Pradesh Visnuswami Dasa: [email protected] 09 84 92 09 837 Thank you to our generous sponsors: Canada Bhaktimarga Swami www.thewalkingmonk.net 2014 Issue: Czech Republic Sundar Gopal Dasa, France Muni Priya dasa: [email protected] Keshava Dasa, Pune Nrsimha Caitanya Dasa: [email protected] Janardana Dasa, Pune Guyana Prahlad Dasa, ISKCON Pandharpur Mayapur Candrodaya Dasa: [email protected] Dasa India Padayatra Acarya Dasa, leader (Hindi and Marathi only): 0989 0939782 2015 Issue: Prahlad Dasa (ISKCON Pandharpur President, English, Hindi, Sundar Gopal Dasa, France Marathi) 09405233108 Prahlad Dasa, ISKCON Pandharpur Lithuania Ananda Gaurangi Dasi [email protected] Gaurangi Dasi ISKCON’S 50TH BIRTHDAY IN 2016

The Padayatra Ministry pledged to have 50 Padayatras by the end of 2016! Thirty have already happened or are being planned! CELEBRATE!

WORLD HOLY NAME SRILA PARABHUPADA’S WEEK ARRIVAL IN AMERICA September 24 - October 4, 2015 October 3-4, 2015 (India, Asia, Australia) Will you be the fortunate soul till October 3 (USA) to organize a padayatra for this event? (Mauritius has been doing it for years)

SRILA PRABHUPADA OTHER GROUPS’ WALKS, BOARDING THE JALADUTA FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS ISKCON Mayapur & Kolkata are planning Italy’s Annual Walk of Peace to Assisi, a joint padayatra from Mayapur to Kolk- Spain’s St Jame’s Holy Walk, ata. Padayatris will arrive in Kolkata Holland’s National Walking Federation to celebrate Srila Prabhupada’s UK various parades and festivals departure to America on August 13, 1965

YOUR GURU’S VYASA-PUJA (Already done in Durban, South Africa) THE SIMPLE JOY OF BEING ALIVE AND ABLE TO CHANT THE HOLY NAMES Which can be done anytime, anywhere and for any occasion