KrishnadhamUSA June 2018 Mailing Address: (Vaishnav Samaj of RTP Inc) 135 Parkway Office Ct., Suit 201 Non-Profit Organization (Id: 47-4639529) Cary, NC 27518 Message from President: Jay Shree Krishna to all RTP vaishnavs. KrishnadhamUSA project is progressing very nicely. Our 16.5 acres land is cleared of trees, and we sold the timber that paid for the clearing cost plus some extra for the project. We have received three bids for the site plan development. They are being evaluated and contract will be awarded next month. The “Krishna Ek Prem Gatha” drama was a big success and was well received by the community. It was executed without any flaws. The credit goes to the Executive Committee members and the volunteers who fulfilled their assigned task with full commitment. On behalf of the KrishnadhamUSA, we appreciate their dedication. Shrinathji Darshan / Satsang on every Saturdays, monthly Pushtimarg utsav celebration / Manorath and monthly Prabhu Padharamani satsangs are well attended by vaishnavs. More and more vaishnavs are attending these activities. This meets our goal of providing opportunity to triangle area vaishnavs for their personal spiritual uplift. Each event is getting better as we learn more and more about Pushtimarg. The Pushtimarg education classes are in recess due to summer. Our next big event is Shri Krishna Charitramrut Katha by Vaishnavacharya Goswami 108 Shri Vrajrajkumarji Mahodayshri from July 20 to 24. Executive committee is working very hard to organize it in such a way that, it becomes a unique experience for all vaishnavs. Please participate, support these events, and take advantage of it. For KrishnadhamUSA Executive committee Arvindbhai Shah What is KrishnadhamUSA KrishnadhamUSA’s mission is to foster richness of Hindu cultural heritage and Pushtimarg in our children and to provide learning experiences on our cultural values to visitors and residents alike. Our goal is to unite all vaishnavs in RTP area. Religious objectives of KrishnadhamUSA shall be to: • Perform religious services as per the teaching of Jagadguru Shri Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji; • Celebrate Pushtimarg traditions; • Establish, manage, promote, and / or guide Hindu-Vaishnav-Pushtimarg Haveli and community center in RTP area. • Provide and support Hindu-Vaishnav-Pushtimarg religion related events, interchanges and cooperation among the followers in the United States. Educational objectives of KrishnadhamUSA shall be to: • Establish, promote and maintain educational programs and conduct public awareness seminars, workshops and lectures related to Pushtimarg philosophy; • Acquire and publish books/articles/manuscripts/magazines on Hinduism (including Pushtimarg) and Indian culture; • Create Web-Site to provide educational information about Hinduism (including Pushtimarg) • Make available Hindu-Vaishnav-Pushtimarg religious educational resources thru E-Books Library. • Invite descendants of Shri Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji for religious discourses and to promote interfaith harmony. • Promote study and understanding of Hindu-Vaishnav-Pushtimarg religion. Social objectives of KrishnadhamUSA shall be to: • Assist and promote charitable community service activities in the United States and around the world, • Be a responsible organization in the community. [Volume 2 Edition 1] 1 KrishnadhamUSA Activities 1. Shrinathji Darsan & Satsang every Saturday from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm . We meet at 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560 for Satsang or monthly Manorath 2. Pushtimarg classes for children on Saturdays at HSNC Learning Center. (Please note the classes are now in Summer recess) 3. Prabhu Padharamani on e very 4 th Sunday of the month. We meet at a Vaishnav family’s home to celebrate Shrinathji homecoming. Prabhu Padharamani. is meant to provide vaishnavs an opportunity to experience divine presence of Thakurji and inspire and purify our thoughts and actions. For the duration of 4 weeks, Vaishnav family gets opportunity to learn and do Shrinathji shringar & seva. 4. Monthly Utsav to celebrate Thakurji Leela on 2nd Saturdays of Month from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. We have included brief summary of Utsavs celebrated since last newsletter in this newsletter. 5. Humanitarian Project: Roti Kapada Makan - On the day of Pitru Shardha (Hindu holiday), we are donating vegetaria n grocery to Soup Kitchen/Shephrded table to feed homeless in downtown Raleigh. Last year community members donated more than $2,000 and with the help of Food lion store, totally food items worth $2600 were donated to Soup kitchen to feed homeless. Calendar of upcoming Events List of upcoming Utsavs are included below: Date Utsav Shri Krishna Charitramrut Katha by Param Pujya Goswami 108 July 20-24, 2018 Vrajrajkumarji Mahodayshri August 11, 2018 Bagicha / Vegetable Hindola September 8, 2018 Nand Mahotsav October 6, 2018 Nav Vilas Utsav November 3, 2018 Deepmala Mahotsav All vaishnavas are welcome to join the Satsang and Utsav. This is also an excellent opportunity for you to celebrate personal landmark events like birthdays, anniversary etc. with all vaishnavs by becoming Sponsor for the Utsav or for the Food. For Utsav sponsor, please contact one of the event organization committee members Shri Krishna Charitramrut Katha By Param Pujya Goswami 108 Vrajrajkumarji Mahodayshri Place: Hindu Society Of North Carolina Hall 309 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560 Utsav and Katha Details 7/20/2018 - 6:00pm: Shobha Yatra and Kalas 7/21/2018 – 2:00pm – 10:00pm: Nand Mahotsav 7/22/2018 – 2:00pm – 10:00pm: Krishna Bal Leela 7/23/2018 – 6:00pm – 10:00pm: Govardhan Leela 7/24/2018 – 6:00pm – 10:00pm Raas Leela / Vivah Khel For Padharamani and Manorathi details, please contact KrishnadhamUSA Committee members. [Volume 2 Edition 1] 2 Past Programs Since our last newsletter, KrishnadhamUSA celebrated several manoraths. Our sincere thanks to • All Manorathis for sponsoring and supporting manoraths. • All the volunteers for making delicious food and helping tirelessly for success of the manoraths. • All vaishnavs who attended and made all manoraths one of a kind. If you have any suggestions for the Newsletter, please provide your feedback by contacting one of the KrishnadhamUSA committee members or send email to [email protected] Mahaprabhuji Pragatya Utsav – April 14, 2018 Shri Mahaprabhuji (Vallabhacharya) was born on the 11th day of Chaitra Vad Vikaram Samvant 1535 in Champaran. His father's name was Shri Lakshman Bhattaji & mother's name was Illammgauriji. Mahaprabhuji founded the Pushtimarg ("the Path of Grace"), a Vaishnav sect of the Hinduism. More than 125 vaishnavs celebrated this Utsav with Vaishnavacharya Shri P.P Goswami 108 Shri Kamleshkumarji 's Amrut vani and Mahaprabhuji kirtans followed by Maha Prasad. Manorathi: Gopi & Chintan Dhangdhariya, Niti & Mitesh Modi Hatadi Utsav – May 12, 2018 Nand Nandan is today seated in the Hatadi (Market) and each and every Vraj jan receives prasad from Thakurji himself. Anything one describes one gets and it is given by none other than our Thakurji. He calls every Vraj bhakts by their name and distributes vividh items himself. More than 100 vaishnavs celebrated the Hatadi utsav with Kirtans followed by Maha Prasad Manorathi: Smita & Ashvin Desai, Smita & Piyush Sura Shri Yamunaji Utsav – June 9, 2018 In Pushtimarg, two mothers are popular. One is Yashodaji and the other is Yamunaji. Yamunaji is the mother of all vaishnavs. Shri Yamunaji is the daughter of Surya (Sun) and sister of Niyamak (Yam). Mythologically: Shri Yamunaji carries garland of lotus in her hands for Lord Krishna. Where there is Krishna, there is Yamunaji. Krishna is the King of Kings, so Yamunaji is Queen of Queens (Patrani). Shri Yamunaji is the giver of “Ashta Siddhi”. Vaishnavs celebrated this Utsav with Yamunaji’s kirtans followed by Maha Prasad. Manorathi: Smitaben & Vithalbhai Shah [Volume 2 Edition 1] 3 KrishnadhamUSA Children’s classes One more year of Pushtimarg education class ended on May 19, 2018. In last school year, students participated in various cultural and religious activities in the community. We also added few new things in our curriculum such as Yamunastakam per students wishes, in addition to learning Hindu religion and Pushtimarg way of life. The program installs pride and confidence in Hindu religion and Pushtimarg practices. We invite all interested children to join us for next school year starting in September every Saturday for well researched curriculum and leadership program. Development of spirituality, leadership, self-esteem, combine with well-planned modules to raise awareness for Hindu and Pushtimarg way of life. Arm with Interactive learning methodology teachers will be covering how to manage new skills and spirituality within diverse culture and religion environment. Our special thanks to Mr. Naresh Gandhi for the Leadership classes, Mrs. Suruchika Bhatia for being our substitute teacher and Mr. Piyush Sura for helping throughout the year. We Hope to see more of you in fall. Jay Shree Krishna. Kirti Gandhi Education Coordinator Vote of Thanks to our Volunteers during Utsav Celebration Everyone may not be aware that preparation for monthly Utsav starts at least 2 weeks in advance. First Utsav team decides which Utsav Manorath will be celebrated. Utsav team starts getting Thakurji Vastra-Shringar & decorations ready. Next is mahaprasad preparation. Varsha Shah & Heena Majmudar gets busy preparing menu, & then looking for Volunteers to prepare Mahaprasad. Volunteer vaishnavs come forward & help out in the preparation.