Gaura Purnima Festival Report from Seattle

So we had invited all groups, sects cults, parties to this Hari Nama kirtan gathering. But unfortunatley those who follow the iskcon line feel they cannot participate in congregational chanting to unite the whole world (including those who chant the Holy Names)-so they must have a SEPARATE party. This PARTY spirit is what Srila Prabhupada has stated will destroy HIS iskcon. If there is ONE thing that WILL unite us- it

Dear Prabhus, friends and others.

Obeisances
All glories to the most merciful guru of this universe Srila Prabhupada

This past week’s activities were nothing less than supremely pleasant.

Starting with the Hari Nama that we gathered for on Broadway ave on capitol hill Seattle on Friday march 31st. There were at least twenty devotees participating for this ecstatic event and many others who came by also took part and even two bank tellers were dancing in ecstasy-better than most devotees I might add!

Because this Hari nama party was unusually large for the Seattle area(we usually only have 3, 4, 5, or 6 at most), I think it rattled the resident demoniac population so much so that normally the security guards pay us no attention and never say anything as we pass by-but this time we got hassled by 3 or 4 of them as we marched up and down the avenue. People were taking pictures, giving us donations. chanting and dancing along the streets with us, offering pranams as we walked and chanted along, smiling, and otherwise acknowledging they gladly accepted our presence there and what we were doing . Hari Nama is the basis of this Hare Krsna movement. Everything is based on chanting together in unison the Holy Names and trying to appease and pacify the Supreme Being Lord Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Without sacrifice, everyone is engaging in fruitive activities which binds one to this material world. This Hari Nama is a sacrifice which is designed to satisfy Lord Visnu for this present age and which can be done by anyone anywhere-but has its most potency when done congregationally. And this was shown to us by Caitanya Mahaprabhu HImself. And we all got to take part in it friday. As we passed by the burger joints where the unfortunates gorge themselves on dead and rotting flesh, destined for the hellish planets, they got the sukrti then by hearing the Holy Names that will save them sometime in the future. Some others on the streets were making obsene gestures as us or swearing at us, and others were just trying to ignore us.

But the bottom line is they all got to hear the Holy Names of Krsna and Rama which can grant one liberation from this evil age of kali. For the most part the vast majority of the locals really appreciated our kirtans and showed it by smiling or gesturing or doing a little jig /dance as we passed them by. One place we stopped in has a little alcove or cutout area away from the sidewalk , kind of like a foyer into a business area. At this spot we gathered in it because the accoustics are really loud-and in there we really cooked it up. Two girls came out from the restaurant and began chanting along with us-I dont know if they were devotees like us or just liked to chant but they were having a great time and were grinning from ear to ear non stop. Anyway, we continued down the street and happily chanted the Holy names. At the end we stopped at Bank of America where they also have a cutout off the sidewalk but this one is much larger and we all gathered inside this(foyer) and then really began to cook it up. Thats when the two women bank tellers who were inside (after hours) started dancing almost running back and forth inside their bank to the chanting. I have never seen anybody from the banking industry do this. Normally they pick these people because they are kind of “normal” and dont things like “dance at work.”

Everybody who came agreed this was the real nectar and really didnt want to stop.

As a side note I should add that our “counterparts” from the local iskcon temple who literally NEVER go for Hari Nama- when they heard that we were doing Hari Nama, somehow or other felt that maybe, perhaps, this is something they should also do so they also organized some type of Hari Nama the next day and came to the same spot for chanting. The devotees who went to both kirtan parties stated that the first (ours) was by far the best and they will come again for that one. So we had invited all groups, sects cults, parties to this Hari Nama kirtan gathering. But unfortunatley those who follow the iskcon line feel they cannot participate in congregational chanting to unite the whole world(including those who chant the Holy Names)-so they must have a SEPARATE party. This PARTY spirit is what Srila Prabhupada has stated will destroy HIS iskcon. If there is ONE thing that WILL unite us- it is ONLY the Holy Names!!! PARAM VIYATE SRI KRSNA SANKIRTAN!!!!!!

next the sunday festival————

So now on sunday, a couple of days later we had our Gaura Purnima festival.

First of all our Deities got a very very beautiful new red silk outfit complete with new turbans and effulgences. Pictures will be coming soon for this article to show you all the Hari Nama and the feast program.

For the feast we had prepared over 108 preparations for the pleasure of Krsna Caitanya .I would like to thank at this point the generous donations of Mother Dinadaydri(especially),Bhakta Dan, Bhakta Charles, Yasodan Nandan prabhu, and all the others who helped to fund the feast

I dont have time to list all the preps , but will show some of them here. I think there were around 20-25 fresh juice drinks mixed personally by his grace Yasodananda prabhu and his son Pradyumna. There were around 15 kinds of chutney , 20 kinds of burfy, 8 types of pakoras, ,(2) lasagne, Gauranga potatoes, sweet rice, gulab jamuns(I have two left…heh,.. heh), kachoris, (2)samosa,rasa malai,sweet potato savory,stuffed bittermelon(brought by Rocana and his wife Jahnava), muffins, cupcakes, 18 different kinds of rolls, fresh fruit and vegetable plate ensamble with sauces and dips, two kind of sak(with fresh fried curd), puspana rice, etc etc etc…what can I say? You had to be there!

Everybody had at least two plates with two cups for beverages and then it got added on top of that. The kirtans were blissful,everyone got a chance to lead, we did an abhisek of two Kaliya Krsna deities-mine and Yasoda’s. Anubhavananda prabhu composed another wonderful poem about Lord Gauranga and Prabhupada complete with background music. Another nice thing happened-by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and Giri Govardhan and mostly from his grace Yasoda nandan prabhu I received a beautiful govardhan sila on this ocassion. I was so stunned I didnt know what to say because as he knew I have wanted one for such a long time and was just willing to wait for Krsna to manifest in His own sweet way. And He did on Gaura Purnima!! Later on many of the devotees stayed here for some time after most left, and we all just enjoyed each others association.

These festivals are so important to take advantage of. Sometimes devotees think they have to drive so far or sacrifice in some way-but when you DO IT, THEN Krsna gives you His mercy. Devotees came from LA Calif and Oregon and many other far places just to come here and blissfully chant dance and take prasadam together. And I dont think anyone felt like it wasnt worth the endeavor. Many new faces came, some familiar ones were lacking, but as it says, in the sastra–the dogs may bark but the CARAVAN WILL PASS ON. None of us are necessary for the will of God to take place and all of us are free to do as we like within the prison walls of this material world. But those who are fortunate, WILL take to this chanting of the Holy Names of Krsna and Rama and continually congregate with devotees of the Lord.

Hari Bol

Damaghosa das
Sri Sri GauraNitai GiriHari Mandir