The Festival in Wales

I am behind in my writing of the blogs and news events. But traveling and the demands of a two day seminar in front of some very important people in Gloucester has consumed me. I always focus on the task at hand I am terrible at multitasking. So it is a bit late but here is the sequel to the Miracle Hari Nama Sankirtana which is the program that followed in the hall in Aberystwyth Wales. I will do the blog on the 2 day seminar in a couple of days after I do the story about our program at the college in Wales. Pictures as always are on the Face Book Page.

After an ecstatic Hari Nama by the Grace of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gaura Govinda Maharaja we had a fabulous Program in a Hall in Aberystwyth Wales by the Grace of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaja and the dedicated service and devotion of His disciples. The two young teenage girls from the Hari Nama Sankirtana, Sophie and her friend, came to join us at the program. Sophie was genuinely interested and her friend was along for the ride. Mostly there was initiated devotees there at the hall about 20 or so and then there was Sophie and about 5 other guests. Joe and a friend, one married couple, and a young Indian gentleman. We chanted the invocation prayers and then the Maha Mantra. I tell everyone what the Chanting is about. What the meaning of the mantra is and why it is so auspicious to chant it. Then I engage everyone in a chanting session in which we give everyone a turn at leading the Kirtan. All of the devotees enthusiastically lead as their turn comes. The guests do their best but they are all loving it. When it is Sophies turn she is reluctant to start. Karuna Didi goes over and turns on her motherly charm and chants along with the young lady giving her support. Sophie comes through and sings the mantra sweetly with a smile on her face. Her friend is giggling too hard to do it on her own so she chants it with Sophie. Joe does and admirable turn and his friend does as well. The Indian gentleman also chants with confidence. As each guest completes their turn at chanting the lead the devotees clap and cheer with enthusiasm the result is smiles and happiness all around. There is a group of three older devotee men in the back, Daruka, Radha Raman and the 3rd guy I cannot remember his name. They all joke about a bit and each in his turn takes the lead in the chanting. They are all having fun and everyone is having a lot fun watching them and hearing them. At the end of the Kirtan there is applause, cheers and laughter. I delightfully tell everyone that they are significantly happier now then they were before the Kirtan. Everyone agrees including the guests. We were all having fun and that what it is all about. After all Srila Prabhupada said Chant Hare Krsna and be Happy. And so we were. I talk a little about how we are not these bodies and that we are eternal spiritual beings. How in the spiritual world we will always be happily singing and dancing like this. Everyone receives the information joyfully. Now it is time for a really big Kirtan. I get everybody up we move back the chairs and we sing and dance in a circle. Then run back and forth and then jump up and down with abandon. All the while chanting and roaring the holy name. Joy and bliss abound, the room is electric with excitement. Sophie gets right into it. She is daning in the circle running back and forth and even jumping up and down. To think that just a couple of hours ago she was just another teenager on the streets of a town in Wales and now by the mercy of Guru and Gouranga she was drowning in the ocean of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Sankirtana movement. There is no end to the mercy of the Lord. After quite some time I end the kirtan everyone applauds and shouts loudly Jai Hari Bol. I loudly recite the Jaya dhvani Prayers it is pure bliss. I am praying that it can be like this everyday.

Then their was prasad Sophie and her friend take the prasad with them and take another book and promise to share the chanting with family and friends. They walk out the door with smiles on their faces and it is clear from the look in their eyes that Sophie has had a life changing experience. I make sure that she gives her email address to Lalit Didi who has arranged the program with her sister Malini and their friend Jagat Mohini. They have done a smashing good job I cannot offer them enough praise for their excellent service. They are dedicated disciples of their Guru Maharaja Srila Bhakti Vedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja and their love and dedication to his mission of spreading the holy name around to every town and village and to distribute his books is clearly a priority in their lives no matter what else they have to do for the maintenance of their families. The prasadam feast is an excellent pot luck arrangement with all the ladies chipping in some wonderful preparations. The feast is thoroughly enjoyed by all especially the guests. Everyone takes seconds. Joe admits that if he could eat this good vegetarian food everyday he could give up eating meat very easily.

It is the standard formula for transcendental magic Chanting, Dancing, and Feasting. It is given to us by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu 5oo hundred years ago and brought to the western world by Srila A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It is being propagated allover the world by his diksha and siksha disciples foremost of which is Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Goswami Maharaja. This time tested method is a proven formula for success in spiritual life. The program here today is just one more proof of its effectiveness. All Glories to this transcendental formula for the benefit of all animated entities in the universe. Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya! Srila Gurudeva Ki Jaya! Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Ki Jaya! Gaura Premanandi Hari Hari Bol!!!!!!!!!!