By Damodharlila Dasa (Maharastra padayatra leader)
In Katika month we padayatris had joined Vraja Mandal parikrama, so the padayatra halted at Balegaon in Umri Taluka, Nanded District. Few devotees stayed back to take care of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar and the oxen. So in the village there was a devotee family named Mr Arvind Deshmukh and his wife Adhiti Sundari mataji initiated disciple of our spiritual master Lokanath Maharaja and their daughter also got initiated at Govardhan festival organized in honor of silver jubilee of initiation of our beloved spiritual master . They were very happy when the heard they padayatra would stay in their village and they would get the opportunity to serve them. They both had heard the glories of padayatra so they were very eager to serve padayatris and have padayatra in their village.
They served Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar and the oxen and the padayatris very nicely. The padayatris who stayed back did daily sankirtana and daily evening preaching program for the villagers. So every day about 100-150 villagers attended Damodharastakam and offered lamp to Lord Damodhar.
Every day 20-30 villages attended mangal arati and chanted the holy name with the padayatris. So more than one month Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar stayed in this village. It was all their causeless mercy They selected this village to stay and people started performing sankirtana and aratis at their houses and on streets also. The life of villagers changed in one month.
Now it was time for us padayatris to move ahead in their preaching mission. All the villagers were sad when they heard this news that Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar would leave. But whatever happens the preaching should go on.
So on November 12th was farewell program for us. The villagers had organized a big celebration. They beautifully decorated the chariot with flowers. It felt like it was Diwali celebration. All the villagers were busy serving.
Sundar Krishna Dasa president of ISKCON Latur had come for the celebration. He addressed all the assembled villagers to continue their devotional services even after the padayatris leave. He said Their Lordships had Themselves come teach them Krsna consciousness. So they should continue that will please the Lord.
We had arranged a pushpa abhishek of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar and also invited the villagers to perform abhishek. Then there was a grand sankirtana followed by prasadam for everyone. I also addressed them that tomorrow we will be leaving for our next destination so take Bhagavad Gita this spiritual book will guide you in your spiritual journey. So many villagers took Bhagavad Gita. They were sad that Lord was leaving but happy that they all got a gate way to devotional life.
The day we were leaving all the villagers assembled and with tears in their eyes about 150 Prabhuji Mataji walked from Blegaon to the other village. Children also cried as now dancing in kirtana and jumping around the chariot was their daily program and prasadam also attracted them daily.
All the matajis said next time if you go for any yatra please leave Their Lordships in our village, we will take nice care of them. Please come to our village as soon as you can. And with heavy hearts they paid obeisances and said bye to all of us.
Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar had stolen their hearts and also villagers are very simple they easily take up spiritual life and respect saints. They said they were fortunate they could serve the saints.
It’s a saying in Marathi
Sadhu santa yeti ghara tochi diwadi dassra
Meaning
The day when saints comes to house that day is equivalent to Diwali and Dasera.
So indeed they celebrated spiritual Diwali offering lamps to Lord Damodhar
Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar ki jai
