By Dayal Gopal dasa (Nepal Padayatra leader)
On the auspicious day of Padmini Ekadashi, July 29, 2023, the Nepal Padayatra celebrated with a festival at the beautiful village of Laxmipur in the Indian state of Bihar.
We had planned to walk east to west across southern Nepal, but the road was difficult due to the rainy season and it was not possible to progress with a bullock cart. If we’d had a tractor we would have remained on course in Nepal, but in the event decided to go via Bihar.
We headed south to the Sikta border crossing near Birganj city and from there entered India. After walking for about 5km we came upon Laxmipur, where the villagers welcomed our Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar and Srila Prabhupada. People there were very favourable and some of the youths even knew about ISKCON so were ready to help us. There is a Siva temple in the village and the priest serving there had been in Vrindavan for many years and was also extremely cooperative.
On Padmini day – fasting on which bestows merit equal to that gained by fasting on all other ekadashis – we had a discussion with the villagers who told us they would be honoured to carry the chariot to a celebration that evening. The local people, especially the youths, managed everything from inviting the villagers to helping arrange the programme. In the evening we took the chariot and bullock cart to the village centre near an Arya Samaj (19th century Hindu reform movement) mandir. About 300 people attended the event, many taking turns to carry the chariot.
The programme started at 8pm as we uncovered the deities and dressed Them. When the garlanding, decoration and everything was done the darshan began for everyone. Following kirtan we showed the congregation videos about padayatra. Finally, the villagers had prepared a fruit salad, so we offered the bhoga and distributed the maha prasadam. It was a wonderful occasion during which we all experienced transcendence and various forms of happiness. Some of the youths who contributed to the programme wanted to continue their spiritual practice, so we suggested they chant and read the Bhagavad-gita, which several of them took.
We are four padayatris, two regular padayatris and two who had joined us from the Kathmandu temple. It’s such a divine experience to have Nitai-Gaurasundar with us, a feeling of completeness and satisfaction. Please bless us so we can serve Their Lordships nicely and by Their mercy our preaching goes wonderfully, which will please guru and Gauranga.
Srila Prabhupada ki jai.
