By Purnanandi Radha Devi Dasi (Preacher ISKCON Greater Noida)
ISKCON Greater Noida has successfully completed its first one-day Vaishnavi padayatra.
Since a Vaishnavi padayatra was first held in Amravati, Maharashtra, in 2019 I have had a strong desire to conduct a padayatra in Greater Noida. But two years passed when due to the coronavirus pandemic it could not happen. While discussing with ISKCON Amravati’s Jayabhadra Devi Dasi she said that on the auspicious occasion of our spiritual master Lokanath Maharaja’s seventy-fifth Vyasa-puja, we are planning to offer seventy-five Vaishnavi padayatras at his lotus feet. It was then that with the help of Tulsi Puja Devi Dasi and Sriman Murli Vadan Dasa, and having gained permission and taken guidance from our temple president, Atul Krishna Dasa, I started organizing padayatra and finalizing its location.
On April 27, 2024, the dreamed of Vaishnavi padayatra took place. Padayatra began from Jagannath temple Beta-1 where it was inaugurated by Pragya Pathak Sharma, BJP Noida state executive member. Before departing we offered arati to Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar and prayed to Them for a successful padayatra and a coconut was broken for auspiciousness. With all the Vaishnavis very nicely dressed in yellow-coloured saris and gopi dress we then walked from the temple with our banner in front displaying the Hare Krishna maha mantra. Behind the banner came our kirtan team singing and playing kartal and mridanga.
The participants were purely Vaishnavis throughout the almost 5km walk, which included three stops where Gaur-Nitai and Krishna-Balaram were greeted by the local residents. The padayatris were served with water, juices, fruits and refreshment snacks at all these welcome points. The yatra route was chosen with utmost care so that the Vaishnavis and other road users would not face any difficulties.
From Omaxe Mall we proceeded towards Delta-2 where the Vaishnavis performed a street play, Harinama ki Mahima, and from there we moved towards Aster Public School. Then we were on the last stage of the yatra to our final stop near ATS Dolce where refreshments were distributed, after which we headed for our ISKCON centre at Zeta-1. By now everyone’s enthusiasm was at its peak. On reaching the preaching centre prabhujis had made arrangements for prasadam to be served to all the padayatris.
This padayatra was a remarkable occasion. It is going to leave an impact on our lives which will inspire us to move ahead in devotion. As Maharaja always says “utsava priya manva,” and from utsav comes utsaha and we all had that realization. We came together to make the event successful. As it was a Vaishnavi padayatra all the duties were performed by the Devi Dasis. Whether it was harinama sankirtan, playing mridanga or kartal, controlling the crowd, distributing pamphlets and books or collecting donations, everything was done by Vaishnavis only and with full enthusiasm.
Total devotees present: 250+
Total donation collection during event: 6640/-
Books distributed: 200 Srila Prabhupada books.
Realizations
- Tulsi Puja Devi Dasi: With the benevolent grace of Srila Prabhupada and our revered Guru Maharaja, the inaugural Mahila Padayatra planned by ISKCON Greater Noida stands as a monumental stride, igniting the fervour for the propagation of Srila Prabhupada’s divine movement.
In the sacred verses of the Shrimad Bhagavad-gita, the Lord magnanimously proclaims that regardless of gender or caste, be it woman, vaishya or sudra, any soul can devoutly engage in the worship of the Supreme. This padayatra eloquently attests to the unwavering devotion of women, demonstrating that mothers possess the innate ability to render heartfelt bhakti unto the Lord.
Every sentient being is inherently entitled to embark upon the path of bhakti, and this padayatra exemplifies the unity and devotion of mothers, who fervently serve Guru Gauranga through their selfless acts of devotion.
Vaishnavis zealously engage in various devotional services such as managing crowd, distribution of books and flyers, collection of donations and fervent participation in the melodic hymns of kirtan kartal. This resounding testament unequivocally affirms that mothers are indomitably vested with the sacred duty of serving the Lord.
With the harmonious collaboration of Purnanandi Radha Devi Dasi and fellow devotees, this padayatra reverberates with triumphant success.
- Kanhai Priya Devi Dasi: With the grace of Srila Prabhupada and Guru Maharaja the first Mahila padayatra organized by ISKCON Greater Noida is a big step which inspires the propagation of Srila Prabhupada’s movement. Every kind of living being has the right to bhakti. This padayatra shows that mothers can unite and please Guru and Gauranga by their devotional services. Like men mothers can also serve the Lord enthusiastically, like the distribution of prasad, distribution of books, service of kirtan kartal, etc. This proves that mothers cannot be deprived of the service of the Lord. With the cooperation of Purnanandi Radha Devi Dasi and other devotees this padayatra was successful. We pray to Guru and Gauranga that such programmes continue to be organized in the future as well.
- Anadi Gopi Devi Dasi: It was a very pleasant surprise for all of us when Purnanandi Devi Dasi announced the first Vaishnavi padayatra to commemorate the seventy-fifth Vyasa-puja of our spiritual master, Lokanath Maharaja. This padayatra was dedicated to our Guru Maharaja as it is very dear to his heart. All the devotees were very happy to hear about it. It seemed that some revolution was going to happen, that some historic event was going to happen today. There was an inner, beautiful smile on everyone’s face and a different kind of enthusiasm. Kirtan, dance, street drama, prasadam, every service showing the effort to please Guru Maharaja. It seemed that this padayatra would continue like this.
At the end of the padayatra it felt as if we had achieved something different today. We gained a confidence that women can also do anything to please our dear Guru Maharaja. Special thanks to Purnanandi Radha for this women empowerment and successful arrangement of this padayatra.
- Madhav Kanta Devi Dasi: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Himself made a pilgrimage to South India. Srila Prabhupada used to encourage padayatra very much. Even in his last moments, he wanted to go on the Govardhan yatra and he had entrusted the responsibility of padayatra to our beloved Guru Maharaja, most revered Lokanath Maharaja. The purpose of the padayatra is to connect with the public and spread Krishna consciousness among the people of every section of the society by roaming from street to street.
All the devotees of Greater Noida participated in it with great enthusiasm, full devotion and with all their strength. Different services were given to all the Devi Dasis, in which our service was to distribute Prabhupada’s books. Many fallen souls are unable to even find time to go to the temple; to such people Lord Nitai-Gaurachandra Himself came and gave darshan.
Our team distributed about 150 of Prabhupada’s books, which is a big achievement in itself. There were also small girls in our team who were actively supporting Prabhupada’s movement under the guidance of their mothers with great enthusiasm. Prabhupada says that books are the basis. A person who once reads Prabhupada’s books definitely becomes imbued with Krishna consciousness.
This padayatra was very successful; instead of mridanga women played kartal and performed kirtan, women were the priests, and women staged the street drama which was greatly appreciated by the people. The full credit for the success of this padayatra goes to Purnanandi Radha Devi Dasi. It was only because of her tireless efforts that we all were able to participate in this journey under her guidance. Devi Dasi took care of every smallest service, finalized the smallest thing and also took care of the convenience of the mothers. Arrangements for water and snacks were made at various places. By organizing Guru Maharaja’s most beloved padayatra, Devi Dasi gave an opportunity to the fallen disciples like us to participate in the birthday greetings of Guru Maharaja. We will be very indebted to her for that.
Hari Katha Premi Devi Dasi: I feel blessed and obliged to be a part of the first Vaishnavi padayatra organized by ISKCON Greater Noida. I am very grateful to Purnanandi Radha Devi Dasi for giving me the service opportunity of crowd control in this padayatra. Though it’s not an easy task, our team tried our best and we really enjoyed this service. All the Devi Dasis were fully engrossed in singing and dancing during the yatra with snacks prasadam in between to keep everyone energetic and enthusiastic.
It was really nice to see all the services being done by Devi Dasis, like pujari service, kirtan, instruments, etc. I was thinking that this padayatra should become yearly, and that too on Women’s Day, and as we began the yatra the same thing was announced by Purnanandi Radha.
I offer my sincere prayers on to the lotus feet of Sri Sri Gaur Natraj Dayal Nitai to bless us and empower us so that we continue this padayatra every year with the same enthusiasm and fulfil the desire of our spiritual master.
- Anand Mohani Devi Dasi: ISKCON Greater Noida organized its first Vaishnavi padayatra on April 27, 2024, under the guidance of Purnanandi Radha Devi Dasi. The yatra started from Jagannath temple Beta-1 to ISKCON Greater Noida. All the Vaishnavis did their services with full dedication, in which I got the service of donation collection. Children made some boxes for donation collection and I tried my best.
So many residents on the way offered arati to Sri Sri Gaur-Nitai deities. Delicious prasadam was distributed there for everyone. It was a really nice padayatra.
Anang Sundari Devi Dasi: Hare Krishna. I would like to express my gratitude to all the Devi Dasis for their enthusiastic participation in this padayatra. I am eager to share my realizations from the padayatra with you. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Jayabhadra Devi Dasi for dedicating her valuable time to inspire us for this padayatra. She organized two meetings with us, offering guidance and motivation in every way possible. I also want to express my profound appreciation to Purnanandi Radha Devi Dasi. We gathered insights from many devotees post padayatra, and the unanimous sentiment was immense enjoyment and admiration for women’s padayatra of this calibre. This success is attributed to the tireless efforts of many devotees. While the preparations for the padayatra were going on there were a lot of challenges as to how the padayatra would be completed smoothly.
But when the padayatra was completed, there was divine satisfaction that we all felt by this Vaishnavi padayatra. We organised this padayatra for the happiness of Guru Maharaja and Srila Prabhupada.
Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Mahaprabhu and then Lokanath Maharaja did padayatra in order to serve Srila Prabhupada. We were very happy that all the Vaishnavis also did the padayatra.
Generally, they do not get an opportunity to perform in temple premises or in any other occasion, but by this padayatra all were so happy on getting the opportunity to perform kirtan. I have a humble request to devotees to organize more and more padayatras.
