By Damodharlila Dasa (Padayatra leader)
World holy name week was from Septemeber 10 to 23 September. We all celebrated it in different villages of Osmanabad district. We regularly perform sankirtana daily but in these days of world holy name week we explained the importance of chanting the holy name in our every public presentation. On September 14 we celebrated Radhastami festival at Karmala at house of Mr Shinde. In this area there is lockdown, so at many places we did not get accommodation. But Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar sends us help. We had two house programs in this village.
On 16 September we reached village named Patre. As All India padayatra had visted and stayed in this village. The villagers were aware of padayatra party. They happily welcomed us. As I was in All India padayatra people recognized me and helped us in everything. Many people took part in sankirtana.
18 September we were at Nanaj we distributed full set of Srimad Bhagavatam and did two house programs. 21 September we reached at Ita. My sister stays here, her family had arranged a nice welcome ceremony. First garland was offered to Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar and Srila Prabhupada and then to all padayatris. The villagers to have so many saints in their village. And immediately after that our sankirtana started. Many people from nearby villages had joined. We invited in 5 different houses for sankirtana. Villagers are very simple people, they we requesting us to bring Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar to their house. They would also tell us to move all around their house perfoming sankirtana. Its their believe that if saintly people move in the house, happiness knocks the door.
Next day my sister had invited all of us for prasadam so as it was raining heavily the whole day we performed sankirtana at her house and spoke about the glories of the holy name. Also in this village inlaws of one of our God brother stay, so we were invite there also as All India padayatra had also visited them. But as All India Padayatra did not stay there they requested us to stay at their house and perfrom sankirtana. So we stayed honoring their words.
Next day we went in the village for nagar sankirtana, so the leader of the village welcomed us again and wanted to offere garland to me but I said you please offere garland to Srila Prabhupada he is our actual leader. And this year is his 125th birthday, its all due to his efforst we are in devotional life or we would also be wasting life. So the leader of village offered garland to Srila Prabhupada. And honored Srila prabhupada with maharstian pagadi.
Next days mangal arti about 30 people had joined I was really shocked. My mother as she got the news she also came. They all got up at 3 am and were ready before the chariot before us. It was very inspring. We gave them chanting beads and they attended the whole morning program and honored prasadam with us. Thus we celebrated the holy name festival chanting, dancing and distributing books on the streets.
Book distribution score
Small books-779
Big Books-17
Mahabig books-128
Total books distributed were 924
Drona Prasad distributed-2000
Full plate prasadam distributed-500
Chanting beads distributed-150
