By Murlimohan Dasa
We were planning since long to conduct “One Day Padayatra” in Jamshedpur, finally it manifested in full form on 28th of this April 2019.
Suddenly I got a call from Sri Baladeva Dasa from Jamshedpur (Jharkhand) who is one of the active congregation devotee amongst all saying, “Prabhu, I had spoken to the authorities here and had taken permission to conduct regular one day padayatra in Jamshedpur, the devotees here are very cooperative and merciful and has agreed for the same, specially Prema-data Nimai prabhu.” He was also very happy and enthusiastic for conducting it. We decided and finalized the date on phone.
On 26th April I reached Jamshedpur and on 27th myself and Sri Baladeva prabhu visited the route from which the Padayatra would be conducted, and finalized the crowded area routes so that as many people can participate in chanting the holy names. We 4-5 devotees met to finalize the route for One day Padayatra, so that it can turn out to be a wonderful and successful service.
On Sunday 28th evening at 4.00 pm the devotees started gathering slowly in the temple premises as it was announced in the morning Sunday feast class. Finally more than 100 devotees gathered to start the Padayatra followed by banner of ISKCON Jamshedpur Padayatra 2019 in the most front then followed the children dressed in Krsna Balarama and Radharani and behind them a group of matajis dancing in two queues which attracted the common crowd. Behind them were the devotees carrying Deities of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitaichandra, Tulsi Maharani and Srila Prabhupada on their heads as usual. Then behind was kirtana party followed by rest of the devotees, few of them carrying Srila Prabhupada’s pictures. Another set of more than 15 devotees participated in book distribution all the way. Padayatra started sharp at 4.45 pm from the temple.
Route – Started from ISKCON Jamshedpur Temple, IVP road, Anandnagar path 50 mtrs turn right went along side Cable Company up till overhead water tank taking right walked to Golmuri Marg, then TinPlate chowk and headed for Golmuri Chowk Hanuman mandir, later went to Singhbhum District Centre Cooperative Bank limited. We also covered the inner areas of Golmuri market and turned back Cable Company road and finally ended in our ISKCON temple at 8.45 pm. Devotees walked for approx. five kilometers.
Devotees were very much excited for this one day padayatra since they heard its being soon conducted. All the devotees were so cooperative and accepting many various services selflessly.
Throughout devotees were distributing halwa prasadam on the street. Total 12 kg halwa prasadam was distributed. Also the devotees who had taken part in Padayatra were served with lime juice and fruit salad to keep them refresh and strengthen. At every 4 roads devotees made all the public to raise their hands and chant loudly the “hare krsna” maha-mantra. The devotees dancing all the way long attracted vast amount of public which made the traffic go slow and taking darsana of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitaichandra’s dance.
Three main distributions are keys of one day padayatra – Prasadam distribution, Book distribution and the distribution of ‘hare krsna’ maha-mantra. On the way middle the devotees started increasing and more than 175 devotees participated in padayatra later.
At the end after reach, few devotees wanted to share their first ‘One Day Padayatra’ experiences, by the grace of senior local devotees we happily allowed them to speak.
Realizations by devotees of ISKCON JAMSHEDPUR for One day Padayatra
Bhakta Arun kumar –I would like to thank the temple management as well as Murali Mohan Dasa prabhuji without whose blessings this one day padayatra would not have been successful. Previously we used to conduct nagar-sankirtan only in the month of kartik, where only a handful of devotees used to participate but this one day padayatra is a very fresh new concept where we even include their Lordships Sri Sri Gaura Nitaichandra as well as Srila Prabhupada. People of all age groups whether men or women can take part in this one day padayatra. We covered the Golmuri market area and did spread the mercy of the Lord in the form of Prasadam(halwa), harinama and books. All the matajis were very enthusiastically distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books and also had their own dancing team which was attracting the common mass. Many new devotees took part. Last but not the least I would like to request all the devotees to attend the padayatra’s regularly and invite more people.”
Bhaktin Neha – “I would like to thank all the organizers of this one day padayatra. Initially I was thinking that this padayatra will be so difficult because of hot weather conditions and tiresome long walks but once we started to walk everything seemed so comfortable and I did not feel any kind of fatigue .My son was dressed as Lord Balarama, and I was constantly thinking how he could manage such long distance by walking but he actually did walk the whole of Padayatra. The common masses were enjoying and appreciating the whole Padayatra procession.”
Bhakta Narayan Agrawal – Hare Krishna. Murali Mohan Dasa guided us very well and because of him we were able to successfully execute the one day padayatra festival. Devotees were so enthusiastic that it almost felt as if I was attending Ratha Yatra. Whatever small gaps we had in this Padayatra, we will definitely try to cover them up in the next coming padayatras. We will also do special preparations and arrangement for super crowded areas of Jamshedpur like Sakchi, Bistupur. One thing which was noticeable was that those devotees who were very shy, also boldly danced in the front of the Lord. People who always hesitated in spending their money also tried their best to serve the devotees by purchasing water bottles in bulk quantities. It felt as if we were a family. Some general public were amazed to the amount of enthusiasm and energy ISKCON devotees were showing, devotees were playing mridangas non-stop. Some commented “From where do you all get so much energy to dance and sing?” It is all by the mercy of our acaryas and the Lord. Usually in material get-togethers and parties people are paid or are made to intoxicate to dance that to for a very short period of time but here devotees were naturally high, haribol!!!
Krishna Kamini Devi Dasi – “I really enjoyed this Padayatra and it became even more relishable after hearing the glories of Padayatra as was told by Murali Mohan Dasa in the morning lecture. It felt as if we had a one day Ratha Yatra festival. I feel so excited just by thinking that we will be able to get such opportunities every month. This type of programs will surely help us in our advancement in Krsna consciousness.”
Sri Baladev Das – “Hare Krishna. This whole idea of One Day Padayatra in Jamshedpur was conceived few months back when Muralimohan Dasa once told me that Lokanath Swami Maharaja wants that padayatras should be conducted everywhere as much as possible and at that time we were also thinking how to extend our book distribution beyond December Gita Marathon .This one day padayatra seemed to be the most favorable ideas of all other ideas we had .Everybody enjoyed this padayatra and there was prasadam, harinama ,book distribution .We even received donations from the crowd. Some new and old aged devotees were saying that they don’t get time for morning walk and this padayatra gave them the opportunity to walk and keep their body healthy. Lastly I would like to request all the devotees to take part in the coming Padayatras as well as to bring one new person every time they come, this way we can easily double the numbers. I would also like to form a separate group of devotees who will do calling seva so that we don’t miss a single devotee to participate.
Bhaktin Smriti – “I am very grateful to ISKCON Jamshedpur for inviting me to join in this wonderful one day padayatra. As Jayapataka Swami Maharaja rightly says that even if a person disgracefully hears harinaam in a criticizing mood he also gets benefited by the holy name then what to speak of those people who favorable chants it. Usually we go to visit the temple but in padayatras Lord is so merciful that he Himself comes out of the temple to shower His blessings upon the fallen conditioned souls. Being a medical student myself I can say that doctors can only provide physical benefits but the Lord can fulfill all physical, spiritual, emotional, psychological benefits. The Lord is ‘bhavagrahi’, in the material life a successful doctor means how much score we secured in his exams, how many patients he treated and earned money but in spiritual life we count how many people we approached and preached the message of godhead, because the Lord is full in all opulence. Nothing can attract the Lord except pure devotional service.”
Finally full meal prasadam was served to all participants.
We have covered 4 media news papers like Dainik Jagaran Jamshedpur, Dainik Bhaskar, Yuva, etc – pictures attached in the file.
I am so thankful and in debt to all the devotees of Jamshedpur for giving such a big attendance, especially thanking to senior devotees like Sridama Govinda prabhu (president) and Prema-data Nimai prabhu (temple in charge). It was only by their mercy and grace this Padayatra went smooth and successful, hence many fallen souls were benefited.
I was thinking that 500 years back Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited here in Jharikhand and blessed all of them here by distributing highest love in the form of the holy names. Hence, here was such a big crowd gathered for Padayatra. By their huge presence of Jamshedpur devotees, I really felt blessed by them. See, how Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is cleverly distributing His mercy directly and indirectly to all fallen souls.
I would like to thanks to following devotees by whose efforts this one day padayatra was inaugurated and conducted successfully – Prema-data Nimai Dasa (temple in charge), Sri Baladeva Dasa, Bhakta Arun kumar, Bhakta Narayan Agarwal, Bhakta Amit, Bhakta Mayank, Bhakta Chandi Jana, Bhadra Revati mataji and Bhaktin Isha mataji. After their experience they desired to conduct such Padayatras every month.
