By Acarya dasa, (All India Padayatra leader)
We padayatris reached Vrindavan dhama on October 6, 2022. There was a grand welcome arranged by ISKCON’s Krishna-Balaram temple devotees and other devotees gathered for Vraja-mandal Parikrama. For the parikramakaris, it is a great event because the utsava deities of Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar lead the parikrama. The devotees welcomed Their Lordships in their hearts. Sankirtan was going on loudly and they were dancing for the pleasure of Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar. The chariot was then parked in the temple courtyard and our utsava deities moved to head the parade as parikrama began.
A few padayatris remained at the temple to take care of Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar and our oxen were shifted to the temple goshala. Our days in the dhama started with mangal arati of Nitai-Gaurasundar and as the temple hall was full in Kartik month, many devotees joined us. When anyone would enter the temple, they would first get darshan of Their Lordships.
On October 14, our padayatra moved towards Govardhan. As it was the fiftieth anniversary of the initiation of our spiritual master, Lokanath Maharaja, it was decided that Srila Prabhupada’s last desire of going to Govardhan on a bullock cart would be fulfilled by Maharaja. He himself drove the chariot with Srila Prabhupada on it and it was a wonderful scene as we all surrounded the ratha having the rare darshan of Maharaja, Srila Prabhupada and Their Lordships on the ratha. Kirtan was going on continuously. There were two chariots, Noida Padayatra and our All India Padayatra. About 2000 devotees were in the procession and when the rathas reached Govardhan everyone joined the anniversary celebration. The chariots were parked near the programme pandal so that visitors would have darshan of Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar. After five days of festivities, we returned with our chariot to the Krishna-Balaram temple.
In Kartik all devotees visit Vrindavan and our padayatra moves continuously all over India so many devotees come across padayatra. As they again come to Vrindavan, the devotees can have Their Lordships’ darshan. It’s like a get together of devotees with Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar. In the evenings the padayatris filled the atmosphere with their ecstatic kirtan and the youngsters coming to the temple danced in sankirtan, the padayatris inspiring each one. Every evening the temple courtyard was filled with youths dancing on the holy name.
Matajis in the temple always make beautiful garlands for Their Lordships, so the whole month of Kartik They have marvellous garlands – on the other hand, when we are on padayatra we have to manage with simple garlands. There is also nice bhoga for one month. It’s as if Nitai-Gaurasundar are at home for holidays and get rejuvenated to resume Their preaching journey.
The padayatris who stay back from parikrama serving Them also have the association of senior devotees and maharajas and a one-month dhamavasa in Kartik. New people who come to the temple feel attracted by the darshan of Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar – they have never seen such deities. They ask, “Who are They? Where is this ratha going?” And then padayatris explain to them about padayatra.
Thus, one month’s stay in the Krishna-Balaram temple is a wonderful time for padayatris.
