From November 8 to 15 Padayatra India was based at the ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Puri . It is a very beautiful place located on the beach, just four kilometers from the samadhi of Haridas Thakur. During this time we received the visit of four sannyasis : Lokanatha Swami, Radha Raman Swami, Bhakti Rasamrita Swami and Bhaktiwinod Swami , who took turn giving lectures. As they were staying in the Royal Hotel two kilometers from us, we had many very inspiring meetings with them, either at their place or ours. We really appreciated their invaluable personal contact and the blessings they showered upon us.
On November 16th the Padayatra India party, accompanied by Lokanath Maharaja, left the Bhaktivedanta Ashram. We walked on the seashore towards the ISKCON’s Puri temple, all the while doing kirtana. In the middle of the way from the Bhaktivedanta Ashram and the ISKCON’s Puri temple we stopped at the hotel where the members of the GBC lived. There Maharaja and some members of the GBC made a presentation of Padayatra India. After relishing nice prasadam at the ISKCON Puri temple we went to the Gundica temple. Padayatris stayed at the Sri Caitanya Candra Matha located across the southern wall of the Gundica temple. The next day we arrived at the ISKCON’s temple in Danda Bhanga. It is the place where Lord Nityananda broke Lord Caitanya’s danda and where Lord Caitanya got the darsana of Kakreshar Mahadev. The following day, walking in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya, we went to the temple of Sakshi Gopal, but because of my white skin, I was not allowed in the temple.
During the month of Kartika five devotees from Padayatra India, including our leader Acarya Dasa, travelled with the Padayatra Odisha party from Bhubaneswar, while the others went to Vrindavana to participate in the annual Vraja Mandala Parikrama. After Odisha our party continued to Andhra Pradesh and is now heading towards Hyderabad.