In his Nectar of Devotion Srila Prabhupada writes about Kartik: “The execution of devotional service during the month of Kartik (Oct-Nov) is especially recommended to be performed in Mathura. This system is still followed by many devotees. They go to Vrindavan or Mathura and stay there during the month of Kartik, specifically to perform devotional service.”
Srila Rupa Goswami extols the Damodara (Kartik) month in his Mathura Mahatyam: “To they who worship Krishna in Vrindavan, the Lord gives them their original spiritual forms. The perfect atonement to purify the sins of a lifetime is to worship Lord Damodara in Vrindavan during Kartik. The month of Kartik spent in Vrindavan brings the supreme destination.”
Kartik Festival Schedule
| 17 October | Kartik begins - Sharad Purnima (full moon kheer prasadam will be served the next morning). |
| 24 October | Bahulastami - Midnight bathing at Radha Kunda - Bus leaves ISKCON at 10pm, please register at the Information Centre. |
| 1 November | Diwali |
| 2 Novenber | Go Puja and Govardhana Festival. |
| 3 November | Govardhana Parikrama - Bus leaves ISKCON at 5:30am, please register at the Information Centre. |
| 4 November | Vrindavan Parikrama with Srila Prabhupada at 4:30pm. |
| 5 November | Srila Prabhpada’s Disappearance Day Festival. |
| 9 November | Gopastami |
Cultural Programs
There will be a variety of wonderful plays, dramas, music and chanting slokas from the scriptures. For detailed schedule please see notice board at the Information Centre.
Mini Market
For your devotional needs we will have a mini-market in the Krishna Balaram Land, offering a variety of items. The market will be open from 22 October to 10 Novemebr 2005.
Parikramas and Vraja Darshan Tours
Krishna Balaram Mandir has arranged special darshans and parikramas around Vraja. Those devotees who are not going on the Vraja Mandala Parikrama can take advantage of these special darshans and parikramas lead by senior devotees. Vraja darshan is a quick Vraja tour on our Vraja darshan bus,. specific and special tours can also be arranged, catering for group requests. For further inquiries please contact the Information Centre.
H.G. Deena Bandhu Prabhu and other senior devotees will be leading a series of Parikramas during the month of Kartik for the pleasure of the devotees. Please book your tickets in advance from the Information Centre for a donation of Rs.180. The buses will leave from the temple main gate at 7:00am, breakfast will be served on the way and you will return in time for lunch Prasadam. See the table below for details.
| 17 October | Giriraja (Govardhana Hill) Parikrama |
| 19 October | Madhuvan |
| 21 October | Radha Kunda |
| 22 October | Radha Braja Mohan (Narottama Dasa App.) |
| 23 October | Javat - Ter Kadamba |
| 24 October | Varsana Night - Radha Kunda Snana |
| 27 October | Badrinath |
| 28 October | Ekadasi - Vrindavan Parikrama |
| 30 October | Nandagram |
| 31 October | Kamavan |
| 1 November | Diwali Gokula |
| 2 November | Govardhana Puja |
| 3 November | Giriraja (Govardhana Hill) Parikrama |
| 4 November | Sankirtan Procession with Srila Prabhupada |
| 6 November | Rama Ghat and Chir Haran Ghat |
| 12 November | All night Kirtan at Vrinda Kunda |
| 13 November | Vrinda Kunda Festival |
Vraja Mandala Parikrama
The lotus of Braja Mandala resembles the planet Goloka Vrindavan in the spiritual sky. There are twelve forests, known as vans, and twenty- four groves, known as upavans. The twelve forests are Madhuvan, Talavan, Kumudvan, Bahulavan, Kamavan, Khadiravan, Vrindavan, Bhadravan, Bhandiravan, Belvan, Lohavan, and Mahavan. The twenty-four groves are Gokul, Govardhan, Barsana, Nandagram, Sanket, Paramadra, Aring, Sessai, Mat,8 Uchagram, Kelvan, Sri Kund, Gandharvavan, Parsoli, Bilchhu, Bacchavan, Adibadri, Karahla, Ajnokh, Pisaya, Kokilavan, Dadhigram, Kotvan, and Raval.
All of these places share in Lord Krishna’s absolute nature. If the pilgrim can visit at least one of them in the proper spirit, he receives the benefit of visiting them all. In fact, the whole Mathura-Vrindavan region is so spiritually powerful that the mere desire to go there is liberating. “If a man decides in his mind, ‘I will go live in Mathura’, he will be freed from the wheel of samsara simply by having such thoughts.” (Mathura Mahatmya)
The great Rupa Goswami described Braja as a lotus: When it blooms fully, the different sites of Krishna ’s pastimes appear to be distant from one another. But after sunset, the lotus contracts, and the places come closer together to facilitate the meeting of Radha with Krishna . Such is the geodetic vision of a pure devotee.
Since 1986, the Vraja Mandala Parikrama has been a major highlight in Sri Vrindavan Dhama. This one-month tour offers a special opportunity to visit many holy tirthas of Vraja. Accompanied by expert guides, devotees walk along the same route taken by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu when He visited Sri Vrindavan Dhama.
Vraja Mandala Parikrama Tentative Schedule
| Mon 17 October | Vrindavan Parikrama | Sharad Purnima - Istagosthi |
| Tue 18 | Vrindavan to Mathura | |
| Wed 19 | Mathura Parikrama | |
| Thu 20 | Mathura to Madhuvan | |
| Fri 21 | Madhuvan to Santanukund | |
| Sat 22 | Santanukund to Radha Kunda | |
| Sun23 | Radha Kunda | Giriraja Parikrama |
| Mon 24 | Radha Kunda | Radha Kunda Parikrama
Bahulastami - Midnight bathing |
| Tue 25 | Radha Kunda to Deeg | |
| Wed 26 | Deeg to Badrinath | |
| Thu 27 | Badrinath Darshan | Darshan |
| Fri 28 | Badrinath to Kedarnath | Rama Ekadasi |
| Sat 29 | Kedarnath to Kamavan | |
| Sun 30 | Kamavan | Interior Parikrama |
| Mon 31 | Kamavan | Exterior Parikrama |
| Tue 1 November | Kamavan | |
| Wed 2 | Kamavan to Varsana | Deepavali |
| Thu 3 | Varsana | Govardhana Puja |
| Fri 4 | Varsana to Nandagram | |
| Sat 5 | Nandagram (visit Vrindavan by bus) | Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day |
| Sun 6 | Nandagram to Kokilavan | |
| Mon 7 | Kokilavan to Sheshashayi | |
| Tue 8 | Sheshashayi to Shergarh | |
| Wed 9 | Shergarh to Chirghat | |
| Thu 10 | Chirghat to Mat | |
| Fri 11 | Mat to Manasarovar | |
| Sat 12 | Manasarovar to Dauji, via Lohavan | Utthana Ekadasi |
| Sun 13 | Dauji to Brahmand Ghat | |
| Mon 14 | Brahmand Ghat to Raval | |
| Tue 15 | Raval to Mathura - Vishramghat | Kartik Purnima |
