The 14th of April this year was Rama Naumi and marked the 33rd anniversary of Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir in Vrindavan. The devotees organized a very ecstatic festival this year that was relished by one and all.

For one week in advance different senior devotees and sannyasis were giving Rama Katha every evening. Then the evening before Rama Naumi, a wonderful procession was taken out with all the utsava vigrahas, including Srila Prabhupada’s. They were all riding in ornately carved teak wood palaquins accompanied by an enthusiastic kirtan and all the local devotees. After leaving the front gate, They came to the Information Center and Security Office where there was a nice reception with artika and bhoga offering. Continuing on down the parikrama path, They passed under the grand shady canopy of the bakula tree and came in front of the guesthouse where tables were set up for Them to rest while artika and bhoga offering was made. The devotees were dancing in ecstasy to be able to accompany Their Lordships on Their tour of the campus. At every reception point, the devotees who served in that place were distributing prasad to one and all.

From the guesthouse, Their Lorships continued around the parikrama and out the front gate. They again entered the gate of the Gurukula and proceeded to four altars set up in the garden. The boys performed kirtan and one of them led wonderful bhajans while some of the other boys distributed nimbu pani to all the guests, which was very welcome since the weather had turned quite warm.

Finally the procession was taken to the MVT garden where a large stage had been set up to receive Them. Here it became very relishable for all the resident devotees. Usually nowadays we have to jostle with the crowds to take darshan of the Deities. But here in a very beautiful garden, all the devotees were basking in the merciful darshan of Their worshipable Lords in a very intimate way. Words cannot convey the happiness we all felt having Them with us in this way.

Just as stars began to appear in the sky a wonderful artika ceremony was performed in these lovely surroundings. Just the resident devotees and their Lords under the canopy of stars. I was looking for the moon and finally discoverd that the asthami half moon was directly overhead smiling down on the ecstatic scene.

As a delicious feast was served to all the devotees, Their Lordships continued back to Their temple stopping by the kitchen where the kitchen devotees received Them.

The following day, there was amazing colorful flower decorations sponsored by our very dear T.K. Chaudhury. Not only the Deities got phula bangalows, flower palaces, but overhead of the darshan mandap were laces of sweet scented jasimines. The whole temple room was filled with divine fragrance.

After Sringara Darshan and seeing Their Lordships in Their brand new gorgeous outfits, Dhananjaya, as Master of Ceremonies, called on the different senior devotees who had been present to give their descriptions of the opening ceremonies in 1975. Some who had not been there for the opening told all about the trials and tribulations of the devotees trying to get Srila Prabhupada’s most wonderful temple built. For the younger devotees, these descriptions provided a transcendental window to the beginning days of our temple.

Then there was the event we had all been waiting for. Simultaneous abhishek of the three sets of Deities. This only happens once a year at this time. Purnachandra Prabhu reminded me that I had started this triple abhisheka back in my time as Temple President. The devotees very peacefully sat in the temple room with Aindra leading kirtana and taking darshan of the abhisheka. Everyone’s heart was melting in ecstasy and milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, and so many auspicious things were lovingly poured over Their Lordships.

Finally there was a wonderful bhoga offering and aratika at noon. Then all the devotees reassembled in the temple room for a tasty feast.

For afternoon darshan, the girls who make the flower garlands had prepared exquisite flower dresses for the three sets of Deities. No one could move from the temple room seeing the beautiful scene. I was supposed to give a class on the connections of Rama Lila with Braja, but almost cancelled as no one wanted to leave this extraordinary darshan. But finally the devotees assembled to hear the interesting connections of Rama Lila and Braja Lila.

Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir ki jaya!
Sri Sri Nitai Gaursundar ki jaya!
Sri Sri Krishna Balarama ki jaya!
Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundara Lalita Vishaka ki jaya!
Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

In service of Srimati Vrinda Devi,
Deena Bandhu dasa