Kumbha Mela Nectar
By Deena Bandhu Dasa

The Police officer in charge (SHO) of Sector 6 where our camp is located told us today that there is no rush anywhere in the Mela like at our ISKCON Camp. I also walked up the street last night and saw myself that most camps are practically dead except maybe where some Ras Leela is going on. Even Rupa Raghunatha went up to our rival camp and it is still not open and hardly anyone is there. It is definitely in need of revival!

All day long pilgrims are streaming through our camp, seeing the beautiful dioramas and all around Nitai Gaursundara's Rath there are 36 exquisite laminations from the Krishna Art book with Hindi explanations. At least 4-5 lectures are going on all through out the day. In the night Sura Dasa's Drama Troupe from Bombay are mesmerizing the audiences with their lively plays.

Thousands of hungry pilgrims are being fed in our enormous Prasad Pandal. We even have separated lines for Sadhus who are appreciating the pure sattvik quality of the prasadam. At noon we serve puris, subji, rice, dal and some sweet. In the evening at 5 pm we serve hot Kichari and 'burn-your-finger-hot' haleva. Everyone sits down quite orderly and the whole operation is going on very smoothly. Anyone who wants to send a donation to help us increase, we have a secure site at www.iskcontrust.org.

Yesterday the Harer Nama Sankirtan Party left with Sri Sri Nitai Gaursundar to visit Dashashvamedha Ghat and Veni Madhav Temple. Dashashvamedha Ghat is where Mahaprabhu instructed Rupa Goswami for ten days on the science of Bhakti. We left the cart there and made our way through the narrow lanes to the ancient temple of Veni Madhava. This is the oldest temple in Prayag and was visited also by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. We had an ecstatic kirtan circumambulation the Deities led by Saksi Gopal president of Kuruksetra. Then the Mahant invited us all upstairs where they have beautiful recently installed Radha Krishna Deities called Adi Madhava. He then showed us a blueprint given by Srila Prabhupada dated 16/3/1977 showing Srila Prabhupada's design for renovating the old temple. Prabhupada had invited him at '77 Kumbha to come to Mayapur, and by the date we can understand this was presented to him at the Mayapur festival.

Everyone is in ecstasy to see our Harer Nama Party. All the pilgrims greet us with smiles. The Sadhus, especially the Vaisnavas, raise their hands in the air. In the evenings artik is not on the stage, but in front of the Deity cart, but it is broadcast over the stage sound system. Hundreds of pilgrims throw their hands in the air and dance with abandon along with dozens of devotees. Book tables are everywhere, the devotees also go with push carts. If someone just sits on the ground in our exhibition area, he is completely surrounded by eager questioners. Our Q and A booth is always packed. Many students from Allahabad come and help distribute prasadam. At night at least 500 shelterless pilgrims sleep in our Pandal after the program.

Everything is so ecstatic, but the only sad thing is hardly any of our respected sannyasis or senior devotees have come to help us. Hundreds of young devotees are here preaching to their hearts content, proving that Srila Prabhupada is indeed the center and inspiration for all ISKCON devotees. Bhima dasa has helped us the most encouraging and supporting our team from the beginning. Bhakti Swarup Damodar was the star of the show in the beginning with his hundred Manipur drummers shaking the whole Mela. Tatpur Swami has been here the longest of all the Sannyasis. There's two more weeks left. Get on down here and join the nectar!

In service to Sri Sri Krishna Balaram,
Deena Bandhu dasa

© CHAKRA 03 February 2001

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