So finally the big day arrived, and we placed our presiding Deities, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai on Their new altar. The festival was held on Sunday, and around 110 devotees and guests attended this lively event. We performed an Abhishekh, which is a bathing ceremony in which we pour various auspicious ingredients over the Deities for Their pleasure. The ingredients include milk, yoghurt, sugar water, ghee and honey. Everyone attending then had the opportunity to bath the Deities with water.
Aniruddha Prabhu and Gangeshwara Prabhu then addressed the audience, explaining to us the significance of such an event. Aniruddha emphasised that temples like the one we have established at Hare Krishna Valley are examples for those who visit how to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Gangeshwara then explained to us the importance of establishing these farm projects all over the world. We then had an ecstatic kirtana, where everyone chanted and danced enthusiastically. And of course, we finished the programme with a sumptuous vegetarian feast cooked by His Grace Vaisnava Charan Prabhu. The festival was so successful that we are thinking of holding a similar one in January for all of those who could not attend.
We look forward to speaking to you again next week.
Until then, I remain yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada.
Keshava Dasa.
