The Biggest Vaishnava Reunion
By- Partha Sarathi Krishna Das
Narottam Das Thakur was an incarnation of devotion and love of Lord Caitanya. At the Kheturi Festival which is one of the biggest religious festivals of Bangladesh, on the disappearance day of Narottam Das Thakur, devotees remember his glories and wonderful pastimes. The Kheturi Festival is the biggest festival of greater North Bengal and several hundred thousand pilgrims and devotees, from different places of Bangladesh, participate in the annual festival. Commemorating this festival, centers of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), from Kheturi, Godagari and Rajshahi organized grand programs during this year’s festival in October
Singing the devotional melodies composed by Narottam, relishing his nectarine pastimes, offering thousands of lamp to Lord Damodar and performance of kirtan, were the main attractions of the festival. HG Naru Gopal Das, ISKCON Mayapur, presented an ecstatic glimpse over the life and teachings of Thakur Narottam. Alhaj Omar Faruque Chowdhury, MP, Godagari, Rajshahi, was present as Chief Guest in this ceremony. Being overwhelmed, observing the systematic well organized distribution of thousands of plate of prasadam, the honorable Member of Parliament made a valuable financial contribution for the successful completion of the program and committed to help the development of the project in the future.
Sri Sanjib Kumar Bhati, Assistant High Commissioner, Indian Embassy, Rajshahi; Mr Md Emarunal Haque, UNO (in charge), Godagari Upazila, were present in the program as special guests. HG Partha Sarathi Krishna Das (Co-coordinator, ISKCON, Kheturi Dham) oversaw the program. Devotees attending the festival were blessed by the holy presence of HH Bhakti Priyam Gadadhar Swami, HH Bhakti Advaita Navadwip Swami and HH Bhakti Binoy Swami, three ISKCON sannyasis of Bangladesh. Other speakers were HG Padmanayan Das Brahmacari, Director, Mayapur Institute, Mayapur; HG Caru Chandra Das, Secretary, ISKCON, Bangladesh; HG Jagatguru Gauranga Das, Joint Secretary, ISKCON Bangladesh.
ISKCON Life Membership Cards and Certificates signed by HH Jayapataka Swami were distributed to the fortunate devotees who donated for the development of Kheturi Dham project. The evening programs included cultural presentations by the Bhaktivedanta International School, Rangpur. Visitors to the festival were warmly received and enlightened by the ISKCON preachers present. Holy Name Sankirtan was performed throughout the entire Kheturi village. The distribution of books on Srila Narottam Das Thakur’s life and books of Srila Prabhupada to the pilgrims was highly appreciated. One hundred thousand plates of delicious Krishna prasadam were distributed to visitors during the three days of the festival.
The ISKCON temple at Kheturi was begun last year when 210000 square feet of land was purchased. ISKCON Bangladesh, along with the local temple authority, is seriously committed develop this project in the holy land of Kheturi.
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