Special Days Meditations (41)
→ The Spiritual Scientist

The mind’s solutions are worse than the problems
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Its knowledge of good and bad, happiness and misery, donor and the recipient, law and disorder regarding things other than the Supreme Lord is nothing but a series of blunders and is like jumping from the frying pan into the fire or like swimming between Scylla and Charybdis.

- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, Vaishnavism – Real and Apparent

Srila Prabhupada Tours New Vrindaban – June 22nd, 1976
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Residents of the New Vrindaban community greet Srila Prabhupada during an early morning walk, June 1976.

Residents and guests of New Vrindaban greet Srila Prabhupada outside the original Vrindaban farmhouse during an early morning walk, June 1976.

A conversation between Srila Prabhupada and some of his disciples as they tour Madhuban & a Vegetable Garden in New Vrindaban – June 22nd, 1976.

Thanks to Vanipedia for the transcript.

Kirtanananda: This is our farm up in here. Lord Jagannatha is staying there now while He is ill. Our big Lord Jagannatha is going to Cleveland tomorrow for Ratha-yatra festival.

Prabhupada: Oh. It is the first time?

Kirtanananda: Yes. They have a big cart, and they will go down the main street.

Prabhupada: How far it is?

Kirtanananda: How far to Cleveland? About 130 miles. [break] Our land is on the left side.

Prabhupada: Oh. So this land, how you are utilizing it?

Kirtanananda: We are growing a kind of grass, sudan grass. Then we cut that and put it in the tall silos for the cows to eat in the winter.

Prabhupada: In the winter this is all covered with snow?

Kirtanananda: Most of the winter not. We get maybe six inches during the whole winter. [break] …a lot of land now that’s not our land. We are farming a lot of land now that is not our land. We lease it, or do it on shares.

Prabhupada: Oh. What is the share, half?

Kirtanananda: Sometimes half, more likely a third, sometimes a quarter. We like that.

Prabhupada: Quarter for the proprietor?

Kirtanananda: Yes. There are many people that have a lot of land, and they don’t want to do it themselves. But the hay has to be cut every year, otherwise the trees come, and then the land degenerates. So they like to have it cut. [break]

Prabhupada: …land can be cultivated also?

Kirtanananda: Yes, it could be. It would be very good land. [break] …our own lumber now also. Cutting our own trees.

Prabhupada: That is the nature’s way. You cut the lumber and make cottage, and the land is clear, then cultivate, get you food, and cows, give them grass.

Kirtanananda: [break] …woods around here.

Prabhupada: Why it is there is no fog here? Due to the trees? It is clear.

Kirtanananda: There’s a river up that way, and I think there’s more fog up that—it’s always like that, I don’t know exactly why. [break]

Prabhupada: …in the jungle?

Kirtanananda: Deer.

Prabhupada: Deer only.

Kirtanananda: Few fox.

Prabhupada: Fox also. And fox, they come to our temple?

Kirtanananda: No.

Prabhupada: No. Fox, they eat men? No.

Kirtanananda: Not usually. Only if they get sick, rabies, then they’ll attack. They eat rabbits and rodents.

Prabhupada: Deer also?

Kirtanananda: Deer are vegetarian, they eat grain.

Prabhupada: No.

Devotee (1): Fox will eat the deer?

Kirtanananda: Oh, I don’t think.

Devotee (1): Saw a lynx, a big cat.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Devotee (1): A lynx, a small cat.

Kirtanananda: Something like a little wildcat.

Prabhupada: They eat, they’re eaten by the fox?

Kirtanananda: They’ll eat the fox. They’re very rare though.

Prabhupada: Jivo jivasya jivanam.

ahastani sahastanam
apadani catus-padam
phalguni tatra mahatam
jivo jivasya jivanam

The handless animal is the food for the animal with hands. This is the beginning of life. Uncivilized man eats the animals. Apadani catus-padam: these grass, plants, they are for the catus-padam, four-legged. Cows, deer, goats, they eat. And those who are weak, they are for the strong. In this way, this is the nature’s way. Jivo jivasya jivanam. One life, a living entity is food for another. (dogs barking) Immigration department. (laughter) We have got passport. (laughter) That’s all right.

Kirtanananda: This is a dog’s business.

Prabhupada: Dog’s business. Without any fault, they’ll chastise. We have no fault, still they are chastising. Durlabham manusam janma. You have got this independence. Little independence, more than the animals.

Kirtanananda: It’s the end of the road, so I think we can turn here.

Prabhupada: Hare Krsna. [break]…. in the kitchen, this wood or gas?

Kirtanananda: Both. Mostly wood.

Prabhupada: There are so many jungles, we can use wood.

Kirtanananda: Actually we like it better.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes, it is better, nice.

Kirtanananda: But it is a little dirty. Unless you change it to charcoal, there was always some smoke. This is not ours. Our property comes down this way, but not on this corner. [break] …land, Prabhupada, and they say overpopulation.

Prabhupada: In the beginning, I protest against this assertion, there is overpopulation. I never admitted. Perhaps you know.

Kirtanananda: Yes.

Prabhupada: There is no overpopulation. If the Americans allow the Chinese and the Indians to come, they can develop all these un…. “No, this is our land, you cannot come,” immigration, gow gow. [break] …creek is pure water?

Kirtanananda: Yes, the water around here is very nice. We can dam it and have big lake.

Prabhupada: If there is no foam that means it is nice water. Foam means sinful water.

Devotee (2): In Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krsna explains that the soul is situated in the body but he’s not the performer of activities. In other words, he does nothing within the body, and yet…

Prabhupada: Where it is said he does nothing?

Devotee (2): There’s a verse that says the self-realized soul, when he sees the activities of evacuation or moving or so many things, he understands that it is the body alone which is working. So how is it that we see in a dead body, when the soul has gone, there are none of these activities? So it appears, though, the soul is the principle in the body that is performing all these activities. Otherwise, how is it that the dead body, when the soul is gone, is also not carrying on so many functions?

Prabhupada: So long the soul is there, the activities of the body are there. Otherwise not. That is explained—habit. Knowingly, unknowingly. Just like a child is passing urine. He does not know that he’s passing, but the body’s action is going on like that. But if the child is dead, there will be no more passing. Like that. So long the body is alive, things are happening automatically. Just like this tree, so long it is alive the leaves are coming out, the flowers are coming out, although the trees have no developed consciousness. (pause) In Bhagavatam we see that when Nanda Maharaja felt some disturbances from the demons, they decided to change the place. And they immediately, from Gokula, they immediately went to Vrndavana. But we don’t find anything that they had to take permission. Hmm?

Kirtanananda: That’s right.

Prabhupada: So that means formerly this was the system. If there is any vacant land, one can go and live there. There’s no question of permission. When you live there and you make your professional activities, then the king will come, take little tax.

Kirtanananda: That used to be the system here. They called it “homesteaders.” If you would go and make you home there, you could have the land.

Prabhupada: That is not for the foreigners. If some Chinese men or Indian want to come…

Kirtanananda: It used to be. But not anymore for anybody.

Prabhupada: Just see. Why?

Kirtanananda: Because it has become very profitable for people to keep it. Because people are making money on it now.

Prabhupada: Money they must make; otherwise, why they should come? But what is the objection? Just like in the marketplace, still, in India, the system is, the marketplace, anyone can go and sell his goods, and when he’s selling, the proprietor takes some contribution. Not that he has to take permission. He’s selling there, that’s all right, “Give me some…, a little contribution.” The king has the right to tax for maintenance.

Devotee (3): Srila Prabhupada, when we take that which is not our quota, by using, wasting a lot of clean water, how is that perfect and complete, om purnam ? How are things still perfectly complete even when we’re wasting and destroying it?

Prabhupada: Why you should waste? Wasting is not allowed. [break] …our car?

Kirtanananda: No, it belonged to the man who formerly owned the property.

Prabhupada: So how it is broken?

Kirtanananda: Some vandals. There’s no one living here, he just left it. (in car:) This farm is for sale now.

Prabhupada: There is no limit of purchasing?

Kirtanananda: Only limit is money.

Prabhupada: No, I mean to say as in India there is limit, that you…

Kirtanananda: No, government puts no limit.

Prabhupada: There is no land, therefore there is limit. [break]

Kirtanananda: Cauliflower, peas, beets, carrots, lettuce, spinach…

Prabhupada: Potato?

Kirtanananda: Potato, broccoli,

Prabhupada: Broccoli? What is that?

Kirtanananda: It is something like cauliflower.

Pus?a Krsna: It’s that green vegetable, Srila Prabhupada, that’s like cauliflower.

Prabhupada: Cabbage?

Kirtanananda: Cabbage, peppers.

Prabhupada: That is nice, so many. Tomato.

Kirtanananda: But most things are not yet fructified. This is early in our season. Peas will be ready just shortly. Lettuce is ready.

Prabhupada: Vegetables, ghee, milk, wheat, then what do you want more?

Kirtanananda: The wheat is just about ready for harvest.

Prabhupada: No, I mean to say we can grow all these things and eat very nicely. Where is economic problem? Yajnad bhavati parjanyo parjanyad anna-sambhava?. [break]

Kirtanananda: It’s full of cow stool and urine.

Prabhupada: Accha, for fertilizer?

Kirtanananda: Yes, fertilizer. Nothing is wasted.

Prabhupada: You can make gas also.

Kirtanananda: Yes. That was originally an oil tank. (end)

 

South Africa – December 2013
→ KKSBlog

Apologies for the lack of chronology in the recent travel posts. Kadamba Kanana Swami interrupted his stay in Mayapur with a short visit to South Africa. Here is a report by Candrasekhara dasa.

IMG_0783Kadamba Kanana Swami visited South Africa recently. He visited different centres around Johannesburg motivating the devotees in their preaching initiatives. He arrived in South Africa on Thursday morning (12 December) and spent the day meeting with local leaders of the Pretoria yatra. In the evening, he conducted a program at a disciple’s home in Midrand. Despite his long journey and tiring day, he led a sweet kirtan which touched the hearts of devotees. In addressing the audience thereafter, he highlighted the importance of studying Srimad Bhagavatam and encouraged devotees to adopt this culture of study.

Maharaj resided at the Pretoria temple for two days during which he lectured on Srimad Bhagavatam & Caitanya Caritamrta in the mornings and absorbed himself in sweet bhajans during the day. He also used the time to meet with devotees.  On Friday, 13 December, he held an evening program at the temple which was well attended by the congregation.  Within minutes, he broke out into ecstatic kirtan which had the ladies compete with the men in dancing.  He went on to speak about the importance of filling our lives with service to Krsna:

“The essence of what I’m trying to say is that we must fill our life with service to Krsna.  That is the difference, you see, hearing, chanting and other service to Krsna will make the difference.  Otherwise, we will be alone, wherever we are.  It doesn’t matter who we are with, still alone! But when we are really absorbed in service to Krsna, then we will never be alone.  Never! And therefore  we will never be feeling any lacking. One who is not with Krsna all the time always feels something lacking, even if you have everything.”

On Saturday, 14 December, Kadamba Kanana Swami attended the wedding ceremony of two of his disciples, at the Pretoria temple. The wedding couple were of African descent and their family members, even though having limited exposure to Vedic culture, completely embraced the ceremony and fully took part in the ecstatic kirtan which followed the ceremony. Kadamba Kanana Swami, a true follower of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, was in ecstasy himself seeing the Lord’s holy names being taken to the people of Africa.

IMG_0759The following day (15 December), Kadamba Kanana Swami attended the Sunday Programs at ISKCON Lenasia and ISKCON Soweto.  The preaching initiatives in Soweto have a special place in Kadamba Kanana Swami’s heart and he is always inspired to give the people of Soweto extra mercy, and the people of Soweto reciprocated by coming in numbers to the temple to receive him.  The small temple room was packed to capacity and the devotees danced to their heart’s contents to the beat of the holy name which continued for two hours.  After class, a local devotee offered his appreciation to Kadamba Kanana Swami for always keeping Soweto close to his heart.

On 16 December was the last program that Kadamba Kanana Swami held. This time it was a relaxed picnic program at ISKCON Sandton where he highlighted the importance of staying safe from the influence of kali.

The Audio classes will be made available soon.

Please find below pictures from all these program.If you cannot view the slide-show, then please visit flickr

"Nach Re Amar Man": A Festival for the Heart (Dec 20- 24th)
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

It has gotten pretty chilly in the last couple of days, but guess who's bringing in a heat wave all the way from Northern California? As most of you must have guessed by now, His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu and Her Grace Nirakula Mataji will be in town next week (Dec 20th to 24th) with a line up of fun-filled events. 

So what is this nāch re āmār man (prounounced näch-ray-ämär-mun), you ask? Since 2009, these beloved disciples of Srila Prabhupada have been making their semi-annual / annual visits to Toronto which are always a beautiful package-deal of fun things: singing, dancing, practical seminars with useful tips on how to bring a change in consciousness, and lessons about how to interact with the environment - the spirit of giving and sharing (Srimad Bhagavatam classes in temple packaged with application outside the temple). In short- its a festival for the heart! Hence, we thought of officially giving their visits this name.

Does this excite you? Here is their tentative schedule:

Friday, December 20th to Tuesday, December 24th: 
7:30 am to 9:00 am DAILY
Special Bhagavatam Classes on the theme 'Preaching is the Essence' which is one of the 4 primary principles that Srila Prabhupada used to quote (Books are the Basis, Purity is the Force, Preaching is the Essence and Utility is the Principle). 
Come out for these very interactive classes as we hear and discuss how sharing enriches our lives!
Note: Sunday Dec 22nd: Harinama Initiation Ceremony for Bhakta Sam (instead of class)

Friday, December 20th:
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm 
Finding the Perfect Balance
How can I balance my spiritual practices with my material obligations? Where do I draw the line? Should I really spend time planning my material goals?  Join in for this special Friday night seminar where you will learn the delicate art of balancing spiritual and material priorities. 

Saturday, December 21st
12:00 pm - Honouring Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura's Disappearance Day
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Downtown Street Sankirtan with Vaisesika Prabhu
6:30 pm to 9:00 pm - The famous Bhajan Night 

Sunday, December 22nd
6:30 pm to 7:30pm - Sunday Feast Class
8:00 pm to 9:00pm - Kirtan

Please mark these dates and try to make the most of their really special association! Help spread the word and please invite anyone and everyone!

Are the beliefs “kshatriya martyrs attain heaven” & “jehadi suicide bombers attain paradise” different?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

The Mahabharata states that Duryodhana and his aides despite their viciousness attained heaven because they died on the battlefield? Didn't their past bad karma matter? If it didn't, how is this belief different from jehadi suicide bombers who kill hundreds of innocent people believing that they will attain jannat and enjoy virgins there?

Answer Podcast

When so many microbes are present in a cm, isn’t the idea of a God who loves everyone impractical?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Mrigank Sharad
when i think about the number of microbs present in 1 cubic cm
of air, it seems hard to believe there is some God who is waiting for all these 'souls' to be delivered. And he wants to 'enjoy' personal relations with all these. Here the brahman conception looks more practical.

Too Serious? Some Disappearance Day Thoughts
→ Devamrita Swami's Facebook notes

Grave occasions can be intimidating, especially for today's entertainment-addicted human beings. Proud of squandering our days in frivolity, whether makeshift or sophisticated, we long for convivial mirth and merriment. Oh, to be known as the life of the party . . .  

Yet, our possessing the human form of life is a grave reality—a  weightiness we should constantly address. Lord Chaitanya's process of chanting, dancing, honouring spiritual food, and hearing philosophy accomplishes the miracle of combining zestful bliss with profound soberness.

Upon the disappearance day celebration of my spiritual grandfather, His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, I revisited the last instructions he imparted to his disciples, December 23, 1936, a week before departing this world: 

"We only cherish one desire in our hearts: to sacrifice this body, which is only a lump of matter, in the fire of the sankirtan yajna of Lord Sri Chaitanya and His associates. We do not wish to be heroes by dint of our action, bravery or religiosity. But let this be our real identity life after life: that we are specks of dust under the lotus feet of Sri Rupa. Let that mean everything to us. The Bhaktivinode current will never be stemmed. Please take up the mission of preaching the desire of Bhaktivinode with greater enthusiasm."

For me, these words have become a meditation: recognition and stature—what to speak of fame—is not where I want to go. Let me learn to aspire to be that speck of dust, under the feet of the parampara, the chain of my preceptors beginning with Lord Krishna Himself. 

Then, I recall the words of Srila Prabhupada, my eternal father,  concluding his Vyasa-puja offering to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, February 1936:

"Personally I have no hope for any direct service for the coming crores of births of the sojourn of my life, but I am confident that some day or other I shall be delivered from this mire of delusion in which I am at present so deeply sunk. Therefore let me with all my earnestness pray at the lotus feet of my divine master to allow me to suffer the lot for which I am destined due to my past misdoings, but to let me have this power of recollection: that I am nothing but a tiny servant of the Almighty Absolute Godhead, realised through the unflinching mercy of my divine master. Let me therefore bow down at his lotus feet with all the humility at my command."

Heavyweight, I know. But such solemn spiritual declarations are actually the essence of bliss, because they let soar the boundless joy of real freedom and unlimited happiness. I see the light at the end of the tunnel: satisfaction at being a humble, genuine servant of Krishna's servants.

No Other Way
→ Seed of Devotion

I write this in the midst if the 12 Hour Kirtan in Atlanta. The mridanga beats surround me in waves and pulse with the rhythm of my heart. I can feel the vibration in my chest. The kartals ring through the night. The singer's voice twirls and dances through the air and carries me down the river of the holy name. The holy name has swirled all around me all day; hour after hour after hour. Now that night has fallen I can feel the holy name in my veins. I'm surrounded by others whose veins also flow with the holy name.

I have danced all night - we ladies would put a disco to shame! Our skirts swirled, our feet moved in blurs, our grins shone.

Now the kirtan is drawing to a close, voices ring out from wall to wall, and the final note is hit. Applause arises. Quiet moments follow. Then someone calls out the sacred verse and we all join him: "harer nama harer nama harer nama eva kevalam, kalau nastyeva nastyeva nastyeva gatir anyatah."

In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.

Then, the lights turn on and we start to mingle. I sit here and write this on my phone, and all I want is to feel the vibration of the mridanga within my chest, in my heart.

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Don’t descriptions of Krishna’s form make us imagine as spiritual our material attraction to forms?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Mrigank Sharad

ISKCON talks a lot about Krishna's beauty! you may say that its a higher kind of beauty , having some spiritual connotation.But i hv seen  ISKCON texts admiring God's 'physical beauty', comparing it with that of thousands of cupids!  When i first read prabhupad's purport for Gita verse 18.65, where he describes Krishna as 'bluish boy with a beautiful face' and advises againt worshiping any other Vishnu forms, I was shocked!! Now whats in the face! Gita-verse 3.34 says : attraction for sense objects are naturally placed in sense organs' , so under the influence of natural sense attraction , we feel certain shapes of nose, eyes, mouth, which are but holes on the face,  to be beautiful. It sounds not very 'spiritual' to me.  You may associate some kind of 'spiritual notion to all this, but a common student who reads this kind of theory is unfortunately bound to feel repulsion.

Is Gita 18.55′s impersonal message (vishate tad anantaram) overridden by Prabhupada’s translation?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Mrigank Sharad

Gita seems like trying to strike a compromise between dwaita and adwaita, with some of its verses conforming with the
first , while others with the later. Prabhupad tried to override the exact wordings of the shloka's that apparently hint towards
adwaita: like , 18.55 : "vishate tad anantaram" equated to "enters into kingdom of God".

Is the Gita an attempted reconciliation of different Upanishadic thoughts and not a revelation?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Mrigank Sharad
Gita seems like trying to strike a compromise between dwaita and adwaita, with some of its verses conforming with the
first , while others with the later. Prabhupad tried to override the exact wordings of the shloka's that apparently hint towards
adwaita: like , 18.55 : "vishate tad anantaram" equated to "enters into kingdom of God".
This inherent conflicts in gita have led historians to conclude that Gita is just an attempt to integrate all upnashdic teachings
and school of thoughts of ancient india and not anything divine.

Answer Podcast

UPDATE – Sunday December 22nd **** Sunday Feast program Cancelled due to severe ice storm coming towards Southern Ontario***
→ ISKCON BRAMPTON

Please note that ISKCON Brampton Management has decided to cancel the Sunday Feast Program due to a major ice storm coming towards Southern ontario.

Environment Canada says the storm system may bring up to 30 millimetres of rain to the lower Great Lakes. A freezing rain warning remains in effect for those areas as the temperature could fall below zero overnight.

Environment Canada also warns that the storm system’s effects could result in widespread power outages across Ontario due to ice accumulation on trees and power lines.

Note that the following upcoming event  on Wednesday December 25th will happen as scheduled.

UPCOMING EVENT:

December 25th - Christmas Celebration at ISKCON BRAMPTON
We are pleased to invite you, your family and friends for the Christmas Party & a Thank you program at ISKCON Brampton. 
  • Program starts at 11:00am
  • Guru Puja, Kirtan, Graduation, Visit from Bhakta Santa and Prasadam (Vegetarian Feast)!
  • REGISTER YOUR CHILD TO ENSURE THEY WILL RECEIVE A GIFT FROM BHAKTA SANTA… please email us at sundayschool108@gmail.com with your child’s name and age by Friday, December 20th.
  • Suggested donation $10/per child

Two Words That Really Help
→ Japa Group

Whenever I am chanting and feel my mind wandering there are two words that I use to bring it back to the sound of the Maha mantra...."Just focus!" - I say this loudly in my mind, each and every time my mind starts to wander and it works every time.
Please try this and see if you get the same results....you have to say it with conviction and strength.

Green activists demand complete ban on garbage burning in Vrindavana
→ Dandavats.com

Vrindavan, 21st December, 2013: After the National Green Tribunal ordered to ban the burning of the plastic & rubber in open, the green activists geared up their demand for complete ban of the garbage burning. It causes heart diseases, cancer, asthma, skin diseases and many other diseases, observed by the group of green activist in a workshop jointly organized by Friends of Vrindavan & the Bhaktivedanta Hospice -- Read more ›

Damodara Preaching Programmes in Kuala Lumpur
→ ISKCON Malaysia

BY KRIPA SINDHU KRISHNA DASA

More photos here

 

“In the month of Kartika, which is very dear to Sri Hari, one who bathes early in the
morning attains the merit of bathing in all places of pilgrimage. Anybody who offers the
Lord a ghee lamp in the month of Kartika, O brahmana, becomes free from all kinds of
sins, such as killing a brahmana, and he goes to the abode of Lord Hari.”

During the month of Damodara devotees in Kuala Lumpur actively engaged in conducting Harinam, house and school programmes, to spread the mercy of Lord Damodara to as many people as possible. Different programmes were held in many parts of Kuala Lumpur. Devotees went door to door doing harinam asking people to offer a lamp to Lord Damodara. There were also house programmes where in devotees conduct a full programme with Kirtan, class, damodara arati and prasadam.

A Damodara booth was set up in the Deepavali carnival, at Bukit Jalil, from 19th October to 1st November 2013. This was the 7th year, a booth was set up. Three and half booths were rented at the entrance of the premises. This was a very good opportunity to encourage everyone to offer ghee lamps to Lord Damodara and obtain his mercy. A gift pack and halwa prasadam were distributed to guests. Each gift pack contained a picture of Lord Damodara, a pamphlet highlighting the glories of Damodara and the method of worship for Lord Damodara at home along with a Damodarastakam CD, which included pastimes of Lord Krsna and Hare Krsna Mahamantra kirtana.

Every day many stall owners visited the booth and offered lamps to Lord Damodara before they opened their various booths for business. It was indeed a very special experience. Ravilocana and Tatvavit Prabhus, veterans in book distribution, were there every day from morning to night. Various books were distributed at the carnival including a Srimad Bhagavatam set.

“People are very receptive to Srila Prabhupada’s books. I developed good interpersonal skills, communicating with guests. My level of tolerance, patience, and perseverance, improved during these 14 days” says Krishna Chandra Prabhu, who also helped manage the booth.

A total of 4800 lamps were offered during the carnival. Overall, this month, 16,508 lamps and 13,523 prasadams were distributed. A total of 1077 books were distributed at the carnival alone.