Once again, it was time for the Summer Festival in Radhadesh (28-29 July) which coincided with the annual Pandava Sena Retreat (21-29 July).
The Pandava Sena is a UK based Iskcon Youth Group that organises fun activities in an effort to spread Krsna Consciousness. Their retreats happen yearly and are held at various Iskcon centres around Europe. This year, a group of 100 young people came to Bhaktivedanta College in Belgium, to intensify their spiritual lives and collect inspirational jewels. The theme of this year’s retreat was C’est la vie, which means ‘This is the life’. The special guests in attendance were HH Bhakti Caru Swami, HH Sacinandanda and HH Kadamba Kanana Swami, all of whom delivered lectures on various topics. These classes can be downloaded from the official Radhadesh website. Ratha Yatra in Cologne, Germany also took place on Friday. The Pandava Sena participated but unfortunately, Kadamba Kanana Swami could not attend.
The Radhadesh Summer Festival itself was the highlight of the week. Tents were erected all over the gardens outside the castle. Some offered items for purchase while in others, bhajans and seminars took place. Kadamba Kanana Swami had his own tent where he led bhajans and talked on various topics. A point that he emphasized was the necessity to return to simple village life and pointed out the unfortunate condition that a modern, industrial lifestyle casts upon us. In this way, he encouraged devotees and guests at the festival, to simplify their lives to a more natural state and simultaneously create more space for spiritual activities.
On Saturday night, a bhajan evening took place. Kadamba Kanana Swami and Sacinandana Swami led bhajanas until after midnight. On Sunday, the festival continued with more kirtans and classes.
Maharaja will stay in Radhadesh until Wednesday (1 August) to then travel on to Stockholm (Sweden).
If you cannot vie the slide show, visit flickr!
