Written by Bhaktin Klara
Summer Camp
The camp took place from 01-06 July in the heart of the Czech Republic, near the town Kamenice nad Lipou. This was the second time that the Camp was hosted at this venue and the first time that Kadamba Kanana Swami graced the new place. Krsna again showed His mercy and we were blessed with wonderful weather and the devotees were satisfied. The Camp site had a nice pond, with rowing boat facilities and the unlimited current of warm water was a lure to both children and adults alike. If you attended the Camp before then you would know that almost every year there are some pastimes with water, so this new site was greatly appreciated.
Maharaj arrived on Thursday, 02 July and from that moment, he was besieged by devotees. On Friday morning, he gave a lecture where he highlighted the importance of regulated chanting, hearing and reading. He mentioned that we should chant whether we have taste for it or not, and if we are not chanting for the pleasure of Krsna, then we will not get the full benefit. Maharaj gave the afternoon seminar about appreciating vaisnavas and after lunch, he to the town Jindřichův Hradec where he led a wonderful harinama and was followed by many of our spiritual family.
Saturday, was the day of remembrance of Srila Prabhupada, so all lectures, thoughts and services were especially dedicated to Him. Maharaj mentioned that we should deepen our relationship with Srila Prabhupada and that we should find out what was important to Him. What was important to Srila Prabhupada is also important to Krsna and therefore it should be important for us also. Maharaj went on further to say that Srila Prabhupada manifests Himself to the extent how we; as His disciples, grand disciples and great-grand disciples; try to follow His instructions. And that we have to develop the mood of compassion and humility like Srila Prabhupada had. After this seminar, Maharaj led a roaring and very spontaneous kirtan so there was not enough time for another seminar that day!
During an initiation ceremony on Sunday, Maharaj mentioned that our chanting should be performed with great determination and that when we take up devotional service, all aspects of our lives will lead to devotional progress and all our activities will give benefit to all living beings. Bhaktin Veronika is now Vani devi dasi. Later in the afternoon, there was a Vedic wedding ceremony held and Maharaj led a very nice kirtan and his presence made this important event even more auspicious. His last and an unscheduled program at the Camp, was evening interview for a new documentary on the Czech Yatra.
Ratha Yatra
Lord Jagannatha with His siblings came to the streets of the Czech capital, Prague for the eighth time on 19 July. It was a really big party with so many devotees and visitors in attendance. Everyone was ecstatic in service to the Lord of the Universe.
This year, we were blessed by the association of many precious guests apart from Kadamba Kanana Swami, namely Janananda Swami, Danavir Goswami, Bhakti Vaibhava Swami, Parividha Prabhu and Jay Gurudev Prabhu.
The program after the procession was very busy. We had kirtans and bhajans, a speech by the Indian ambassador, Bharata Natyam dances, a musical show by Parividha Prabhu and Odissi dances. People could buy Indian and devotional goods in the Govinda shop, books, prasadam ice-cream, bakery products from the Czech farm and other kinds of delicious prasadam. Of course, there was also free prasadam for everyone who attended. Kadamba Kanana Swami led wonderful kirtan during the procession and then at the end of the day and in between, he talked to devotees.
The whole city was flooded by Krsna´s mercy and the mercy of all those vaisnavas. Now, we are looking forward to many future years of the festival.
Photos are courtesy of Martin Schubert, Višnujan das, Antardvip das, Lakšmí dd, Madhva Muni das, Indranudja das and Dayapara das.
Visit flickr to see all the photos
