Camp: New Delhi

Dear Devotees,
Hare Krishna. Please accept my humble obeisances.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All Glories to Guru Maharaja.

For the past one month Guru Maharaj has visited Mayapur, Bombay, Delhi and Vrindavana. While in Mayapur, Guru Maharaj has attended the whole Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama and regularly met with the devotees in the evenings at his room discussing spiritual topics. This year Parikrama was especially difficult, as Gaura-purnima happened to be around one month later then usually and this time Indian scorching Sun was not having mercy on anyone. Parikrama usually started at around 6:30am and ended at 2-3pm. Some days we had to travel by boat through Ganges or Jalangi rivers for 2-3 hours to the place of our destination. It was wonderful, and a lot of joy but at times very tiring. Neverthless, Guru Maharaj always looked fresh and encouraged everyone with his unlimited enthusiasm. He gave nice lectures, lead kirtanas, talked to different devotees while participating in Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama. Parikrama started on March 17th from Yoga-pith, Lord Chaitanya's Birth place, and ended on March 24th at our Sri Mayapura Candrodaya-Mandir.

On March 26th, 2002 Guru Maharaj caught an afternoon flight to Bombay. This year's Gaura-purnima Guru Maharaj chose to spend in Bombay. I wasn't personally present during Gaura-purnima in Bombay, but devotees from Bombay told me that it was a major and a wonderful one.

During Abhisheka of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai Deities in Bombay Guru Maharaj has also bathed his personal Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai on the main alter. All devotees who saw his Deities were amazed at Their beauty, and said that They were most beautiful and unique Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai in the world. Guru Maharaj doesn't usually bathe them, as they are made of Neem tree and painted, but once a year some people do get this rare opportunity to watch Guru Maharaja's Deities being bathed. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of this year's Gaura-purnima abhisheka, but as an attached file, I am sending a picture of Guru Maharaja's Deities first Abhisheka which took place during Their installation on Gaura-purnima 2000, at Guru Maharaja's room in New
Delhi temple.

From March 29th to March 7th Guru Maharaj was in Vrindavana. During this time he gave a few classes, darshanas to his disciples and met with local temple leaders.

I am sending you a picture of the Boat Festival which took place in
Vrindavan day before yesterday, on April 6th at around 6:00pm. This festival is conducted once year, at Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir's court-yard. During the festival, the Deities of Sri Sri Radha-Symamasundara are taken around in a beautifully decorated boat in the shape of a swan at the temple's court-yard. Temple's court-yard is filled with water, knee-depth, and becomes like a swimming pool. Temple is beautifully decorated with flower garlands, and while the Deities are taken in boat devotees shower flower petals from the roof, to enhance the festival mood. It's a very joyful and exciting festival and many devotees as well as guests come specially to see and participate in it every year.

Yesterday, April 7th there was a Ratha-yatra in Delhi, and Guru Maharaja came to Delhi specially to attend this festival of Lord Jagannatha. Every year devotees conduct around 5-6 small Ratha-yatras in Delhi and one big, the main one. Although this Ratha-yatra was not main, Guru Maharaj said that it was almost as big as the main one.

Guru Maharaj goes to almost every Ratha-yatra festival in his zone, and sometimes there are so many festivals in a short period of time that it seems like people of this planet Earth are getting unlimited special mercy of Lord of the Universe almost every day.

Today Guru Maharaj is in Delhi, and tomorrow he will be going to Vrindavan for one day. He is returning back to Delhi tomorrow night. Day after tomorrow, April 10th morning he is planning to go to Bombay, and then from Bombay to Raipur. There will be the first Ratha-yatra festival in Raipur on April 13th, and Guru Maharaj was invited to attend it. On April 15th Guru Maharaj will be participating in temple opening in Siliguri (South India). I have heard that devotees have worked very hard and built a huge temple in Siliguri. I have never been there myself, and if I will go this time, I shall send you pictures of the temple opening.

On April 17th, Guru Maharaj has to attend yet another Ratha-yatra in one of the major cities of Uttar Pradesh state - Lucknow. Around April 19th or 20th Guru Maharaj will be back in Delhi.

Guru Maharaj travels so much, and neverthless he never gets tired or
stressed out. I am trying my best to look after his health, and by Krishna's grace Guru Maharaja's health has been in a good condition lately. He goes for 1 hour walk almost every day and tries to take more rest. It's amazing to be with him and watch his unlimited enthusiasm and dedication to Srila Prabhupada. To see the way he pushes forward the Hare Krishna movement with unlimited spiritual strength, courage and consideration.

I hope this meets you well.

Your servant,
Sri Balaram das

Neem tree at Yoga Pith, Lord Nimai's birth place.

Guru Maharaj with some devotees in front of Chan Kazi's samadhi. Chan Kazi was the muslim emperor, who later on by Lord Chaitanya's mercy became a great devotee.

Guru Maharaja carying Srila Prabhupada's murti during Navadvipa Manadala Parikrama.

Picture of the boat festival in Vrindavan, Sri Sri Krishna Balaram
mandir's courtyard.

Guru Maharaj performing arati to the Deity of Sri Ugra Nrisimha in
Mayapur.