ALL GLORIES TO SRI SRI GURU & GAURANGA

Sri Vraja-mandala Parikrama 2009

Conducted under the guidance of

Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja

Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Math, Mathura, Tel: 0565-250-2334 
Sri Rupa Sanatana Gaudiya Math, Vrindavan, Tel: 0565-244-3270
Sri Giridhari Gaudiya Math, Govardhan, Tel: 0565-281-5668
Sri Gopinatha Bhavan, Vrindavan, Tel: 0963-456-3739

This Kartika, Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja is personally inviting you all to attend Sri Vraja-mandala Parikrama in the holy land of Sri Vrindavan-dhama.

This year, the festival will be inaugurated on October 4th, with the devotees observing sankalpa, or a vow to ensure the success of their parikrama, at Kesi-ghata, Vrindavan.

Parikrama

On October 5th we will begin our 28 day Sri Vraja-mandala Parikrama, a pilgrimage to all the incomparably beautiful places in Vraja. As we wind our way through these transcendental places, by foot, and sometimes by bus, we will chant surcharged and compelling kirtanas that we will cherish forever, reverentially touch our head to the dust of the numerous places related to Sri Sri Radha Krsna’s pastimes, and hear such hari-katha that will change our lives and strengthen our commitment to the path of pure bhakti. Our pilgrimage will be completed on November 2nd.

Parikrama Festivals

On certain days throughout Kartika month, we will celebrate the divine appearance and disappearance days of our acarya’s. On Sunday October 18th we will celebrate Govardhan puja - (worship of Govardhan Hill) and go-puja – (worship of our mother cow) – in a very delightful and festive way. In the evening we will observe the Dipavali festival, or festival of lights, at Manasi Ganga. On such occasions there will be kirtana and hari-katha, given in both Hindi and English, and delicious maha-prasadam will be served.

Parikrama Locations

From October 3rd till the morning of October 16th, all hari-katha, kirtanas and maha-prasadam will be held in Gopinath Bhavan, Vrindavan, which is located on the parikrama marga (path) on the bank of Yamuna, next to Imli-tala, Seva Kunja. From October 16th till November 2nd we will stay at Govardhan, at Sri Giridhari Gaudiya Math, which is near the bus stand on the road to Radha-kunda.

Cost

A minimum contribution per person of Indian Rs. 7,500, US $160, or Euro 110 is requested in order to cover the most basic expenses of the festival. This payment covers your prasadam and your accommodation in the dharmasala; as well as electricity and water; the sound system; a generator; the payment of various workers; cleaning costs and so forth.

We humbly request you to consider that this fee is a meager expression of appreciation for the inconceivable benefit received by hearing the hari-katha of a spotlessly pure Vaisnava and performing parikrama under his guidance. By your financial contribution, you are facilitating his mission to guide us all through the land of Krsna’s pastimes, a kindness that we will not be able to repay him for in countless of life times.

Registration

You can register and give your contribution upon arrival to Tilaka-raja dasa. In Vrindavan, you will find him at the registration table in the courtyard of Gopinath Bhavan and in Govardhan, at Sri Giridhari Gaudiya Math, he will be at the registration table in front of the temple building.

Included within the festival fees:

We have arranged dharmasalas (simple lodgings for pilgrims) near Gopinath Bhavan and Sri Giridhari Gaudiya Math where you can set up your sleeping mat and mosquito net in a room with other devotees. At the Math at Govardhan there is also facility for tents.

For an extra cost:

There are hotel rooms at varying distances from the Math in both Vrindavan and Govardhan, that you can rent directly from their hotel managers.

Simple rooms are also available for rent in other dharmasalas and in the houses of the local residents. The average charge is between 150 and 250 rupees per room per day, depending on the facility offered. For more details regarding rooms in Vrindavan, you can contact Mani-mati dasi.

Arrival

After you have registered a devotee will take you to your accommodation either inside or outside the temple complex. The facilities we are arranging for you during parikrama will be available from October 3rd onwards. If you arrive in Vrindavan-dhama before this date, you will need to make your own arrangements for accommodation and prasadam. We trust that all of you will cooperate with the festival seva team in this regard.

Please inform us by e-mail about the details of your participation, especially if you are coming in a group. In this way we can arrange suitable accommodation.

Please visit the Sri Vraja-mandala Parikrama 2009 web page at purebhakti.com/parikrama. Here you will find more details about traveling to the Dhama, how to maintain good health, how to observe proper behaviour and etiquette while in the Dhama, and many other practicalities.

For further information contact:

Brajanath dasa, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Vrinda-devi dasi, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tilak-raja das (registration fees), e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mani-mati dasi, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Phone: +91 99.2701.8532
Purebhakti.com/Parikrama

“Day and night I glorify Vrndavana, which is filled with the wonder of Sri Sri Radha and Krsna's pastimes, the wonder of the greatest sweetness, the ultimate nectar of Lord Hari, the sweetest, most beautiful auspiciousness and a flood of virtues Ananta-Sesa, Siva, and a host of others cannot cross.”

“Whose heart would not be enchanted by Vrndavana where Sri Radhika-Madana-mohana enjoy many pastimes, where there are many trees and flowering vines, where the ground is paved with jewels, and where the birds, deer and other animals are all maddened with transcendental bliss?”

“You may experience either happiness or distress. You may know fame or infamy. The lowest persons may insult you, or the saintly devotees praise you. You may know poverty or great wealth. You may obtain all valuable things, or you may not obtain anything. Whatever position your past pious or impious deeds may place you in, just make Vrndavana your life and soul.”

(Srila Prabhodhananda Sarasvati’s Sri Vrndavana-mahimamrita, Sataka 1, Text 4, 10, 30)

Please check this article for updates.

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For Taxi service and accommodations upon arrival please see the following links:

Taxi Service from Delhi to Vrindavan/Govardhan - updated 8/20

Hotels and Guest Houses in New Delhi, Vrindavan, and Govardhan updated 8/21

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