Janmastami pilgrims

If you look at a graph describing how many pilgrims visit Mayapur throughout the year you will notice that most come between Kartika (Nov/Oct) and Gaura Purnima (Feb/March). The summer pilgrims are considerably less in number except for one obvious day near the end of August. Around the time Janmastami rolls around there are more visitors here than on even Gaura Purnima. Last night as I was walking from the grhastha area to Radha Madhava’s temple I felt like I was walking down some of the busiest streets in New York. Bike riding was not even a possibility due to the congestion.

It all started the day before when on my way to Navadwipa I noticed a steady stream of pilgrims walking down from the ghats to the temple. Most of them were obviously planning on staying the weekend since they were carrying duffel bags. It was a joyous scen watching all these pilgrims from around Bengal congregating in Mayapur. Even the boats from Navadwipa were filled to capacity with pilgrims. Many of the ladies would ululate as the boats left the dock across the Ganga for Mayapur. Most of these people are materially very poor but they really know how to capture the spirit of these Vaisnava festivals. Indeed the whole town of Navadwip was buzzing with transcendental excitement.

The next day during Mangala aratika there were thousands of devotees and pilgrims at the 4:30 am mangala aratika. It was a magical scene. Throughout the day there were dramas, bhajans, classes, prasadam (for those that did not fast) and a myriad of other transcendental activities. Gaura aratika in Mayapur is always full of spiritual energy and long kirtans but Janamastami night was spectacular. The entire temple was jumping and dancing as one of our best kirtan leaders led the kirtan. Although it was tremendously hot and humid our minds were more focused on the all pervading spiritual enthusiasm of the pilgrims and devotees. These types of experiences certainly edify one’s faith and realization in the process of sankirtan yajna.

After the Gaura aratika we went to our quarters to offer a new outfit to our Gaura-Nitai deities. My wife Guna Manjari has been working tirelessly trying to finish this outfit by Janmastami. SO my 6 year old son and my wife spent an hour or so decorating Gaura-Nitai and I must say we were all impressed by the result. Later the grand finale was at the temple during the final midnight aratika.