Karttik Pilgrimage 2003
to Govardhan and Vrindavan

Dear Devotees and Friends:

As mentioned in the Invitation to Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's Appearance Festival, the devotees of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math humbly invite you to participate in this year's Karttik pilgrimage to Govardhan and Vrindavan.

This is an established annual programme of the Math which includes mass preaching and Prasadam distribution both in Govardhan and Vrindavan. In addition, this year a two day pilgrimage to Rishikesh and Haridwar has been arranged.

In order to help make the Karttik Pilgrimage successful we need advance information as to how many — and who — will be going.

Please publicize this pilgrimage amongst sincere souls whom you feel may wish to attend, and on Temple and Ashram notice boards, etc., where appropriate.

Depart Calcutta by train: 24th October 2003, morning.
Return Calcutta: November 9th, 2003.

Cost: Requested donation of US$120 equivalent in local currency to assist the overall expenses. (Rs 3,500 for resident Indians.)

What's included:

• Transport arrangements include:
  
  1. Second-class sleeper train from Calcutta to Aligarh or Tundla with a connecting hired bus to Govardhan.
  2. Hired buses locally to some of the more distant areas of our pilgrimage within Mathura Mandal and according to our schedule.
  3. Hired bus for a two day pilgrimage to Rishikesh and Haridwar, then returning to our Vrindavan Temple.

• Accommodation
  Shared accommodation at:
  1. Our Govardhan Srila Sridhar Swami Sevashram.
  2. Our Vrindavan Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.
  3. Haridwar, two days in a simple dormitory.

• Prasadam
  All communal Prasadam meals including relevant feasts and festivals throughout.

We shall need details of pilgrims as soon as possible. If you wish to travel with our regular group to Vrindavan by second-class sleeper, please include your name, age, and gender.

If you have other travel requirements, i.e. by first class or air-conditioned train, kindly purchase these tickets under the Tourist Quota on first arriving in Calcutta. For those making travel arrangements other than by the regular 2nd class sleeper included in our programme, we shall discount the cost of the unused travel sections: about Rs 400 each way.

Please also see our recently updated Tips for Pilgrims pages, which contain helpful advice, travel and health tips, and detailed directions [and recommended routes] to our Maths in India.

With due respects, and at your service,
  Mahananda das Bhakti Ranjan,
  Nabadwip, 13 September 2003

Govardhan Service Invitation
 
Much to the satisfaction of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, the fifth annual Govardhan Food Relief / Mass Prasadam Distribution Programme is due to take place during this coming month of Karttik. For futher details and how you can participate please see the Govardhan Service Invitiation.

Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Road, Kolerganj, P.O. Nabadwip, Pin 741302, Dt. Nadia West Bengal, India. Web: http://scsmath.com