Karttik Pilgrimage 2004
to Govardhan and Vrindavan

Dear Devotees and Friends:

As mentioned in the Invitation to Srila Bhakti Raksak 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 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.

Pilgrims travelling by train:
Depart Kolkata by train: 10th November 2004, morning.
Return Kolkata: 28th November 2004.

Pilgrims travelling by bus:
Departing from Nabadwip on 9th November.
Starting back from Vrindavan on 27th November.

Cost: Requested donation of US$150 equivalent in local currency to assist the overall expenses. (Rs 3,500 for resident Indians.)

What's included:

• Transport arrangements include (for train passengers):
  
  1. Second-class sleeper train from Kolkata 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.
     
     
• Or, for the adventurous:
  Transport arrangements for bus passengers include:
  1. Hired bus from Nabadwip to Govardhan via Gaya and Prayag, and several other holy places associated with the Pastimes of Sriman Mahaprabhu and His associates. The bus will return by a different route taking in Haridwar, Ayodhya, Naimisaranya, Kasi and other holy places. But please note: the long distance bus journeys from Nabadwip to Govardhan (and vice versa) may be considered quite austere for Westerners. It's for the adventurous and adaptable. You've been warned!
  2. Hired buses locally to some of the more distant areas of our pilgrimage within Mathura Mandal and according to our schedule.
     
     
• Accommodation
  Shared accommodation at:
  1. Our Govardhan Srila Sridhar Swami Sevashram.
  2. Our Vrindavan Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and Mission.
  3. For bus passengers: shared dormitory accommodation along the way.
     
     

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

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 Kolkata. 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 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, 4 October 2004

Govardhan Service Invitation
 
Much to the satisfaction of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, the sixth 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