Sri Rama-Navami. Mauritius, 2005

News report by Santa Krishna Das
(Secretary)

Sri Rama-Navami was celebrated with great fervour. Devotees, their relatives, friends, acquaintances and people from the neighbourhood attended this most auspicious celebration of the Holy Advent of Lord Ramachandraji.

Since early morning Prabhus and Didis had been earnestly making a variety of preparations in the kitchen for the offering. Some cleaned the dining hall and the reception compound upstairs just before the Deities' room, while others were busy hanging decorations made of mango leaves and flowers. Nava Kishori Devi Das, a senior Godsister responsible for making garlands for Srila Guru Maharaj and the Deities, was conducting her seva in collaboration with some other younger lady devotees with great care and expertise, thereby producing beautiful, multicoloured garlands from freshly plucked flowers. Ringing the bell continuously, and simultaneously chanting mantras, the pujari peacefully performed the archan within the Mandir. Naturally, the atmosphere wore a peaceful and festive mood.

About two hundred people in all, participated in the programme which comprised Sri Guru Arati, Vandana, sweet heart-touching kirtans, classes by Sripad Bhakti Nandan Narayan Maharaj and Sripad Adhoksaja Prabhu Bhakti Bhusan, sloka recitations by Gurukula children reciting from Srimad Bhagavat Gita and Sri Chaitanya Charitamrta, bhoga arati and finally arati of Their Lordships Sri Sri Nitai Gaura Hari, Sri Sri Radha Rasabiharilaljiu. Actually the Gurukula is conducted by our most affectionate guide and Godbrother, Prabhu Adhoksaja Das Bhakti Bhusan every Sunday morning. Devotees' and neighbours' children are happily attending the Gurukula sessions.

On this particular occasion the children one by one recited slokas so expertly that parents' heads raised in pride and their faces gleamed with admiration. The sweet rendering of verses by those children from the two sacred books which contain the essence of all Vedic Scriptures won the appreciation of the guests present. Just after noon arati, the guests came forward one after another to swing Lord Ramachandraji in His 'jhula,' and to offer flowers, money, gifts and their respectful obeisances, before going to the prasadam hall. Down in the hall, all the guests sat in rows. Sumptuous prasadam was promptly served to them. The prasad consisted of rice, puris, dhal, flavoured curries, chutney, salad, sweet rice, sweet fruits and juice. Our most dignified guests relished the palatable feast to their fullest satisfaction and then started for their homes. Just then, the devotees sat down to honour the Mahaprasad. Afterwards they put their hands together to carry out the washing of utensils and cleansing of both the kitchen and prasadam hall.

Sri Rama-Navami celebration was one more opportunity for us, the disciples of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj and Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj to engage in Guru- and Vaisnava-seva through which we enriched ourselves with spiritual nourishment.