All Glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga
‘9th National Youth and Children’s Camp’
In La Palma de Sandoval, Michoacán, México.
All Glories to Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj
This report we make is as a service in honor to our dear
Srila Gurudev and to all the Vaishnavas.
April 2006
Web-page submitted by Bhagavan Prabhu |
In Harinam |
The youth in the play |
Orizaba City's Devotees with Sripad Giri Maharaj |
Our humble and respectful dandavat pranams to our Divine Master, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's lotus feet on behalf of the youths that attended the ‘9th National Youth and Children’s Camp’ April 2006 in Sandoval’s Palm, Michoacán, Mexico. Through this letter we want to take the opportunity to inform all the Vaisnavas headed by Srila Gurdeva of the main and smaller events that happened in the course of this camp. Everything began on Sunday April 9th. The date in that we inaugurate the camp, that day arrived the community of Morelia, Michoacán. Bhagavan Das., his wife Subha Lakshmi and their children: Amal Krsna d. (16 years old), Rasa Moy d. (14 years old), Rama Priya d.d. (4 years old); Purusotama d., his wife Madhavi d.d. and their children: Gour Narayan d. (16 years old) Hari Gopal (12 years old), Gopisuari d.d. (11 years old). From Orizaba, Veracruz: Krsna Dasi d.d. and her children: Yudhisthir d. (15 years old), Shanta d.d. (13 years old), Prahlada d. (11 years old). Ananda Mayi d.d. and her children: Indira d.d. (16 years old), Krsna Kirttan d (15 years old), Balaram d (12 years old), Narayan d. (11 years old). Jahnava d.d. and her husband, Jayadeva d, also Fuad Farid Figueiras, a guest. Soon after, arrived Sofia (17 years old) and Arjuna Krsna d. from Veracruz together with Krsna Kumar from Mexico City. All of them arrived in the course of the afternoon and night. Next we present the list of the other assistants who arrived gradually: The following day, Monday April 10th, we started the week’s programme as follows:
On Monday we took the opportunity for all the communities to get to know each other. The youths left to play soccer football, we cleaned the temple and we ate delicious prasadam. The most exciting thing of this day was evening arati. We felt as though in one family. On Tuesday 11 the mridanga class, managed by Arjun Krsna and Rasa Moy, was held in order for the many youth devotees to begin to learn how to play, and the instructors encouraged their students. Also several devotees including Gopi D.D., Visaka d.d. Shanta d.d. went to get to know the surroundings of the camp and they walked all the way to the lake of Zirahuen that is very big and crystalline. On Wednesday we continued with the theater classes given by Saranagati d.d. based on the book “The Golden Volcano of Divine Love” by Srila B.R. Sridhar Maharaj. The play is from the chapter "Tragedy of Separation," and will be presented on the last day of the Camp. We were enthusiastic and we practised our dialogues and characters. Sripad Giri Maharaj arrived after a long trip from New Jersey to the Federal District. He came with Lakshmi Rani D.D. to the house of Bhagavan and Subha Lakshmi d.d. in Morelia, Michoacán. Because it was like 11 in the night Giri Maharaj felt very tired so they decided to sleep in Bhagavan Prabhu’s house. Thursday was the best day for us. We woke up very early for the program, but after arati they informed us that a truck was already waiting outside the door, this truck was rented by mother Madhavi to take us to the National Park of Uruapan City, so we quickly got ready and we prepared for Harinam. On the way to Uruapan the truck stopped and it didn't want to start. We waited twenty minutes until another truck arrived and when it arrived we realized that it was much better, more comfortable and quick. When arriving at Uruapan they took us to the National Park of Ravine of Cupatitzio, with the intention to relax and to make Harinam in a beautiful place full with people. This made us very happy. When entering to the Park, the security guards didn't allow us to enter with a mrdanga. Fortunately they didn't know that just before they had already let two other mrdangas slip inside. Thanks to Mother Madhavi’s cunning, she pleaded to those in charge that if they didn't allow us to enter with the mrdangas, they would have to return us our money. It was very funny. Before beginning Harinam we made a brief tour of the Park, and this reminded Prabhus Nitai and Arjun Krishna of their recent trip to India. They showed us some similar trees to the ones that are in sacred places of India, and they narrated stories to us about monkeys in similar trees in Vrindavan that climb down and steel things such as food from people. The only thing that seemed to be missing from these Cupatitzio trees were those thieving monkeys. A small boy approached our Vaishnava group and he offered to be our guide. He chatted with us and told us legends of Cupatitzio. Naturally we went very well prepared with two boxes of sandwiches that were prepared affectionately by mother Jahnava d.d., Prabhu Jayadev, Ananda Mayi d.d., Krsna d.d., Ratna Bali d.d., and Ajita Krsna d.d., to whom we congratulate for their excellent prasadam during the whole camp. The several youths took turns to cary the loads of boxes and bottles, but it continued being very heavy, because most of the rout was ascending stairways. Therefore we made the service of eating up the sandwiches and the Jamaica water so that the devotees didn't have to carry so much weight. After enjoying our lunch, our small guide, Alejandrito, accompanied us on our journey, now engaged in Harinam Sankirttan! There were a lot of people and all admired us when hearing the Holy Names of the Lord. They applauded and some danced and sang with us. Nobody wanted us to leave, and that was very inspiring for all. Kirttan was led by Pitambar Prabhu. On our return to the Youth Camp another good news was that Sripad Giri Maharaj, Lakshmi Rani D.D. and Prabhu Gaura Kinkara had arrived and we entered into the temple to listen to the class of Giri Maharaj. On Friday April 14th some of us got sick because of the cold in the night, but that didn't remove the happiness we felt being in the association of Sripad Giri Maharaj and the devotee gathering. We began this day’s program very early, to have breakfast and to begin the dress rehearsal for our play. Sripad Giri Maharaj went out to get to know the town of Santa Clara of the Copper, and while he was out, the whole day we were perfecting the play. In the evening Sripad Giri Maharaj gave a talk in his room. All who wanted to listen were welcome to go in and have his association. Saturday April 15th, the last day of the camp, after the morning program we begin to make the final preparations for our play, and when everything was ready we sent to call all the devotes headed by Sripad Giri Maharaj. While the story developed, Giri Maharaj observed with attention the play. He took pictures and Prabhu Vrajavasi translated for him while he enjoyed our performances. When concluding the play everyone applauded the actors and teachers. And as all we were gathered together, we took that opportunity for each one to give their point of view about their experience in this year’s Vaisnava camp. All spoke and some gave suggestions for the next camp. Sripad Giri Maharaj also expressed how he felt and what he liked. It was a very encouraging chat for us, as he admitted that he liked the whole camp. He told us he observed the work of Sripad Ashram Maharaj, and while saying this he illuminated his face with his smile. We feel that without him this camp would not have been the same. We also thanked Vrajavasi Prabhu for his generosity to facilitate us in an unmotivated way. He also elaborated questionnaires from the book ‘The Golden Volcano of the Divine Love’ to inculcate reading in the youths. This class was imparted by Madhavi d.d. as 'Introduction to the School of Sri Rupa Goswami.' Thus concluded this, this 9th Annual Youth and Children’s Camp for the young Vaishnavas of Mexico. We learned so much with the example of our spiritual brothers and the holy association of faithful servants that give us their mercy while being by their side to learn from them how to advance in spritual progress. Report elaborated by: |
Sri
Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip