All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga

23rd World Tour report from Italy

from Villa Govinda Ashram
Olgiate Molgora, near Milan
by Krishna Kanta Devi Dasi

Dear devotees and friends, please accept my humble dandavats. Once again Srila Gurudev Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj has blessed us by placing his most auspicious lotus feet at Villa Govinda. The last time that His Divine Grace came was in the summer of 2003, on the occasion of the inauguration of this ashram. This time, so many devotees from all over the world joined us for the two week festival: from Hungary, Germany, England, Portugal, Belgium, California, Venezuela, Brazil and Australia. It was nice to see that although coming from so many different places, each one of them carried that very sweet mood of service that distinguishes the devotees of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.

For the first few days an intense rain poured down nourishing the land around, which was thirsty after a long period of drought. Afterwards the air was clean and fresh. All the devotees were able to do their laundry and take walks in the sunshine! Srila Gurudev looked quite at home here and many devotees had the feeling of 'being in India.' Srila Gurudev hardly gave any formal lectures; nonetheless, all the devotees felt nourished by His Divine presence. I was surprised to see how everyone was very respectful of Srila Gurudev's privacy. He had the chance to rest here after the intense programme in Russia. Everyone was satisfied to have his darshan when he went out for scooter rides in the afternoon.

All the devotees cooperated in various services. One group of devotees would take turns in the kitchen; the prasadam was excellent. The sannyasis present took turns giving lectures in the temple. Everyone was happy to contribute. The festival was truly ecstatic and went on in a very harmonious way.

I would like to thank each devotee that participated in the festival. Especially I must offer my gratitude to Malini Didi from Malta whose help was essential in the organisation of the seva during the festival. I would also like to thank Chinmoydev Prabhu who promptly answered our desperate call for help and came a few months early to assist with all the preparations to host Srila Gurudev and his associates. I would also like to give some special thanks to Ashapurna Didi and Damayanti Didi for their tireless service. And to all the Italian devotees who sacrificed so much in the service of all the visitors; they helped make the festival successful. I cannot write all their names here; I hope they will not be offended by this. I would also like to thank the sannyasis that had to tolerate so many austerities.

Since so many devotees expressed their sincere appreciation for the time they spent here, I consider myself most fortunate that I have again had the opportunity, by the mercy of my Gurudev, to give my contribution for the satisfaction of the Vaisnavas. I will take this chance to beg forgiveness for the innumerable offences I made in the attempt to serve my Gurudev and all the devotees.

Please accept my dandavats, humbly,
- Krishna Kanta Devi Dasi