BY DEVIKA C. MEHTA
NORWALK, CA - Ringing temple bells, chants, colorful tableaus and discourses by a noted Guru from India welcomed devotees at the Sanatan Dharma Temple here from July 16 to 22. The week-long event was part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of Shri Banke Bihari Seva Mandal that organized its annual...
NORWALK, CA - Ringing temple bells, chants, colorful tableaus and discourses by a noted Guru from India welcomed devotees at the Sanatan Dharma Temple here from July 16 to 22. The week-long event was part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of Shri Banke Bihari Seva Mandal that organized its annual...
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‘Bhagwat Katha Maha Gyan Yagna’ in the presence of Maharaji of India Shri Mridul Krishna Goswami, whose elucidation of the holy scripture engaged the eager crowd of nearly 800 devotees. The devotees thronged the temple hall daily from 7 to 9:30 pm to hear discourses from Guruji, who they described as Lord Krishna’s most compassionate gift to mankind. Notably, Goswami hails from the lineage of spiritual poet Swami Haridas and maintains his family tradition of spreading love for “Bhagwat Katha” and devotion for Radha Krishna. His unique style of orating the ‘Shrimad Bhagwat’ won the hearts of several devotees in the Los Angeles area.
As described by Deepak Hiranandani, head coordinator, “Maharaji is the grandmaster of the Shrimad Bhagwat of our times from the exotic land of Vrindavan. His purpose stands at bringing peace and progress into the lives of many.”
Goswami himself says, “The ‘Bhagwat’ is my life; it is an ocean of knowledge and my devotion to God is an addiction. People long to go to the pilgrim city of Vrindavan to worship Radha and Krishna, so, I have brought the aura of the city here.”
During the whole week, Guruji enthralled devotees with his many songs and odes to “Radha Krishna” such as “Mero Banke Bihari pyaaro, meri akhinyonka taro,” and “Uth jaag musafir bhor bhaiee, ab raen kahan jo sowat hain.”
The first day was beautiful and saw 108 ladies, wearing red and yellow sarees, participating in the grand “Shobh Yatra Bhagwat Mahima” by taking rounds of the temple compound with decorative ‘kalashes’ on their heads. They also sang welcome songs to Guruji, who in turn blessed them with happiness, peace and prosperity. The event was followed by a lamp lighting ceremony, ‘aarti’ and a welcome speech by Hiranandani, who requested devotees to enjoy the ‘Amrit Ras’ and also thanked the sponsors and volunteers.The colorful attractions in the following days included stage plays enacted by the children and performances including ‘Shobha Yatra and Bhagwat Mahima’, ‘Shiv Jhanki Darshan’, ‘Narsingh Avtar Jhankhi’, ‘Krishna Pragatya Mahotsav’, ‘Chappan Bhog Mahotsav and Giriraj Poojan’, ‘Krishna and Rukmani Vivah’, ‘Sudhama Charitra and Vyas Poojan’.
A special maha prasad was also served every day for devotees between 5-7 pm, after which the discourses began. People could be seen dancing to the devotional songs and the show stealer was the candy throwing ceremony which was enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Furthermore, the mandal also surprised and gave the crowd fresh piping hot kesari jalebi and ice cream after Katha on July 21.
On July 22 the last day, at the closing ceremony, after the Katha, Guruji blessed the students who graduated this year who received special gifts in the form of goddess Saraswati idols. In Hiranandani’s words, “The day was dedicated to our youth. We called all the kids and teens and graduates on stage and continued to explain the importance of keeping the youth involved. It was a full house and during the closing we gave everyone the opportunity to come up and receive darshan of Guruji and the Bhagwat.’’
The event was attended by special guests like Artesia Mayor Sajjad Ali Taj; president of Cerritos College Dr. Jose Fierro; Dr. Shin Liu from the ABC school board and Tim Shaw, La Habra City councilman and running member for Orange County supervisor.The Banke Bihari Sewa Mandal was also presented an honorary certificate by Senator Tony Mendoza as an appreciative gesture.
Those who coordinated the week-long event were Kumar Bhavnani & family, Deepak Hiranandani & family and the entire Banke Bihari Seva Mandal team. Support was also provided by Babubhai Gorajia, Gopesh, Rajan Sharma , Minakshi Sharma, Sunny Sharma and Vijay Joshi. Kalash with Ganga jal from the 20th anniversary Katha is still available. If anyone is interested please contact : 562.787.0500. The Katha will now continue to Riverside,CA; Dallas, Houston, San Antonio,TX; New Jersey,and Toronto.
As described by Deepak Hiranandani, head coordinator, “Maharaji is the grandmaster of the Shrimad Bhagwat of our times from the exotic land of Vrindavan. His purpose stands at bringing peace and progress into the lives of many.”
Goswami himself says, “The ‘Bhagwat’ is my life; it is an ocean of knowledge and my devotion to God is an addiction. People long to go to the pilgrim city of Vrindavan to worship Radha and Krishna, so, I have brought the aura of the city here.”
During the whole week, Guruji enthralled devotees with his many songs and odes to “Radha Krishna” such as “Mero Banke Bihari pyaaro, meri akhinyonka taro,” and “Uth jaag musafir bhor bhaiee, ab raen kahan jo sowat hain.”
The first day was beautiful and saw 108 ladies, wearing red and yellow sarees, participating in the grand “Shobh Yatra Bhagwat Mahima” by taking rounds of the temple compound with decorative ‘kalashes’ on their heads. They also sang welcome songs to Guruji, who in turn blessed them with happiness, peace and prosperity. The event was followed by a lamp lighting ceremony, ‘aarti’ and a welcome speech by Hiranandani, who requested devotees to enjoy the ‘Amrit Ras’ and also thanked the sponsors and volunteers.The colorful attractions in the following days included stage plays enacted by the children and performances including ‘Shobha Yatra and Bhagwat Mahima’, ‘Shiv Jhanki Darshan’, ‘Narsingh Avtar Jhankhi’, ‘Krishna Pragatya Mahotsav’, ‘Chappan Bhog Mahotsav and Giriraj Poojan’, ‘Krishna and Rukmani Vivah’, ‘Sudhama Charitra and Vyas Poojan’.
A special maha prasad was also served every day for devotees between 5-7 pm, after which the discourses began. People could be seen dancing to the devotional songs and the show stealer was the candy throwing ceremony which was enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Furthermore, the mandal also surprised and gave the crowd fresh piping hot kesari jalebi and ice cream after Katha on July 21.
On July 22 the last day, at the closing ceremony, after the Katha, Guruji blessed the students who graduated this year who received special gifts in the form of goddess Saraswati idols. In Hiranandani’s words, “The day was dedicated to our youth. We called all the kids and teens and graduates on stage and continued to explain the importance of keeping the youth involved. It was a full house and during the closing we gave everyone the opportunity to come up and receive darshan of Guruji and the Bhagwat.’’
The event was attended by special guests like Artesia Mayor Sajjad Ali Taj; president of Cerritos College Dr. Jose Fierro; Dr. Shin Liu from the ABC school board and Tim Shaw, La Habra City councilman and running member for Orange County supervisor.The Banke Bihari Sewa Mandal was also presented an honorary certificate by Senator Tony Mendoza as an appreciative gesture.
Those who coordinated the week-long event were Kumar Bhavnani & family, Deepak Hiranandani & family and the entire Banke Bihari Seva Mandal team. Support was also provided by Babubhai Gorajia, Gopesh, Rajan Sharma , Minakshi Sharma, Sunny Sharma and Vijay Joshi. Kalash with Ganga jal from the 20th anniversary Katha is still available. If anyone is interested please contact : 562.787.0500. The Katha will now continue to Riverside,CA; Dallas, Houston, San Antonio,TX; New Jersey,and Toronto.
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