4th Annual Vrinda Kunda Festival

01-14-2007, 02:30 PM

February marks the Fourth Anniversary of the opening of the Vrinda Kunda Temple
in Nandagram. To celebrate we will be having a special program of parikramas to
the Holy Places of Radha and Krishna's divine pastimes from Feb 5 - 15. The
main event will be what has become an unforgettable experience for all who have
participated, the Kalash Yatra. On Sunday Feb. 11, we will have a Sankirtan
Procession around Nandagram with all the ladies carrying waterpots with
coconuts on top out to Vrinda Kunda.

Vrinda Kunda has fast become a favorite place of pilgrimage for all devotees,
situated off in the quiet fields near Nandagram, the place where Krishna and
Balaram lived with Nanda Baba and Yashoda Maiya. Everyone is always impressed
with the beauty of the carved sandstone temple, the exquisite deity of Vrinda
Devi, and the wonderful trees and flowers growing there. Especially notable is
the peaceful hassle-free atmosphere. Many devotees have told us that they only
visit Vrinda Kunda when they come to Nandagram to avoid being harrassed by the
agressive pandas in the temple. Many devotees have been very pleasantly
surprised by the warm hospitality of our Pujari, Bhagway Prasad and his wife,
often enjoying a delicious lunch at Vrinda Kunda, with practically no advance
notice.

Almost every day from Krishna Balaram Mandir, we will lead parikramas to
different pastime places of Vraja. There will be lively narrations of the
different pastimes that happened in each place. Then we will return in time for
prasadam at 2pm in the temple. And on all bus parikramas, Sannyasis and
Prabhupada Disciples and their families will go free of charge.

Then on Sunday Feb. 11, we will go to Pavan Sarovara where we will be joined by
many Brijbasi ladies for the ecstatic Kalash Yatra. The ladies will take water
from Pavana Sarovara in waterpots with colored cloth and coconuts placed on
top. The Brijbasi women will train our visting devotee women how to do this. Of
course, we cheat a little, we don't fill the pots full till we get to Vrinda
Kunda. Then with all the ladies in the front we will have a Sankirtan
Procession around Nandagram, up to the temple to take darshan and rest a
minute. Then we will continue out to Vrinda Kunda. Everyone who has taken part
in this festival has really enjoyed it like anything. My wonderful godsister,
Kaulini, told me this experience changed her whole life!

After arriving at Vrinda Kunda, there will be Krishna Katha, butter churning
festival, artika and then feast for one and all. Then everyone can help feed
all the Nandagram Brijbasis. That day all transportation and prasad will be
free for all who come.

Please come and take advantage of the wondeful spring weather at this time of
year, better than Kartika. This is also a wonderful opportunity for those who
are visiting Kumbha Mela before going to Mayapur Festival which starts on Feb.
16. Also those going to the Tirupati opening on the 31st January can come here
for this festival before going on to Mayapur. And of course we see every year
there are a lot of devotees who like to visit Vrindavan first on there way to
Mayapur Festival, so this is very convenient for them also.

These days you can also book your train reservations on line at

Otherwise you can contact our Information Center at
or for your travel needs
as well as booking accommodation in outside guesthouses. The phone contact is
Sanjay at ++91 565 2540343. They can also arrange a taxi to pick you up from
the airport or train station. For booking in the Krishna Balaram Guesthouse,
you can contact or ++91 565 2540021. For MVT
or ++91 564 3207578.

So make your plans now and come relish the association of Vaisnavas in the Holy
Dhama!

In service of Srimati Vrinda Devi,
Deena Bandhu dasa