*New Orleans Yatra evacuated*

[Guest guest]

*New Orleans Yatra evacuated*

 

Today a team of devotees from Dallas and Houston somehow or other got

through the numerous blockades and checkpoints sealing off the

flooded city, and rescued all the New Orleans Temple devotees, the

Deities and all Their transcendental paraphernalia. They will be

relocated to Dallas, where facility will be provided by Nityananda

Prabhu and the Dallas Temple for Their extended stay and

uninterrupted worship until the normal operation of New Orleans

*yatra* can be restored.

 

The New Orleans devotees, all disciples of His Holiness Jayapataka

Swami, are in good health and consciousness. Of course it helps that

most of them are from Bengal and Bangladesh, and are veterans of

flood survival. Nevertheless their courage and dedication to Their

Lordships Sri-Sri Radha-Radhakanta, Sri-Sri Gaur-Nitai and Jagannath,

Baladeva and Subhadra are exemplary, and certain to be rewarded by

advancement in devotional service to the Lord.

 

Massive Food for Life Mobilization Meanwhile, courageous New Talavan

devotees are already venturing into the hardest-hit areas of the Gulf

Coast, braving fields of debris, vast stretches of noxious quickmud,

and crazed gas-hungry locals to distribute Lord Krsna's mercy in the

form of sanctified vegetarian food. The devotees journeyed to

Gulfport and Biloxi to bring hot meals of red beans and rice,

chapattis and lemonade to the starving residents.

 

New Orleans devotee Ramakeli Prabhu, who lost everything in the

hurricane, is collecting supplies in Memphis and transporting them to

New Talavan, while New Talavan devotee Dvibhuja Prabhu, whose rental

property lost its roof in the storm, is devoting full time to

prasadam distribution in the Gulf Coast area.

 

They reported a scene of almost total devastation with very little

help for the victims. The aged and infirm are hardest hit, often

immobilized with no one to help them. The devotees went door-to-door

in the affected areas near the coast, bringing back striking tales of

devastation and woe.

 

Meanwhile, Priyavrata Prabhu of Food for Life International and New

Talavan GBC Bir Krsna Gosvami are organizing a massive food relief

program. Teams of devotees from Washington DC, New Vrndavan and other

volunteers are cooperating to bring tons of food, outdoor cooking

gear, temporary tent shelters and other needed equipment to New

Talavan, which will serve as a base for expanded prasadam

distribution throughout the devastated Gulf Coast area.

 

Just before the storm hit, Krsna provided a state-of-the-art

satellite Internet system for the farm. Who knew that it would have

to serve as the sole communications link for an entire community, cut

off from the rest of the world by this tragic disaster! Just see

Krsna's hand and careful planning to protect His devotees in this

miraculous occurrence.

 

To contribute to rebuilding New Talavan, please contact His Holiness

Bir Krsna Gosvami bkgoswami. To contribute to, or

volunteer for the Gulf Coast Food for Life project, please contact

Priyavrata Prabhu priyavrata.

 

Thank you very much for your kind well wishes, generous donations and

prayers.

 

your servant,

Dasanudas Vanacari

*Secretary,*