Friday, October 18, 2013

GOVARDHANA & GO PUJA - SUNDAY NOVEMBER 3rd 2013 - you are invited...


New Vrindavana has The Festival of Inspiration, New Hastinapura has the Dushera Festival, Atlanta has The Panihati Festival , New York has the biggest Ratha Yatra on the East Coast, and we, my dear devotees have the delightfully benevolent presence of Sri Sri Radha-Damodara, the cows, (and cowherd boys and girls. . . ) and Govardhana Hill. What a perfect combination for Gita Nagari's signature festival Govardhana Puja.  That sublime opportunity to really relish the pastimes of the residents of Vraja by re-enacting the decoration and worship of the cows at the Goshalla in the company of Sri Sri Radha-Damodara, reciting the Damodarastakam prayers under Their watchful eyes and dancing ecstatically around Krishna in His MOST attractive form as a Hill of Sweets! Jaya Giri Govardhana! Let's come together in gratitude for the opportunity to have this Holy Dhama in our lives, let's spread the word and bring not just ourselves but our friends and neighbours to join in the fun with us.

7am-8am          Srimad-Bhagavatam class
8am-8.30am     Guru-puja and Kirtan
8.30am              Greeting the dieties in their new outfit.
9.00am              Prepare Their Lordships for procession to the Goshalla.
9.15am              Kirtan with the cows
9.30am              Decorating, feeding the cows and arati for their Lordships.
10.30am            Procession of Their Lordships back to the Mandir
12 noon             Arati to their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Damodara.
2pm                   Welcome and Greeting of guests to Gita Nagari
2.30-3.00pm      Singing of Damodarastakam offering of lamps.
3.00-4.00pm      Drama: The lifting of Govardhana Hill by the Gita Nagari Players.
4.00-5.00pm      Simultaneous arati to Sri Sri Radha-Damodara and Giri Govardhana
                          Circumambulation of the Hill.
5.30pm              Feast and distribution of the sweets.