ISKCON Maharashtra Padyatra Receives Grand Welcome in Nagpur. The ISKCON Maharashtra Padyatra received a huge welcome in Nagpur on Sunday. This journey passed through Jalna, Pachora, Jalgaon, Akola, Amravati, Wardha, and Imperial City (Kotewada) and reached the Airport Metro Station South, where a huge number of followers and local citizens greeted the padayatris. Please read the full article to learn about the ISKCON Maharashtra Padyatra in Nagpur and their grand welcome.
ISKCON Maharashtra Padyatra Receives Grand Welcome in Nagpur
The ISKCON Maharashtra Padyatra received a grand welcome in Nagpur on Sunday. This journey passed through Jalna, Pachora, Jalgaon, Akola, Amravati, Wardha, and Imperial City (Kotewada) and reached the Airport Metro Station South, where a huge number of followers and local citizens greeted the padayatris.
On this occasion, Vrajendraratanay Prabhu, Vice President of ISKCON Nagpur, first garlanded the deities of Gaura Nitai and Srila Prabhupada seated on the Padyatra chariot. Following this, Prannath Prabhu garlanded Damodar Leela Prabhu, the head of the Maharashtra Padyatra devotees, including Radha Charan Prabhu/Radheshyam Prabhu, Balabhadra Jagannath Prabhu, Gopal Prabhu, Tusht Govind Prabhu, Hari Chaitanya Das Prabhu, Hari Prabhu, Gautam Prabhu, etc.
After this grand welcome, the assembled followers performed the aarti of the Gaur Nitai and Srila Prabhupada with kirtan and dance on the Hare Krishna Mahamantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. The lord was then offered a special bhog made for them.
During his speech, Harikirtan Prabhu, Regional Secretary Assistant (RSA) of ISKCON, said that the first padyatra in ISKCON, carrying the Nitai Gaur Sunder on a bullock cart, was conducted by Srila Lokanath Swami Maharaj from Vrindavan to Mayapur in 1976-77 under the instruction of Srila Prabhupada.
Later, in 1984, for the enjoyment of Prabhupada, Lokanath Swami Maharaj organised the All-India padyatra, which began in Dwarka and covered 6 parikramas of the entire country. The seventh parikrama is currently taking place. After the Prabhupada Centennial, bullock cart padyatras were also held in 108 countries.
Many believers were present in this program, including Vishal Prabhu, Pandharinath Prabhu, Sudama Prabhu, Vengopal Prabhu, Nityananda Chaitanya Prabhu, Vishwaroop Prabhu, Ameyatma Prabhu, Prasanna Jeet Prabhu, Prathamesh Prabhu, Murli Madhav Prabhu, Shyam Nimai Prabhu, Kaushalendra Ram Prabhu, Amogh Leela Prabhu, Eknath Prabhu, etc.
Acharya Das said, “This padyatra was initiated with the decision of the ISKCON Governing Body Commissioner (GBC) in 1984, after the 500th birth anniversary of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The trek started from Dwarka Dham and reached Mathura and Vrindavan, and further to Badrinath Dham, Â Mayapur, Jagannath Purni Dham, Tirupati, Shri Rangam, Rameshwar Dham, and Pandharpur, returning back to Dwarka Dham.
These believers have travelled more than one lakh sixty thousand kilometres up till now. Akhiladhar Das of America has been running with this trek for the last 20 years. Apart from these, 25 devotees from different parts of India and Russia continue to walk along. Prasadam, Bhagavad Gita, and Bhagavatam are provided in all the villages they pass and they also perform nagar sankirtan.
The main goal of padyatra is to spread the holy name. Individuals who participate in the padyatra chant the holy name and have banners that display the holy name. It is believed that the people who hear the chanting will have successful lives. They also request people to join them in chanting the holy name. Lord Caitanya stated, “Prithvi achey ata nagaradi-grama, sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama.” It means that in every town and village throughout the world, the chanting of my holy name will be heard. Krishna is not just for India. He is for everyone because he is God.
Dr. Shyamsunder Sharma, spokesperson of ISKCON Nagpur, gave detailed information, mentioning that before the welcome ceremony of this Padyatra (foot journey), the Avinash Shinde family offered a welcome at the newly under-construction ISKCON temple in Imperian City. After completing this welcome program, the padyatra arrived at the Bhosle-era Murlidhar temple in Songaon, where the Damle family offered a welcome. Subsequently, in Trimurti Nagar, RadhaJeevan Prabhu; in Laxmi Nagar, the Kartik Shende family of Vithoba Industries; in Shivaji Nagar/Shankar Nagar, the Nandkishore Sarda family; in Ram Nagar, the Devilal Jaiswal family honoured Gour Nitai, Srila Prabhupada, and the believers. This Maharashtra Padyatra will stay in Nagpur for a month and will explore the whole city.