The month of January is my favorite time in Mayapur. It is a peaceful time, when not too many people are crowding the temple room during the morning program. Devotees come from all corners of the world to take up various studies - at the Mayapur Academy, the Mayapur Institute or the Kirtan Academy. It is a time for internal work - to deepen one's spiritual life in the uplifting atmosphere of holy dham of Mayapur. People come in order to receive something substantial and profound to take back to their home countries - some deeper nourishment, some insights into more hidden and confidential aspects of Krishna conscious practice.
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On my arrival in Kolkata Aiport on the 8th of December I received my two assistants Olga and Aida - both coming from Europe, and together we traveled by taxi to Mayapur. We had many exciting events awaiting us.......
The devotees of our ISKCON temple in Tangail were excited to receive our traveling party - I had not visited here for several years.....
Upon my arrival in Dhaka/Bangladesh on the 21st of November I stayed several days in our main temple of Swamibag, gave a couple of SB classes and met with the devotees in private discussions.
Recently we have had a lot of improvements in the managerial structure of ISKCON Bangladesh, with each and every division being overseen by a local leader and a management board. This allows the younger generation of leaders to grow up and take charge, which is certainly a positive development. I arrived in Kolkata on the 17th of November to offer a two-day seminar for the ladies over the weekend. The local devotees had chosen the topic "Being a Homemaker: Honor or Disgrace?" - a highly relevant subject for the young generation of ladies in modern India.
When visiting the Bangalore yatra one year ago - in Kartik 2016, the idea had come up to conduct a Holy Name Retreat for the main three communities in Bangalore. We had checked out a nice retreat center just outside of Bangalore and had found it very suitable for such event: it could easily accomodate around one hundred devotees, and there was a seminar hall also. It was in a peaceful and quiet setting - with gardens, away from traffic noise. A nice place to go into seclusion in order to deepen our relationship with the holy name.....
I had visited the devotees in Chandigarh once before around three years ago, and now I was scheduled to offer the seminar on the Vanaprastha Ashram. The devotees of this community are always very eager to attend systematic educational seminars, and it was a great pleasure for me to serve them. I was accomodated in a comfortable room in the temple Guest House, and the devotees took nicely care of me, considering very carefully all my special diet requirements. And the Deities of Sri Sri Radha Madhava are simply so beautiful!
Cologne had become my base within Europe - from where I fly back and forth to India. Now I was busy getting ready for my upcoming trip back to Delhi, repacking things and doing last minute errands. It was gradually getting cold here - time for me to move over to the other side of the world and continue my service over there.......
On my arrival in Goloka Dham on the 26th of September I met up with Lisa from Kiev, who I had invited to accompany me for three weeks in Germany. We spent ten days here at the peaceful abode of Sri Sri Radha Madana Mohan. I had come to spend a little time in seclusion, working on some writing projects and catching up on various things which I had put aside. Devotees have urged me to travel at a slower pace and take out some little time every now and again. And I had felt it is a valid suggestion. After all I will be turning 60 next year, which requires some little adjustment to keep the pace. Goloka Dham is a very suitable place for going in seclusion, and the surrounding nature and forests invite for contemplative walks.
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Devaki Devi Dasi's Travel DiaryDevaki Devi Dasi is sharing her realizations and adventures in her Traveling Diary.Welcome to relish this nectar! Archives
January 2026
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