I arrived in Helsinki/Finland on the 12th of August and was grateful for the cooler temperatures and yet sunny weather. It was my first visit to this Vaishnava community - the devotees had eagerly requested me to stay on after Janmastami to offer some seminars. Their temple is a great place - in a central location, with lots of lawns and gardens around - a former center for old people. Some of the lawns belong to the city council, but the devotees are allowed to use them.
For Janmastami they made a great arrangement with a small stage for cultural programs and several tents offering all kinds of activities such as swinging Gopal, a book tent, prasadam tent, kids tent, shop, etc. Inside in the small temple room devotees engaged in ongoing kirtan, and a circular path allowed people to take darshan of Their Lordships. Around 3500 to 4000 guests visited throughout the day of Janmastami - mainly Nepalis and Indians; also some Western people attended the festivities.
Everything was amazingly well organised by a 27-year old devotee from an Indian background. We were lucky with the weather - Janmastami was one of the last warmer days in this nordic area, with only very little light rain.
For Janmastami they made a great arrangement with a small stage for cultural programs and several tents offering all kinds of activities such as swinging Gopal, a book tent, prasadam tent, kids tent, shop, etc. Inside in the small temple room devotees engaged in ongoing kirtan, and a circular path allowed people to take darshan of Their Lordships. Around 3500 to 4000 guests visited throughout the day of Janmastami - mainly Nepalis and Indians; also some Western people attended the festivities.
Everything was amazingly well organised by a 27-year old devotee from an Indian background. We were lucky with the weather - Janmastami was one of the last warmer days in this nordic area, with only very little light rain.
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Before the festival days, I went to the forest with devotees to collect some flowers and greens from nature, bought some extra flowers and made the vases for Srila Prabhupada's Vyasasana. It is my favorite service and meditation to tune my heart into an upcoming Vaishnava festival...
I offered the morning class on Janmastami sharing sweet and deep little details around Krishna's qualities and pastimes. One of my favorite episodes is described in the SB. 10.21.10:
"The peacocks dance madly when they hear Govinda's flute, and when other creatures see them from the hilltops, they all become stunned." And Srila Vishvanath Cakravarti Thakur explains: "In Vrindavana, the peacocks request Krishna, 'Govinda, please make us dance.' Thus Krishna plays His flute, and they surround Him in a circle and dance in time with the rhythm of His melody. And while standing in the midst of their dancing, He also sings and dances. Then those peacocks, who are fully satisfied with His musical performance, out of gratitude offer for His pleasure their own divine feathers. In the usual manner of musical performers, Krishna gladly accepts these presentations and places a feather upon the turban atop His head. Gentle animals such as deer and doves greatly relish the transcendental entertainment presented by Krishna, and to get a good view they flock to the peaks of hills. Then, as they watch the breathtaking program, they become stunned in ecstasy."
I also offered the afternoon class to the guests on the stage. Besides, I spent all day on my book table, blissfully reaching out to many devotees and visiting guests while engaging in meaningful exchanges.
I offered the morning class on Janmastami sharing sweet and deep little details around Krishna's qualities and pastimes. One of my favorite episodes is described in the SB. 10.21.10:
"The peacocks dance madly when they hear Govinda's flute, and when other creatures see them from the hilltops, they all become stunned." And Srila Vishvanath Cakravarti Thakur explains: "In Vrindavana, the peacocks request Krishna, 'Govinda, please make us dance.' Thus Krishna plays His flute, and they surround Him in a circle and dance in time with the rhythm of His melody. And while standing in the midst of their dancing, He also sings and dances. Then those peacocks, who are fully satisfied with His musical performance, out of gratitude offer for His pleasure their own divine feathers. In the usual manner of musical performers, Krishna gladly accepts these presentations and places a feather upon the turban atop His head. Gentle animals such as deer and doves greatly relish the transcendental entertainment presented by Krishna, and to get a good view they flock to the peaks of hills. Then, as they watch the breathtaking program, they become stunned in ecstasy."
I also offered the afternoon class to the guests on the stage. Besides, I spent all day on my book table, blissfully reaching out to many devotees and visiting guests while engaging in meaningful exchanges.
Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja - my favorite Vaishnava festival of the entire year - was meditative and had a sweet atmosphere. We started the program with Guru Puja to Srila Prabhupada followed by the first 30 minutes of Yadubara Prabhu's beautiful film in order to tune our hearts into remembering Srila Prabhupada. Devotees were moved, and some couldn't help but shed a few tears. Everyone had an opportunity to bathe Srila Prabhupada accompanied by a sweet and prayerful kirtan. Thereafter, I offered a class about Prabhupada being the Founder Acarya, which was well received. Devotees offered their homage to Srila Prabhupada in deep gratitude. The program concluded in Gurvastaka sung in the evening melody, when Prabhupada received 9 garlands covering him up to the neck. During the final joyful kirtan I relieved Prabhupada of some of the garlands and threw them into the crowd of ecstatically jumping devotees....
I remained in Helsinki for another 10 days, offering every evening a seminar session to an eager crowd of devotees.
On the 27th of August I flew on to Zagreb/Croatia...
https://www.facebook.com/iskconhelsinki/videos/729215616945606
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1944482142761645
https://www.facebook.com/iskconhelsinki/videos/738380315881494
Your servant, Devaki dd
Please visit www.theholynameretreat.net
www.therootsofspiritualculture.net
https://www.facebook.com/instituteforspiritualculture/
I remained in Helsinki for another 10 days, offering every evening a seminar session to an eager crowd of devotees.
On the 27th of August I flew on to Zagreb/Croatia...
https://www.facebook.com/iskconhelsinki/videos/729215616945606
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1944482142761645
https://www.facebook.com/iskconhelsinki/videos/738380315881494
Your servant, Devaki dd
Please visit www.theholynameretreat.net
www.therootsofspiritualculture.net
https://www.facebook.com/instituteforspiritualculture/
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