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USA March 27, 2000 VNN5755 Comment on this story Waves Of Love Hit Laguna Beach BY GAURIDASA PANDITA DASA LAGUNA BEACH, USA, Mar 27 (VNN) — Lord Chaitanya's Festival Report - Annual Festival a Blissful Event The festival for Lord Chaitanya in Laguna Beach was simply wonderful. Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai were taken on the Maha-Harinama through the tourist filled town and to the beautiful beach. Although we tried to contain all of the 200 +- Devotees on the extra wide sidewalks the Harinama kept increasing and the devotees jubilantly overflowed into the street for two blocks. As Their Lordships were taken on Their transcendental procession the conch shell blew.
When the Harinama arrived at the Beach we cooked up the Kirtan for quite awhile as Their lordships faced the beautiful ocean with nice waves breaking. Of course the real waves breaking were from congregational chanting of the Holy Names. The sound of 'Gouranga' Goura Nityananda Bol and Haribol etc. filled the air and created quite a nice scene. As we left the beach area we went on the grass and devotees began to jump to the beat crisscrossing across the grass. Everyone was happy and united in the Holy Names. After Harinama was performed very vigorously the devotees were treated to a spectacular feast fit for a king. So it was fitting to offer to Lord Chaitanya. The Gouranga Potatoes were mouthwatering with cauliflower added and the curd subji was out of this world! Tukarama Prabhu, the TP, acknowledged all of the many devotees who helped put on the great festival. Some such as his wife only slept a few hours so she could cook three first class subji's. New outfits were prepared for Panca Tattva and Their chadurs were hand painted. Another highlight of the festival for me was the play. The voices were recorded with other background noises very well and the devotee actors were funny and intense. When Lord Chaitanya charged to slay Jagai or Madhai with his Chakra and Lord Nityananda stopped him with a bleeding head my heart jumped. A play of the Age of Kali I saw in Vancouver in 1974 convinced me of the philosophy. Plays are a very powerful preaching tool and I am glad whenever I get a chance to see a devotee performance such as we had in Laguna. Lord Chaitanya showered His mercy on the devotees from all camps. I was convinced that when it comes to the essence of devotional service we are all together. a nice tribute to Srila Prabhupada was made by Sudhanidhi Prabhu who also led a rousing Kirtan. Earlier in the Program Hrdayananda Maharaja gave a class wherein he described the ills of ISKCON quite extensively for quite awhile until Badrinarayana Prabhu, the local GBC, asked the Maharaja if he had anything else on his mind that he could talk about. The Maharaja thought for a second then started talking about the faults of the Zonal Acharya system that ISKCON has been following since Srila Prabhpada's physical departure. I was standing and ready to enter into the discusion but I thought on this day I better just meditate on and worship Lord Chaitanya without politics. Sri Sri Guru and Gouranga will take care of everything in time. Practicing the Yuga Dharma, Harinama Sankirtana, is more important and talking about it and wasting valuable time. Of course we need to deal with our problems and the Maharaja mentioned in his class also, that istagosthis are very important, and needed to improve our relationships and devotional services. He spoke in support of women in the fronts of the temples saying what woman would want to join today if she has to march to the back all of the time? We could leave our bodies at any moment and we need to get a good hold on the mercy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu right away. We have to just take the mercy of the Lord. It's the most wonderful thing for all of us. All glories to all of the Devotees who participated in this annual event. It is held the Saturday following Gaura-Pournima every year. That way there is more mercy to go around. Some devotees can have Goura-Pournima celebrations 2 or 3 times! Nitai-Goura Prem Ananda!! Hope to see you all there next year! Yours in the service of Sri Sri Guru & Gouranga Gauridasa Pandita Dasa Gauridas@AOL.Com Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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