A devotee named Swaroop Dasa organized a wonderfully devotional and grand Harinam Sankirtan Padayatra in a spiritually uplifting atmosphere on the auspicious occasion of Hanuman Jayanti Mahamahotsav in the town of Chikhli, located in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra.
This was the first time such a magnificent Harinam Sankirtan procession was organized in Chikhli through ISKCON, and the townspeople enthusiastically participated in it. To support this padayatra, Swaroop Dasa invited a kirtan group of ISKCON devotees from Tembhurni, a town located 50 km away. Key participants included Shri Laxman Prabhu, Shri Kailash Prabha, Shri Jagdish Prabhu, Shri Ramdas Prabhu, Smt. Raslila Devi Mataji, Smt. Kalavati Mataji, Smt. Rutuja Mataji, and Smt. Lata Mataji.
When Swaroop Dasa first took the resolve to organize this event, he did not even have a sound system. However, he managed to arrange one with the help of his friends and through small donations. He also collected funds for the travel and arrangements of the Sankirtan group. He carried out this service with great humility and devotion.
It is worth noting that Swaroop Dasa is still a student, yet whenever he gets time from his studies, he visits various schools and colleges in Chikhli to engage students and villagers in chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. He also gives lectures on the essential teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam and conducts seminars in colleges. Alongside this, he is actively engaged in distributing spiritual books with great faith and enthusiasm.
There is a beautiful Marathi saying – “Moorti Lahaan, Pan Keerti Mahaan” – which means: Though young in age, his deeds are truly impactful.
Among my friends, I have seen very few personalities as devoted and committed to the preaching mission of Srila Prabhupada as our dear Swaroop Dasa.
All of us devotees pray at the lotus feet of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurachandra that Swaroop Prabhu Ji’s spiritual journey continues to progress and that his enthusiasm for preaching ever increases.
Hare Krishna!
