Chida-Dahi festival<\/strong><\/p>\n The festival came about in Panihati where Raghunatha Dasa was going to meet Nityananda Prabhu, who was sitting under a banyan tree surrounded by many devotees. Raghunatha Dasa was hesitant to approach the Lord, and so paid his obeisances from afar. Some of the devotees saw him and told Lord Nityananda, who called Raghunatha Dasa and said \u201cRaghunatha Dasa! You are hiding like a thief. Now I have caught hold of you. Come here. Today I shall punish you.\u201d Nityananda Prabhu then put His lotus feet on Raghunatha\u2019s head and ordered him to hold a big festival and to serve all the devotees yogurt and chipped rice. The Chida-dahi festival is celebrated in honor of this pastime. The festival is also known as the \u2018Danda Mahotsava\u2019 (Festival of Punishment) and is celebrated in the month of Jyeshta (May to June). Many pilgrims visit Panihati to this day to celebrate this festival.<\/p>\n The Lord\u2019s mercy<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the ladies from the congregation donated 7000\/ Rs for the hall where we had the program. Before the program I heard that the owner of the hall is involved in preaching about Hindu dharma. I also heard he really likes people who are preaching about dharma and who worship Lord Krsna. So, when we arrived at the venue I spoke to him and explained that we are also serving the same cause as he. He was very happy to hear this and immediately returned the 7000\/ Rs and he gave us a donation of 1000\/ Rs too. Haribol!<\/p>\n Mercy of Sanny\u0101s\u012bs<\/strong><\/p>\n This year has been very special because we have been blessed with the association of so many sanny\u0101s\u012bs. Vedavyas Priya Maharaj had joined our p\u0101da-y\u0101tr\u0101 party for four days. We were so happy to receive Maharaj and welcomed him with all our hearts. We showed him the p\u0101da-y\u0101tr\u0101 newsletter which he was really happy to read. Maharaj said that the glories of p\u0101da-y\u0101tr\u0101 should spread throughout the world. He encouraged us to keep publishing the newsletter and to continue to inform people about Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar, how They are walking and spreading the glories of the Holy names. Maharaj also said every devotee should go on p\u0101da-y\u0101tr\u0101 for at least twenty-days and ended by saying it is a wonderful experience.<\/p>\n Rupa Ragunath Maharaj who had been travelling with us for one month left on June 14th<\/sup> for Argentina. He said next time he will stay with us for two months. Bhakti Vinod Maharaj who is currently with us on p\u0101da-y\u0101tr\u0101, helped us a lot during our journey in Kerala. Whenever our book stock was finished we would inform Maharaj and he would immediately send for more books. Wherever we travelled he would always inform the leaders of each namahatta group and ask them to make the necessary arrangements for us. He told them that the p\u0101da-y\u0101tris should feel at home and should not face any inconveniences while in that particular place.<\/p>\n Krishna\u2019s mercy on Sahadev Dasa<\/strong><\/p>\n Sahadev Dasa originally from Russia, joined us on p\u0101da-y\u0101tr\u0101 at Trivandrum. When he arrived at the Chennai train station he was robbed of all his belongs: his wallet, camera, everything was gone. He was left empty handed. He remembered this verse from \u015ar\u012bmad-Bh\u0101gavatam at the time:<\/p>\n yasyaham anugrhnami\u00a0 harisye tad-dhanam sanaih<\/em><\/p>\n tato \u2019dhanam tyajanty asya\u00a0 svajana duhkha-duhkhitam<\/em><\/p>\n (SB 10.88.8)<\/p>\n \u201cThe Personality of Godhead said: If I especially favor someone, I gradually deprive him of his wealth. Then the relatives and friends of such a poverty-stricken man abandon him. In this way he suffers one distress after another.\u201d<\/p>\n With determination he thought, \u2018I have come to join p\u0101da-y\u0101tr\u0101 and I will join.\u2019 Somehow or other he managed to reach our p\u0101da-y\u0101tr\u0101 party. He said, \u201cMy heart was pulled towards Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar and I am happy being on p\u0101da-y\u0101tr\u0101.\u201d<\/p>\n Sri Sri Nitai Gauarsundar ki! Jai!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
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