By Ritudvipa Gaurachandra Dasa (UP Padayatra leader)
On our padayatra journey we reached Raebareli, a city with a population of about 200,000 in south-central Uttar Pradesh. Wherever we go we try to preach to schoolchildren and their teachers about the importance of the Bhagavad-gita and how it will help to build their character and competence.
There are many schools within a 10km radius of Raebareli, and we obtained permission to hold a programme at one named Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Aihar village. Two schools nearby liked our sankirtan and people there suggested we do a programme at the mandir.
The pupils were very happy to have darshan of Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar, and they and their teachers were captivated by the huge horns of our majestic oxen. It was interesting to discuss the Bhagavad-gita with these little souls. We encouraged them to chant the holy name, and they all joined the sankirtan and danced with us. The students were then asked to write the Hare Krishna maha mantra in their schoolbooks, which they did happily. The padayatris told them stories of Prahlad Maharaja, Dhruva Maharaja and Lord Krishna. I explained to them how they can worship the Lord by chanting the maha mantra and studying nicely, that chanting will increase their concentration and help them in their studies. We also held a quiz on the Bhagavad-gita and the winners were gifted a copy.
We have had wonderful experiences in schools chanting and dancing with the students. We thanked the Saraswati Shishu Mandir school principal for giving us permission to present our programme and the teaching staff for helping us.
Srila Prabhupada ki jai.
