“East Meets West” In New Vrindaban Over Thanksgiving Weekend
Last weekend, over 1,000 people from across North America traveled to West Virginia to attend New Vrindaban Community’s free vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner and Gita Jayanti celebration. “There was something for everyone. It was the perfect combination of east and west,” said Sikhi Mahiti, President of New Vrindaban.
“Thanksgiving was an important holiday for my family when I was growing up. I wanted to create that same family atmosphere here for our guests,” said Sikhi Mahiti. The Krishna community began its Thanksgiving celebration with a worship ceremony accompanied by the chanting of the ancient Hare Krishna mantra. Following the worship service was an open discourse about gratitude. “Lord Krishna is so generous that it is not hard to be grateful. Even the air we breathe comes from the Lord. Lord Krishna is everyone’s well-wisher.” A vegetarian dinner, complete with home-made cranberry sauce, doughnuts and pumpkin pie rounded-out the day.
On Saturday, the Krishna community, along with millions of people across the world, celebrated Gita Jayanti with a traditional fire sacrifice and Sanskrit reading. “Gita Jayanti” is the day on which Lord Krishna spoke Bhagavad-Gita, one of the most revered scriptures in Hinduism. “Bhagavad-Gita teaches us the science of accepting life’s ups and downs without ever losing our faith in God. It is a survival guide for this material world.”
New Vrindaban Community is located south of Moundsville – Wheeling, off Route 250. For more information, contact (304) 843-1600 or mail@newvrindaban.com.
