New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Dear Brijabasis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

I would like to express my deep gratitude to all the community members and temple devotees who made the Janmastami Festivals, Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance Day and Labor Day weekend a big success. Many pilgrims approached me to express their heartfelt thanks for the experience New Vrindaban offered them.

I will not name each individual devotee herein as I am unable to recall each and everybody who has served so nicely over the last week and do not wish to risk omitting anyone.

I would especially like to thank the Pujari Department for the exquisite dressing of Their Lordships on Janmastami morning – the darshan was mind blowing. Thanks also for the wonderful Flower Outfit at midnight. It was simply overwhelming.

Thank you to those who created the astonishing set up for Srila Prabhupada’s vyasasana on his Appearance Day.  At 2 am in the morning of Vyasa Puja, I was thinking that I am the last one wandering around the temple, only to be surprised a small crew of dedicated devotees who were hard at work decorating the vysasana.

Thank you for the hard work in the Kitchen over these days. Dear Community Members, please accept our sincere apologies that we were unable to cook a proper feast on Srila Prabhupada Appearance Day. As a result, we hear with pleasure that some of the extraordinary NV Maharathi Cook Elder’s (heroes) have agreed to take care of Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day feast.

Thank you to the CD department for their hard work in contacting so many donors for the Janmastami Festivals, for the incredible program on the festival days as well as the team spirit they have developed. A number of guests recognized and appreciated the nice cooperation.

Thank you to the Lodge crew and manager who handled all challenges very smoothly over the festivals and made our guests feel comfortable.

A round of applause to the Restaurant Crew who once more managed to properly serve a very large number of guests, keeping them satisfied.

The Palace of Gold crew has done a fantastic service by giving an incredible number of tours. I do not remember seeing so many cars parked around the Palace over the last three years.

The Rose Garden and the flowers around the Palace are currently in full bloom and touch many hearts. Thank you the glorious garden crew for this wonderful gift to Srila Prabhupada on his Appearance Day.

Last, but not least: the Goshalla Team of cow herds has shown their wonderful care by presenting our new baby bull, Pundarikaksa, with his mother Surabhi to our guests on different festival days.

Thanks to all of you for participating in the festivals. Many devotees and Prabhupada disciples (a new record over the last three years) participated in his Appearance Day celebrations in the morning at the temple as well as at his Palace of Gold later in the evening.

I am very grateful that more community members are participating in festival celebrations, contributing to a new team spirit that is slowly developing at the temple.

I request your blessings that I may continue as your servant,

Jaya Krsna das
Community President
ISKCON New Vrindaban