WHN in Delhi NCR

The later half of September’2010 saw ISKCON Delhi abuzz with the World Holy Name Festival. This mega event which lasted for 17 days was earmarked by the distinct presence of Maha Harinama processions in different parts of the
city; attracting devotees, general attendees and passersby equally. The mission
of the World Holy Name Festival (17^th September 2010 to 3^rd
October 2010) was to connect and combine the efforts of all those who chant the
Holy Names into a concentrated global effort by seeking participation from
congregational members as well as the general public.

EAST DELHI

Though the World Holy Name Festival processions were taken out in East Delhi, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon & Faridabad, the one that created the maximum excitement was East Delhi where a Maha
Harinama was organized with the goal being World Peace and to welcome the
participants of the Common Wealth Games. Be
it senior Sanyasi and brahmachari-devotees, congregation members, Ashraya
members or Bhakti Vriksha members from across the Delhi
region, everyone took part in the East Delhi
procession. Saffron -clad, Tilak placard -holding devotees appeared like
jewels glittering in the midst of the general public.

Complementing them was the team of regular grahastha devotees and IYF members dapperly dressed in white Dhoti-Kurta, holding Chandan-Tilaks on their foreheads and displaying an ecstatic expression
while dancing. The Matajis too were unmatched in their enthusiasm. There were
immensely beatific smiles on the faces of all the assembled devotees, not
forced but which sprouted forth from within; something that is really scarce in
this age of chaos and quarrel. Initially hesitant to sing loudly and dance;

Within half an hour they were completely oblivious of the surroundings and were seen taking the lead in inviting other attendees. As it often happens, on-lookers
and bystanders looked puzzled by the ecstatic expressions on the face of
devotees and they were heard humming the Mahamantra while driving their way off.
The World Holy Name Festival was
celebrated with not
just great enthusiasm and loving hearts by devotees and general public, but
it was really high in its devotional opulance. The success of such procession can only be measured in
terms of engagement levels shown by general public and procession at East Delhi substantially succeeded in roping in the
general public and making them indulge in the taste of Harinama.

More than 1200 devotees gathered before the procession on the famous Vikas Marg with words of wisdom from HH Bhakti Raghava Swami Maharaja, HG Sridhama Pr, HG Mahamantra Pr and HG Shaunak Rsi Pr. As the
procession began, the road looked clearly demarcated into two; on the one hand
was the usual traffic and on the other hand was the procession immersed in the transcendental nectar of
Harinama. The magnificently tall Gaura-Nitai
deities from Panchsheel preaching center
were riding a bullock cart as part of the procession and remained the center of
attraction for everyone right through. People were seen glancing, peeping,
staring and adoring Their Lordships time and again. The blissful prasadam consisting
of 45 different dishes seemed to have done its trick as the procession started,
swaying, dancing and finally leaping! One half of the road was a flowing river of nectarean keertan and keertaniyas!
Armed with with banners, flags and
musical instruments,
here was war waged against Kali! Enroute, the main entire foot-over bridge was
covered with banners and posters of the Mahamantra, ensuring that everyone reads, recites, and
thus return to Godhead!

HG Mohan Rupa Pr, the temple president of ISKCON Delhi and all Keertaniyas bathed the entire District in unprecedented bliss by soul rending Keertan and the crowd wouldn’t stop dancing! Wompers, accordion,
african drums, kartalas and Sri Mridanga reverberated the thirsty atmosphere of
East Delhi and rained ecstasy all over.
The tumultous yet melodious keertan seamlessly created a rhythm and harmony in
the midst of traffic snarls in East Delhi. ISKCON Delhi’s World #1 book
distribution team also distributed Prabhupada books to nearby shop owners and
householders making it a spiritual goal oriented event as Srila Prabhupada
desired. After 7 kilometers ,the Hari Nama voyage of the devotees finally reached Preet Vihar the destination point, where
again a sumptuous feast was awaiting the devotees. They
chanted, they danced and they feasted and they made the citizens Happy and
purified- sarvaatma snapanam param
vijayate Sri Krishna sankeertanam!

Dr. A K Walia (Finance & Power minister in Delhi Govt.) was invited as the chief guest. He had won the Elections from East Delhi,
Geeta Colony three times and is quite a popular name amongst East
Delhi people and thus an opinion leader.

GURGAON

On September 26, 2010, ISKCON Gurgaon celebrated the WORLD HOLY NAME FESTIVAL. There were more than 300 devotees who joined the procession which started at 11 am and passed through Jharsa, Civil
Lines, Sadar Bazar and finally reached Dronacharya Govt
College. The participants
were not only from Gurgaon but from different parts of NCR and a few devotees
of Europe as well. There was a beautifully
decorated carriage, on which a huge painting of Lord Caitanya dancing before
the Ratha-Yatra cart was placed. While the core team of temple-devotees was
busy singing and dancing, other devotees very earnestly entertained queries of
general public; informing them about the Mahamantra, its benefits, Lord
Chaitanya etc. Through pamphlets,
Prabhupada books and of course word of mouth publicity!

DELHI

At the East of Kailash temple, IYF organized a Harinama Yajna for world peace on 2^nd of October, 2010. About 400 youth came to attend the Harinama. Nearly half of
the devotees that were assembled were from different BACES and the rest were
form IYF Delhi. Several temple devotees were also present. The Harinama was conducted
in the temple hall from 6 pm to 9 pm and was followed by a nice feast prasadam.
Overall the event was a great success and was an opportunity for the devotees
to establish and solidify their relationship with Krishna
and His devotees by chanting, dancing and feasting, in GuruGrama by Guru’s
mercy.

FARIDABAD

On 18^th Septmber, a Harinama procession was organized in Faridabad at Sec.15 Market. Here also a team of temple devotees, congregation members and other general public
participated with great enthusiasm over
an hour. Around 400 people participated from the congregation as well as from
the market place. This event was organized by the Sec. 15 market association.
After the kirtan a short lecture was delivered by HG Sarva Sakshi Pr. on the importance
of the holy name. Prasadam for all was distributed thereafter.

ISKCON Ghaziabad also organized a procession wherein around 300 devotees took part on the evening of 26^th September on the same day as Gurgaon.The Yatra started from and concluded
at

ISKCON Delhi and the entire congregation had the Perfect Question as to how to bring the citizens of Delhi closer
to Krishna and the Perfect Answer was Harinama! The Hare Krishna Challenge was to cover the huge territory of Delhi and
we realized that by distributing the responsibilities, we could easily be On the way to Krishna.In the end at East
of Kailash or East Delhi, Ghaziabad or Gurgaon and Faridabad or the Front of
the temple, it was the Matchless Gift of
the Mahamantra the glorious names of Krishna!