The First New Year’s Bhakti Retreat at New Vrindaban

Posted by Vrindavana Das
January 8, 2015

by Lilasuka dasi

New Vrindaban’s 1^st New Year’s Bhakti Retreat from Wed. evening Dec. 31, 2014 to Sun. Jan. 4, 2015 was lively and family friendly. Devotees came in from many places outside West Virginia. His Grace Gopal Hari Prabhu came from Boise, ID. Several families from Detroit, MI mandir also came to participate. His Grace Jambavan das and his wife, Samvit dasi, and their 8 children came along with some others from the Detroit crew. There were also 12 devotees from Columbus, OH.

Young and older children keeping busy.

Both resident Brijabasis and the guests eagerly participated in all aspects of the weekend, from leading kirtans to making garlands. Attendance for this 1^st Bhakti Retreat was low, but there were many high points. The children enthusiastically and expertly (sometimes spontaneously) lead kirtans throughout the weekend. New Vrindaban’s own Gauranatraj Prabhu gave an uplifting Srimad Bhagavatam class early on Friday morning. His Holiness Varsana Maharaj mesmerized and enlivened everyone with his Gaura katha late on Saturday morning. Gopal Hari Prabhu (Boise) led a soothing bhajan on New Year’s Eve and at other times, and gave a very nice Srimad Bhagavatam class on Saturday morning. He also led a couple of workshops on “Ethics in the Mahbharata”. Jambavan Prabhu gave a nice Srimad Bhagavatam class on Sunday morning. New Vrindaban’s Sankirtan Prabhu also presented his special “Voyage to the West: Why & How the Hare Krishna Movement Came to America” in preparation for 2015, commemorating the 50^th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s Journey to America.

Gopal Hari Prabhu (Boise) gives class Saturday.

Jagannatha Kirtan Prabhu led a wonderful kirtan and Malati Prabhu’s Prabhupada Katha session was very popular. Radha devi (NV) and Sundari (Pgh) prepared sumptuous prasadam for everyone throughout the retreat.

Sumptuous Prasad

Many who participated in the New Vrindaban Bhakti Retreat assured us that they will come back to next year’s Retreat and bring their friends. They commented that this was the best way imaginable to bring in a new year – by associating intimately with the Lord’s devotees in the beautiful Radha Vrindaban Chandra Mandir, and by hearing Krsna katha to their heart’s content.