May 28, 2003

After many months of planning, the day had arrived for Avadhuta Siromani Das and his wife, Candrabhaga Devi Dasi, to start on a journey they had anxiously been waiting for.

The Padayatra horses and the wagon were ready, Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar had been installed in a grand ceremony, and the towns and villages the Padayatra will pass through had been charted out. Now was the time to take the blessings of all the Vaishnavas present, Srila Prabhupada, and Sri Sri Radha Damodara.

On this auspicious occasion, a coconut was broken and distributed to everyone as prasadam. Then, at around 5 pm, the Padayatra started, with about 15 devotees and gurukula students following the wagon and having kirtan. They accompanied the Padayatris for two miles and then watched the devotees and the wagon move further and further away.

There were mixed feelings. Everyone was happy to see the two devotees leave on this great mission, but at the same time there was a sad feeling of separation.

The Padayatris are traveling with Deities of Sri Sri Nita Gaurasundar from Navadvip, a small brown marble Deity of Ugra Nrsimhadeva (the one that used to travel in the bus program), a small brass murti of Srila Prabhupada, a picture of Sri Sri Radha Damodara, a bottle of water from Radha Kunda, books, and prasadam.

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— Padayatra office

© dipika.org June 3, 2003