Posted September 29, 2003

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Sri Radhastami:
The Appearance Day of Srimati Radharani.

The sweetest festival by far, this year's Radhastami Celebration at Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir, was a day to remember. Starting with the auspicious mangal arati ceremony, Sri Sri Radha Govinda's Temple was alive with excitement as the devotees gathered to greet Srimati Radharani on Her transcendental birthday. The Deities wore one of Their new night dresses, custom made in Vrindavan, India.

At 7:30 am, Sri Sri Radha Govinda were revealed in a stunning new silk dress, also made in Vrindavan. It was designed by HG Ramabhadra Prabhu and sponsored by longtime New York devotee Mahaprabhu Das. The landscape designs on this white and burnt-orange combination outfit evoked images of winter pastimes. After the morning program, the devotees chanted bhajans and kirtans as the bathing ceremony for Sri Sri Radha Krishna took place. This was a sweet ceremony for the many devotees who were able to attend the morning program.

After the abhiseka, Sri Sri Radha Govinda were offered 183 different foodstuffs for Their raj bhoga offering. It has been a tradition of the devotees at Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir, especially for the cooks in Srimati Radharani's kitchen, to cook as many items as they can for the pleasure of Srimati Radharani. After the raj bhoga arati, the devotees gathered in the prasadam hall to honor as much prasad as they could from the varieties of sweets, savories, vegetables, rices, other grains, and drinks that had been offered with love and devotion.

The program then continued at 6:00 pm with bhajans performed by Srikanta prabhu and other devotees. At 7:00 pm Sri Sri Radha Govinda were unveiled in unbelievable new stunning flower dresses, perhaps one of the best outfits ever offered to Sri Sri Radha Govinda in Their history of receiving service in New York City. According to Ramabhadra Prabhu, who dressed the Deities in their flower outfit that evening, this was the best dressing he has ever offered to Sri Sri Radha Govinda. With an array of button flowers, pom poms, roses, gardenias, and other assorted flowers, this outfit was a sight to remember.

In addition, Sri Sri Radha Krishna performed Their Jhulan Yatra pastime for the final time this year, as almost 400 devotees took their turn rendering personal service to Them by swinging them on Their ornate swing. The best part of the evening program was the almost-two-hour ecstatic kirtan. With its intensity and purity, it reminded many devotees of the old time kirtans from the historic era of the West 55th Street temple, as all the devotees chanted and danced with ecstasy.

Of course, who can have a festival without a feast to complete it? Radha-red plum chutney, paneer subji, and many other wonderful items were made by Srikanta prabhu and his team of volunteers on this glorious day for the hundreds of devotees who came out to celebrate the Appearance Day of Srimati Radharani in New York City.

For more photos, please visit the New York temple website http://www.radhagovinda.net/news

Twenty devotees from Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir made their way uptown to Bryant Park, behind the world-famous New York Public Library to chant and dance on a sunny Saturday afternoon. This time, the devotees were stationed on the sidewalk on 42nd Street and performed sankirtan for more than three hours. They distributed books and flyers and spread the holy name to the countless New Yorkers who passed by. On many occasions, people stopped in front of the kirtan party and joined in, dancing with glee as the holy names of Lord Sri Krishna spread throughout the midtown area.

In an effort to distribute the books of Srila Prabhupada, a devotee youth, Bhakta Cosmo Guariello Jr. came up with the initiative to place Srila Prabhupada's books in all of the local libraries in Brooklyn. With support and encouragement from the temple management and from Gauranga Prema prabhu and the BBT, he has already placed a set of seven small books in the four libraries closest to the temple. Soon he will expand to the other libraries in the borough of Brooklyn and perhaps to libraries all over the city. If you would like to learn more about this library program, please contact: HG Gauranga Prema Prabhu or Bhakta Cosmo, at the New York temple.

News Reports from Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir, New York City http://www.radhagovinda.net/news

© dipika.org September 29, 2003