By Rasika Kanai Das
On the occasion of ‘Narottama Purnima’, the birth anniversary of Prema Bhakti Mahajan Srila Narottama Das Thakur Mahasaya with fully auspicious festivity in Kheturi Dham, Godagari, Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabu left behind Krishna Prema through Padmavati, the river Padma flowing by the side of Prematali, the most auspicious holy place for the vaishnavas. At the age of twelve Narottama dasa Thakura had a vision of Lord Nityananda in a dream. He told Narottama to take bath in the Padma River whereupon he would receive love of Godhead. Following the instructions of Lord Nityananda, Narottama bathed in the Padma regardless, and the Goddess of the river appeared and on the order of Lord Chaitanya, gave him pure love of Godhead. The color of His body changed into Gaura (Yellowish) from blackish.
Inspired by the words of HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, national committee of ISKCON Bangladesh and the senior devotees HG Navadvipa Dvija Gauranga Das Brahmacari, vice-president, ISKCON, Bangladesh, HG Caru Candra Das Brahmacari, secretary, ISKCON, Bangladesh, HG Patituddharana Gaura Das Brahmacari, HG Premranjan Das Brahmacari etc. arranged a grand program for the first time in Kheturi Dham. ISKCON devotees of nearby districts i.e. Rajshahi, Natore, Chapai Nawabganj, Dhaka, Pabna, Naogaon, Kustia, Sirajganj, Jhenidah lead by Ramesvara Gaura Das Br, Parthasarathi Das Br, Harinama Mahantra Das Br, Nandanandi Gopala Das Br, Ananta Lilamaya Das Br, Brajaraja Krsna Das Br, Vaisnavananda Das Br, Karuna Gaura Das Br, Tribhanga Mukunda Das Br respectively gathered there for the observance of festival. A number of devotees from ISKCON Natore and students of Rajshahi University guided by Namaprema Das Brahmacari volunteered for different services during the programme.
The grand program was arranged in Gaurangabari Temple, where Thakur Mahasaya installed six deities in the occasion of Gaura Purnima (Kheturi Mahotsav) in the presence of Jahnava Mata and other senior vaishnavas living that time. A makeshift pandal of cloth was erected in the courtyard of the temple. Devotees started Harinam Sankirtan very early in the morning. As the time passed by, the number of devotees started growing. At 11 am, the number of devotees crossed thousand. Then Maha-abhisekam of Narottama Das Thakur Mahasaya was done with the chanting of Holy Name and bhajans written by Him. Thereafter, Rajbhoga was offered with various items. Devotees fasted for half of the day. So delicious Krishna prasadam, rice, spinach, mixed vegetables (lafra), dal was served to the devotees in plate of banana-leaf and lotus-leaf.
Pandal was full to the brim during the afternoon session. Kirtaniyas sang the bhajan of Narottam Das Thakur Mahasaya in East-Bengal style for 2 hours. Then HG Patituddharan Gaura Das Brahmacari gave a full discourse on the life and teachings of Thakur Mahasaya and glory of Padmavati River. At last devotees were enchanted by the melodious chanting of Hare Krishna Mahamantra by HG Navadvipa Dvija Gauranga Das Brahmacari and HG Subha Nitai Das Brahmacari. Very soon devotees started dancing ecstatically.
In the evening, devotees moved to Prematali, where Thakur Mahasaya received krishnaprema. They circumambulated the ancient Tamala tree there. In the courtyard of Prematali temple, a drama on Thakur Mahasaya’s early life was staged. Then the wave of ecstatic kirtan melted the hearts of assembled devotees. This day was also marked auspicious as there was lunar eclipse in the evening. The transcendental mellow of kirtan engrossed everyone during the eclipse time. As soon as the eclipse time ended and full moon of Magha Purinma illuminated the river bank, devotees bathed in the sacred water of Padmavati River with ecstatic Harinam Sankirtan to get Krishna Prema. At 9.30 pm Kichri prasadam was served to the devotees. All the festivities came to end at that time. Devotees then started for their respective temples and houses with hope to meet each other in this same place next year. A team of sixty devotees led by HG Sarvesvara Govinda Das and HG Mani Gopal Das also visited that place a week before. They hold a three-day retreat of Harinama and Hari Katha there.
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