We felt so delighted to see many young children and teenagers were offering ghee lamps to the Lord. For many, they have achieved exalted piety by the unknowing performance of pure devotional service, without spiritual knowledge (ajñata-sukriti). We prayed that by associating with a devotee of Krishna, the seed of bhakti would sprout one day.
Devotee and congregation members reached out to different spots in Hong Kong (Kowloon area) and shared the blessings of offering ghee lamps in the month of Kartik. People from all walks of life came forward and offered their prayers. We felt so touched and grateful by their sincerity and dedication.
Mobile Temple: Harinam Deities Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Mother Yasoda Lord Damodara Deities and Photo Frame, Ghee Lamps, Maha Flower garlands
By Lilamayi Radha dasi
For the past 3 years, ISKCON Hong Kong has launched an outreach Sri Damodara Street program during the all auspicious Kartik month. This year was no exception. Devotees set up a mini mobile temple on the street and warmly invited the passers-by to offer ghee lamps to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Sri Sri Yasoda Damodara Deities. This program was accompanied with sweet chanting of the holy names, lovely prasadam and book distribution. In the face of the epidemic, we immensely felt that the message of Godhead was much needed in the society to give both the dressed and distressed light and hope.
Temple and congregational devotees worked together enthusiastically in distributing books, spreading the holy names, preparing materials and prasadam for distribution and sponsoring the program. We went out three times a week, to the streets in crowded areas (usually outside the subway stations) and took advantage of the Damodara month which is “a special inducement for persons who are not in Krishna consciousness to perform some devotional service”.(SPL to HH Jayapataka, 30th January, 1969).
Gayatri Devi Dasi described the scene as “people lining up to offer a lamp to the Deities, and included people from all walks of life: babies in prams, children, the young and middle-aged, family, elderly, a friend in an armrest bracket and even a Tibetan Buddhist monk…” She shared her personal experience during the street program, “One young lady was very emotional. She said she had a strong feeling while reciting the maha-mantra and felt like crying. It seemed like God was calling to her. She told me she was a Christian and had not gone to church for a long time, and that her mother was sick in hospital, but she could not visit her. She was in great anxiety. I said, ‘Yes, the maha-mantra is very powerful,’. I advised her to chant the maha-mantra for her mom and for herself to attain peace of mind. She looked very touched and expressed her gratitude.”
Three years running now, the program is a great success, with almost 500 books distributed this year. Despite COVID-19 casting a shadow over the City, the devotees’ enthusiasm brightened the hearts of the people and provided hope for a better future under the shelter of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Sankirtan movement.
Hong Kong Sri Damodara Street Program ki Jai!
Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!
Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=92417
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