ISKCON Pune has been playing host to the annual Bhagavat Saptah presented by HH Lokanath Swami for 15 consecutive years now! The katha is held during the last week of the calendar year, and was held between 27th December 2016 through 2nd January 2017; in the largest auditorium in Pune city.
On this, the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON, HH Lokanath Swami dedicated the entire katha to the person bhagavat – HDG Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, as his final offering of the year. The katha was based primarily on content from Srila Prabhupada’s Lilamrita. The presentation this year was a brilliantly conceived and delivered audio-visual experience, with HH Lokanath Swami’s katha being interspersed with several pertinent audio and video clips.
The katha was attended by approximately 3000 - 5000 people daily, and was viewed online by upwards of 10000 people daily – this includes the telecast on Facebook and on mayapur.tv. Mayapur.tv in turn relayed this through their cable network in which they have a subscriber base of nearly 2 million home viewers!
In attendance were HG Mukunda Datta Prabhu and HG Sikhi Mahiti Prabhu; both disciples of Srila Prabhupada, as well as HH Ram Govinda Swami and many stalwart devotees. Besides these distinguished devotees, the katha was also attended by many local dignitaries. An international troupe of devotees from 10 different countries also regaled the audience with their ecstatic kirtans and cultural programs. HH Lokanath Swami led the kirtan to ring in the New Year, and thousands of devotees were spellbound and danced and participated in the kirtan beyond 1 am on 1st January!
HH Lokanath Swami presented the katha in a very seamless manner. On the first day, there was a discussion of Srila Prabhupada’s glorification as Mahabhagavat. The second day’s topic was “Lifetime in Preparation”, followed by “ISKCON around the World and in India” on the 3rd day. The 4th day was dedicated to personal reminiscences by HH Lokanath Swami, as well as of other disciples of Srila Prabhupada. On the 5th day, the topic was “Challenges and Struggles of Srila Prabhupada”, followed by “Srila Prabhupada and Caitanya Mahaprabhu” on day 6, and finally rounded off with “Teachings of Srila Prabhupada” on the 7th day.
The katha is an excellent platform for distribution of the transcendental literature published by Srila Prabhupada. The event saw 223 sets of Srimad Bhagavatam, 50 sets of Caitanya Caritamrita and 30 Bhagavad Gita – As It Is and 119 sets of Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita being distributed! Besides these, 256 Braja Mandal Darshan books were also distributed.
Besides books, around 30000 plates of full prasadam were distributed, the highlight being Srila Prabhupada’s favourite kachoris on the final day. The event also has preaching stalls set up, which enable new bhaktas to commence their spiritual journey. Many dozens of new bhaktas – especially youth - join ISKCON through this event every year. 100’s of guests chanted at least one round in these stalls, and also registered for various courses like Discover Yourself conducted by ISKCON Pune.
In conclusion, this was a truly memorable event, and many thousands of devotees were left with their hearts filled with appreciation of and love for HDG Srila Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!
Comments