I remember watching a kirtana festival some years ago. I saw a devotee wearing a t-shirt with the wording: ‘This is what we do,’ which was quite impressive.
Actually, chanting the holy name in congregation is indeed what Hare Krishna devotees are supposed to do. Now different kirtana events are happening more and more at New Govardhana.
Did you know that there is kirtana every night at the temple? Feel free to come to the temple at 7pm for a lively kirtana.
Resident brahmachari Suratanatha dasa says, “Bhakta Mark and I used to have kirtana after evening prasadam at the temple. It was Shyamamrita mataji who encouraged us to do so more often. So we started to sing every night in the temple room and more people became involved. Now we have regular devotee attendance.
“Kirtana is great for the community because everyone can easily get together through chanting. We want to keep this happening,” he says.
Not only Hare Krishna devotees but also other spiritual seekers regularly attend nightly kirtana.
Andrew from Canberra explains, “The reason why I practice kirtana daily is that I have an over-active sympathetic nervous system due to complex child trauma. I am experimenting with various yoga practices as a treatment modality.”
Kirtana is on every night and every day at New Govardhana! As part of the Krishna Village program for the yoga teacher trainers and volunteers, there is daytime kirtana at the yoga hall in the Krishna Village at 12.30pm. Everyone is welcome, not just the Krishna Village residents.
There are also regular kirtana programs held in the Murwillumbah community of devotees.
Check out the weekly kirtana at Ekadasi’s place on Thursdays, 2.30pm at 10 Mt Lindesay Avenue. You can contact Vishnujana dasa for more information on 0498 141 021.
There is also a bhajana program with Ambika devi dasi, also at Ekadasi’s home, every Tuesday at 10am. Please contact her for more details
0434 214 186; ambikalambert@gmail.com.
In the Byron Bay area, there were interesting kirtana gatherings in June and July called ‘Kirtana Mandala’.
Mukunda dasa, organiser of this gathering, says, “For a few years I have been invited to do kirtana, share a little on Vaishnava culture and support touring kirtana presenters in yoga schools and functions around Byron.
“There are many different spiritual communities in the Byron Bay area, along with a strong presence of followers of Lord Shiva. The theme of the gathering focuses on how Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva glorify each other. It shows our respect to other cultures and spiritual paths.
Nama hatta programs are essential in community bonding and cultivation of the devotion creeper,” Mukunda says.
The next gathering is not scheduled as yet, but he is hoping it will become a regular feature in the area. The location of this event is at 266 Kennedys Lane, Myocum NSW 2481. For more information, please contact Mukunda. (Facebook: Michael Bereseford)
In the meantime, don’t forget that the Byron Bay kirtana still goes on every Wednesday at Railway Park from 10.30pm to 1.30pm. There is a book distribution table and kirtana under the Hare Krishna tent donated by Parama Karuna dasa. Anyone is welcome to join in. For details, please contact Parama Karuna dasa on 0470 684 705.
New Govardhana community is also launching a monthly kirtana mela for local devotees.
“We originally began kirtana mela a few months ago, but it had stopped temporarily due to other commitments. I noticed that many devotees on the farm were becoming interested in this regular kirtana program,” says Vasustrestha dasa. “We started to organise it in May this year, which was very successful.
“It was nice to see that young gurukula students, Krishna Village guests and devotees all joined together to chant the holy name,” he says.
The next kirtana mela is on 12 August, starting from 3pm, followed by a feast at 6pm and Gaura arati. For more information or to book in to lead a kirtana at the mela, please contact Jhulan devi dasi on: 0404 242 694
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