By Bhakta Pagehyasa
More photos here: https://www.facebook.com/hari.sukrawan/posts/4425438854583? comment_id=4128435&offset=0& total_comments=1¬if_t=feed_comment
Srila Prabhupada frequently impressed upon the devotees that ‘prasadam’ is meant for all, there is no distinction of high or low position and rich or poor. Actually everyone is poor because they are bereft of Krishna consciousness and everyone should get the opportunity to hear the names of Krishna and taste mahaprasad thereby they can very quickly revive their lost Krishna consciousness.
“….Temple means festivals and festivals mean chanting and distribution of prasadam.”
(letter to Tamala Krsna,1973)
It may be difficult to invite people for coming to ISCKON temple. They may reject our books or may not be able to appreciate harinam sankirtan. But generally we find that they do not refuse to accept good quality food given freely. The food we mention here is Krsna prasadam. One who distribute the message of Lord Krishna becomes very dear to Him; and Krishna prasadam is non different from Krishna himself therefore devotees who distribute prasadam also becomes very dear to lord Krishna. By the inspiration of HH. Subhag Swami Maharaj, the devotees in Bandung (West Java) and Jakarta had their first Food for Life program.
On Saturday, July 20, 2013 Jakarta food for life team lead by Sudha Bhajan Das and In Bandung, Lokanatha Acarya Das did prasadam distribution to the public. Vaisnavas are by nature compasionate to other living entities therefore devotees follow in their foot steps and distribute prasadam and harinam for the welfare of others.
In Jakarta, the location of food for life was at the gate of Pasar Baru, Jakarta Pusat. Pasar Baru is a shopping complex made by the Dutch colonisers For business purpose and now it serves as a market hub where many people from different backgrounds come to interact. This being the month of Ramadan, the food for life program was very special as to the surprise of the devotees many people of other faiths besides the hindus very warmly appreciated the devotees’ efforts and happily accepted the mahaprasad. Most of the people were very excited to spontaneously asked for prasadam and within 20 minutes almost 300 glasses of prasadam were distributed.
This gave so much happiness and joy to the devotees because it was the first food for life in Jakarta and it ran very smoothly and was highly succesful. Along food distribution, the devotees continously sang Hare Krsna Maha Mantra. The public could feel the joys listening to the kirtan that lasted for 2 hours. This food for life was supported by Bhakta Arya, Bhakta Pusarkaya, Ramagopal Das, Bhakta Chesta Wibisana, and many others.
Comments