By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
From November 28-December 1, 2024, the New Navadvip Dham in Mcallen, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, hosted the Harinam Gratitude Festival, which brought together over 180 devotees in a celebration that served as a heartfelt expression of gratitude, aligning beautifully with the spirit of Thanksgiving, a holiday widely celebrated in the United States.
The first day of the festival began with a Lord Narasimhadev yajna fire sacrifice conducted by Dhruv Das, honoring the Gita Jayanti where devotees chanted 700 verses from the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. The evening concluded with an inspiring kirtan led by the dynamic youth team, followed by the second day featuring the first-ever New Navadvip Parikrama, where devotees went on a hayride, Atvs, and motor vehicles across the farm, re-creating the spirit of traditional parikramas with chanting and kirtan. In the afternoon, devotees in spite of the cold weather, visited the South Padre Beach and offered Harinam on the beach. The evening continued with a campfire kirtan, where children delighted in making s’mores, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere. The night culminated in an enchanting late-night kirtan led by Abhay Das, which left participants spiritually elevated and connected.
The third day brought engagements of devotees in various activities such as farm tours, fruit picking, horse rides, and cow cuddling followed by an outdoor kirtan led by Vatsal Das. The evening closed with a vibrant fireworks display, accompanied by warm fellowship and delicious prasadam, leaving everyone in high spirits. The final day was marked by devotee panel discussions, where participants reflected on their festival experiences and shared inspirations for future spiritual endeavors. With breakfast prasadam and takeaway meals for the journey home, the festival ended on a note of gratitude and renewed enthusiasm.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/thanks-and-devotion-draws-devotees-to-festival-in-new-navadvip-dham/
Comments