The Indonesian devotees took up this year’s World Holy Name Week with great zest. Youth from all the temples/communities united to perform a Harinama Yajna never before held.
On the first day, a 12 Hour Kirtan at the Sri Sri Radha Madhava Asrama (Gianyar, Bali) with His Holiness Kavicandra Swami (Co-GBC for Indonesia), His Holiness Ramai Swami (Co-GBC for Indonesia) and His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami in attendance. Devotees from the 5 temples and 3 centres took turns to complete the 12 Hours. After that, up until the first of October, 6 Hour Kirtans were held everyday at all of Bali’s temples and centres. On the weekends, it was maha harinam time, with the highlight being the Maha Harinama at Double-Six (Kuta) Beach at sunset on the 27th, with at least 40 devotees in attendance. On the 2nd of October, 1 Hour Japas and 5 Hour Kirtans were held at all the temples.
The last weekend geared for the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in the USA. Indonesia’s ISKCON 50 committee decided to use the tithi (Vaisnava/Lunar calendar) dates to celebrate this event. His Holiness Ramai Swami, a life size murti of Srila Prabhupada, and a few devotees took boats from the Benoa Peninsula (Badung, Bali) to Mertasari Beach (Denpasar, Bali). At the beach, devotees, geared head to toe in traditional Hindu Balinese wear, carried Srila Prabhupada to the main altar. Prabhupada was greeted with a sacred Balinese dance, performed exclusively for temple rites and of course, a full course Raja Bhoga offering. A grand Guru-puja was held with devotees from other parts of Indonesia present. A revised edition of Satsvarupa Dasa Gosvami’s book “Prabhupada” was released and commitments were made to distribute 50,000 Bhagavad-gitas up until July of 2016 to celebrate the 50th.
The celebration doesn’t stop here, as after the Harinama Yajna has been performed, the ISKCON 50 celebrations starts escalating month by month. Reporting from Indonesia, Ravinjay.
Pictures taken by: Bhakta Dandavat Pranam, Anantavijaya dasa, Aryo Agung, Srinidhi dasa and Sri Sudevi devi dasi.
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