– Lokanath Swami Maharaj started first Padyatra in ISKCON
Nagpur :- The ISKCON Maharashtra Padyatra received a grand welcome in Nagpur today. The journey, which passed through Jalana, Pachora, Jalgaon, Akola, Amravati, Wardha and Imperian City (Kotewada) arrived at the Airport Metro Station South, where a large number of devotees and local citizens welcomed the padayatris.
On this occasion, Vrajendratanay Prabhu, Vice President of ISKCON Nagpur, first garlanded the deities of Gaura Nitai and Srila Prabhupada seated on the Padyatra chariot. Following this, Prannath Prabhu garlanded Damodar Leela Prabhu, the head of the Maharashtra Padyatra, and other padayatra devotees including Radha Charan Prabhu/Radheshyam Prabhu, Balabhadra Jagannath Prabhu, Gopal Prabhu, Tusht Govind Prabhu, Hari Chaitanya Das Prabhu, Hari Prabhu, Gautam Prabhu, etc.
Afterwards, the assembled devotees performed the aarti of the Gaur Nitai and Srila Prabhupada with kirtan and dance on the Hare Krishna Mahamantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. A special bhoga offering was then made to the Lord.
In his address, Harikirtan Prabhu, Regional Secretary Assistant (RSA) of ISKCON, said that the first padayatra in ISKCON, carrying the Nitai Gaur Sunder on a bullock cart, was conducted by Srila Lokanath Swami Maharaj from Vrindavan to Mayapur in 1976-77 under the instruction of Srila Prabhupada.
Later, in 1984, for the pleasure of Prabhupada, Lokanath Swami Maharaj organized the All India Padayatra, which started from Dwarka and completed 6 parikramas of the entire country. The seventh parikrama is currently underway. After the Prabhupada Centennial, bullock cart padayatras were also conducted in 108 countries.
Many devotees were present in this program including Vishal Prabhu, Pandharinath Prabhu, Sudama Prabhu, Venugopal Prabhu, Nityananda Chaitanya Prabhu, Vishwaroop Prabhu, Ameyatma Prabhu, Prasanna Jeet Prabhu, Prathamesh Prabhu, Murli Madhav Prabhu, Shyam Nimai Prabhu, Kaushalendra Ram Prabhu, Amogh Leela Prabhu, Eknath Prabhu, etc.
Translation:
ISKCON Nagpur spokesperson Dr. Shyamsunder Sharma provided detailed information, stating that before the welcome ceremony of this Padyatra (foot journey), the Avinash Shinde family extended a welcome at the newly under-construction ISKCON temple in Imperian City. Following this welcome program, the Padyatra reached the Bhosle-era Murlidhar temple in Songaon, where the Damle family extended a welcome.
Subsequently, in Trimurti Nagar, RadhaJeevan Prabhu; in Laxmi Nagar, the Kartik Shende family of Vithoba Industries; in Shivaji Nagar/Shankar Nagar, the Nandkishore Sarda family; in Ram Nagar, the Devilal Jaiswal family; and in Dharampeth, the Dhanraj Khandelwal family honored Gour Nitai, Srila Prabhupada, and the devotees . When the Padyatra reached the ISKCON temple via Dharampeth, Children’s Park, Variety Chowk, Sitabardi Market, and Cotton Market, the devotees welcomed the Padyatra by performing dance and kirtan (devotional singing).
Dr. Sharma also informed that this Maharashtra Padyatra will stay in Nagpur for a month and will circumambulate the entire city.
– Dr. Shyam Sundar Sharma Spokesperson, ISKCON Nagpur
