10TH DEITIES ANNIVERSERY 2019
SKY IS THE LIMIT…
truly describes the 10TH GLORIOUS ANNIVERSARY of our Beloved Deities.
Our Beloved Deities reciprocate with one and all… of Their Love, Sky is the Limit.
Our Beloved Deities lovingly accept our offerings… of Their Mercy, Sky is the Limit.
Our Beloved Deities purify us by Their Darçana… of Their Compassion, Sky is the Limit.
Our Beloved Deities’ Anniversary, our feasting… of Their Celebrations, Sky is the Limit.
Many of those who are not yet a part of KARM Family, above introduction might not be well understood.. as to Which Celebration and Whose Celebration is being talked about..
It is very uncommon to hear about Präëa Pratiñöhita Deities anywhere… Isn’t it? Yes.. !!
And about Celebrating Their Appearance Day ? Possibly unheard by many of us..!
What to talk about celebrating Their Appearance Day every year… year after year… ? Unrealistic..!
And what about Celebrating Their 10th Anniversary… ? Surely Fantastical..!!
But this Apparent Fantasy is Reality at KARM… The 10th Glorious Appearance Day of our Beloved Deities, the Sevita Vigraha of our Revered ÇRÉ GURUDEVA, ÇRÉ ÇRÉ SACÉNANDANA JÉ MAHÄRÄJA, was celebrated with full vigour in a huge, grand, magnificent manner in New Delhi on May 18th-19th, 2019.
Like always, preparations began months before, including finalising the venue, the theme, searching for the markets for the gift ideas, the 56 Bhoga.. Only one thought that prevailed in over everyone’s mind was how to please the DEITIES more, what best can we do to make it more grand..
Such is Their Glory, Such are Their Magical Pastimes…
Though these Lélädhäré DEITIES keep performing several léläs from time to time. This year, on their 10th Appearance Day, they once again performed Vicitra Lélä. Tithi wise Their Appearance Day was on 18th of May this year when it was fasting for Nåsiàha Caturdaçé.. and by the Mercy of our ÇRÉ GURUDEVA, we got the Opportunity to celebrate Their Appearance Day not just on 1 day, but on 2 days.. Yes, it turned out to be 2 days celebrations.
On 18th of May Devotees did Their Abhiñeka, offered 56 Bhoga.. and on the very next day- the 19th, Grand Celebration was held..
Devotees enthusiastically served 56 Bhoga on the 18th, with only the name being 56 Bhoga, while the items crossing many many 56s to reach to 600+.
Cakes (both Anna and Non Anna) were lovingly prepared by Devotees representing the 10 Glorious Years with our DEITIES..
The Celebrations continued further the next day..The Theme finalised was Sky, depicting the line ‘Sky is the limit’, as the love, the reciprocations that we receive from our DEITIES, from our ÇRÉ GURUDEVA soo limitless, soo endless, just like the sky..
Devotees gathered at the Venue in the early morning hours and put all Their labour of love to decorate the hall to welcome therein the “LORD of Their Hearts”.
Some Devotees prepared beautiful raìgolé in line with the theme, while some decorated the Stage; some set ALTAR for the DEITIES, while some arranged 56 Bhogas Tables; some decorated the Cake Table while some did the Entrance Gate.. Royal Feast was also been cooked alongside. Final Play rehearsals went on one side while Çaìkha Practice continued on the other.. This way, the preparations continued till last minute, till everything was ready.
56 Bhoga, as said, was not just 56, but multiple 56s (chappanno kä bhoga)..spreading all across 10 tables, crossing all possible limits and totalling more than 3,650 plus.
Each Devotee had His/Her own separate 56 items..ranging from drinks to sweets to fruits to dry fruits to panjérés to pickles to biscuits to namkeens to laddus to dosäs to pakoräs and so on…
While one Devotee tried to serve not just 1, 2 or 5 but more than 56 things for DEITIES ÇÅNGÄRA including the armlets, the comb, the bed, the anklets, another served 10 varieties of 56 Bhoga each.. One devotee made more than 70 different varieties of dosä, yet another cooked varieties of sweet pürés and panjérés.. Dry fruits of 56 types were served by One while there were many Devotees who offered Thälas of 56 types of sweets. A huge basket of exclusive fruits was the heart-filled offering of a devotee. Gujarati Namkeens, Bihar Khajures, Imported Juices, etc also added to the list. Kids of Devotees also made their individual offerings for the Deities.
Then came the BLESSED MOMENT for which everyone’s eyes were restlessly waiting. Our revered ÇRÉ GURUDEVA ARRIVED amongst the blowing of conchshells, resounding of ullu dhvani, Kértanas and showering of flowers by Devotees, turning the entire aura to be very charismatic..
ÇRÉ GURUDEVA Lovingly offered 56 Bhogas to the DEITIES… Appreciated the efforts put in by all the Devotees in serving Bhogas for the pleasure of the Lord..
Not just that, ÇRÉ GURUDEVA thereafter did the çångära of the DEITIES with all the paraphernalia. The splendid darçana of çångära of the DEITIES performed by ÇRÉ GURUDEVA, the LORD THEMSELVES, left everyone drowning in the ecstatic ocean of bliss.
Then was the time for the Play and Slideshows.. Play reflecting how a devotee should be was enacted wonderfully by the devotees. Slideshows reflecting the 10 BEAUTIFUL YEARS with DEITIES, Their Reciprocations was shown.
Soon after arrived the long awaited, rather the ever-awaited moment, when ÇRÉ GURUDEVA PRESIDED over VYÄSA ÄSANA on the request of devotees and quenched the thirst of the thirsty ears of the Devotees with the shower of THEIR VACANÄMÅTA..
Through the Eye-opening discourse, ÇRÉ GURUDEVA EXPLAINED- Be 100% sure of who you REALLY are- a particle OR A person..!! (Watch Video, Hear Audio). This was followed by a very small but absolutely soul stirring Kértana of 5 minutes.
The Celebration continued further with the Cutting of a very beautiful Sky Cake by ÇRÉ GURUDEVA.
Then the Fortunate Devotees got the rarest Opportunity to try to serve Offerings to ÇRÉ GURUDEVA and to each other for seeking their Blessings and thus once again making alive Çré Rüpa Gosvämé’s Instruction on dadäti pratigåhëäti.
Reflecting celebration time even through gifts, Boxes of Sweets and bhäjé were served by a devotee. A loving way to say everyone cares for everyone.. Drinks like ORS, Glucon D, Tang, Khus Syrup, Butterscotch Syrup, öhaëòäé, milk bottles etc to beat the summer heat and Brajväsé Biscuits, digestives, Frontier and Puri Bakers Biscuits to keep one energized were served. Raisins, Fox Nuts, flavoured dry fruits were served as a token of thanks. Gifts from bed sheets to handkerchiefs, from steel boxes to casseroles etc. were also the heart-filled offerings of devotees. Taking care of Devotees’ Health, health-card (through which one can get blood tests/physiotherapy done) was served.
Truly the gifts served by devotees are not mere gifts.. they are the expression of love, humility and gratitude bestowed upon them through the teachings by ÇRÉ GURUDEVA and learnt from the Divine Äcaraëa of ÇRÉ GURUDEVA HIMSELF.
Sooner the most undesired, never wished for time arrived, when ÇRÉ GURUDEVA left from the Venue.. making all Devotees left in tears of separation..
But did this prevent anyone from rendering any further service ? No..!! Devotees continued Their services with same enthusiasm, following the TEACHINGS of ÇRÉ GURUDEVA. More than 15 hours at the same place with the same enthusiasm.. rather with ever-increased enthusiasm.. it was such a beautiful sight !!
Sumptuous Prasädaà was served and honoured by the Devotees and then wind up sevä was performed without any fatigue or tiredness..as it was not an external one but our own FUNCTION.
Though the Blessed Day had come after a prolonged waiting, it seemed to have passed with the blink of an eye.. Everyone felt- “it just started, and it passed so soon, we have not been able to get the feeling as yet and it has even ended virtually..ohh.” Such is the attraction of the LORD, of the Celebrations at KARM, that one gets absolutely lost and absorbed in the love we are always/inevitably showered upon by our ÇRÉ GURUDEVA..
Hearts of the Devotees danced in the sheer ecstasy, relishing and cherishing the moments and waiting for and preparing for the next Occasion, the next DARÇANA..and hence essentially living the Culture Blessed upon us by ÇRÉ GURUDEVA.
