ÄVIRBHÄVA DIVASA

New Year.. New Beginning.. in fact the ever New Beginning of the Year 2019..

jévera nistära lägi nandasuta hari

bhuvane prakäça hana çré-guru rüpa dhari

In other words, to deliver the jévas, Lord Kåñëa appears in this world as ÇRÉ GURU.

Thus fortunate are those who have GURU in their lives… and far more fortunate are those who get the opportunity to celebrate the ÄVIRBHÄVA DIVASA of their GURU..and KARM Devotees are those fortunate souls..!! And they made the best of this opportunity by celebrating this Blessing in a magnanimous way.

This year ÄVIRBHÄVA DIVASA of ÇRÉ GURUDEVA was celebrated with full vigour on FEBRUARY 26th in New Delhi.

Every year Devotees come up with new ideas, by the mercy of GURU AND GAURÄÌGA, to make the celebration a life-time memory..

Be it a new devotee, who was to attend the festival for the first time or an old devotee who has been getting the opportunity to be a part of this festival for years.. the enthusiasm of everyone was at its peak..

Preparations for the Festival started months before. Lotus Flower was chosen to be the Theme of the Festival.. It was based on the teachings of ÇRÉ GURUDEVA that just like a lotus flower, a devotee despite being in material world, remains untouched by it.

Preparing together, serving together and relishing together.. this happens only in KARM.

Flower bunches were made by Devotees together, Motto of lotus was created by artists, setting of backdrop was done at factory of a Devotee and lotuses from fondant were practiced and made by a Devotee couple.

The Auspicious 26th FEBRUARY came.. though the forecast of rain had been made by weather department, it was uncertain whether it would rain or not, but the one thing for which everyone was certain was- rains of ÇRÉ GURUDEVA MERCY would come which would drench Everyone in love.

Devotees gathered at 6 am to decorate the Venue..

While some Mätäjés made fresh flower bunches, few laid their hearts in the making of raìgolé.. yet some others took up the opportunity to decorate the DEITIES ALTAR and Cake Table and remaining assisted in arranging and serving morning Prasädaà..

Few Prabhujés began to unfold backdrop and place Lotus Motto.. some made entrance elegant with fabric and flowers.. some other Prabhujés draped fabric along rods while some did the Sevä of setting up Vyäsa Äsana..

This is the beauty of KARM Family, given by ÇRÉ GURUDEVA, that here everyone wants to do all Seväs personally themselves.

And thus within a small period of 3 hours, the empty hall was turned into the Beautiful Lotuses-studded Temple.. where everyone was waiting for their Lord to preside..

Though everyone was satiated and satisfied with Sevä-amåta, Morning Prasädaà was honoured by all.

Guests then began to come in..

Now everyone’s eyes were waiting for their Revered ÇRÉ GURUDEVA.. As soon as Devotees got to know that ÇRÉ GURUDEVA are about to come, everyone rushed to the entrance gate.. Prabhujés stood on one side in front, Mätäjés on the other side at back.. Mådaìga was ready, Kartäls were ready.. Conchshells were being held near mouths.. and the moment we saw the decorated car, Conchshell was blown, ulu dhvani was done, Mådaìga and Kartäls were played and Devotees began Svägataà ÇRÉ GURUDEVA Kértana after paying obeisances to ÇRÉ GURUDEVA..

ÇRÉ GURUDEVA ENTERED the Venue and graced the festival.

After welcoming and thanking ÇRÉ GURUDEVA, program began with Çré Guru Vandanä by Devotees.. Glorifying ÇRÉ GURU as non different from the Lord through presentations was shown thereafter.. Then, a beautiful play on humility was enacted by a group of devotees.

To further seek Blessings, Äçraya Koriyo Vando Bhajana by Sanätana Däsa was sung.

And then came the very blessed moment when on request of Devotees, ÇRÉ GURUDEVA BEGAN the very melodious Maìgläcaraëa.. ÇRÉ GURUDEVA Enlightened us with another never heard before explanation on how beautiful Nikuïja is.. ÇRÉ GURUDEVA gave Nikuïjamayé Vyäkhyä of BG 18.65.. and also on the 1st Gäyatré Mantra-  Rädhä Priyäye Dhémahi, without understanding which one can NEVER EVER attain siddhi of other Mantra.

This was followed by the mesmerising Hare Kåñëa Kértana which drowned everyone in ecstasy and all wished that the Kértana goes on and on and on..

3 beautiful love-filled, lotus-studded Cakes were then cut by our revered ÇRÉ GURUDEVA and then devotees lovingly made Offerings to ÇRÉ GURUDEVA and to each other..

Under ÇRÉ GURUDEVA’S All Blissful Shelter.. with every year.. with every occasion, the serving attitude, the practical following of Çré Rüpa Gosvämé’s Teachings on dadäti pratigåhëäti reaches newer and newer heights.. This year too.. on this Occasion, tremendous varieties of exclusive gifts were served not only by Devotees but by Devotees’ kids.. White shirts, White Salwärs to Mätäjés and White Kurtä, White Dhoté to Prabhujés.. Suits.. Loma Vastra.. Blankets.. Storing bowls, serving bowls.. Kits for storing.. dry fruits, dry fruit sweets.. crate of frootis, packs of juices.. Namkeens, assorted biscuits.. folders, pens, diaries.. blue tooth handsfree etc.. to name a few..

Moreover, an old couple lovingly cooked Dry fruit païjéré in huge quantity for all Devotees.

Under ÇRÉ GURUDEVA’S Shelter, everyone wants to serve and serve the best.. but here in KARM, there were many who did not get the Permission to serve.. at 1st go, one may not understand this..!

It is commonly seen that in any and almost every organisation, be it material or spiritual, if anyone wants to serve, he/she simply serves or if one asks to serve 1 thing, he/she is asked to serve 2-3 things.. is it not? But here in KARM, one has to first seek permission to serve and it is not that he/she would get permission just like that.. and many a times it happens that one may not get permission, may be because that Sevä has already been granted to other devotee (who had asked earlier) or may be because KARM Management sees that though a Devotee wants to serve, he/she cannot afford.. Thus, to every minutest details Seväs are given to Devotees.. This is Änugatyamayé Sevä.. This happens only in our KARM..

Then the sumptuous Prasädaà was served to all..

The entire day had ended.. but it was not yet over.. all were desperately desiring for ÇRÉ GURUDEVA’S TALK.. and ÇRÉ GURUDEVA MERCIFULLY fulfilled this desire too by enlightening Devotees about the glories of Sevä..

And last but not the least.. there was a surprise for all, yet another labour of love, as ÇRÉ GURUDEVA SAID.. in the form of a small Video showing all the beautiful events of that DAY and thanking ÇRÉ GURUDEVA.

And thus the time no one wished arrived.. ÇRÉ GURUDEVA left from the venue.

The enthusiasm had still not ended.. despite the fact that it had been more than 15hours that Devotees were at the venue.. yet the enthusiasm had rather increased to what it was in the morning.. Moreover, next day was a working day but no one was in hurry to leave.. What to talk of elders even the kids were not ready to go home without doing wind up sevä.. and this way wind up sevä was done in a loving and relishing way.