DEITIES ANNIVERSARY – 2017
With great enthusiasm… with full vigour… with immense love… and with indescribable excitement, our Beloved DEITIES 8TH ANNIVERSARY was celebrated by KARM Devotees on May 10th 2017.
Our Beloved DEITIES are the Sevit Vigraha of our Revered ÇRÉ GURUDEVA, who appeared before us on Buddha Pürëimä in the Year 2009. They perform endless pastimes, reciprocate with one and all. They lovingly accept food offerings, making apparent to us through Their Divine Markings. Their Divine Väëé in the form of some jingling or cough has also been witnessed by some devotees.
Celebration at KARM is not only the usual Celebration of feasting… Celebration at KARM is the time to witness the teachings and loving culture given by ÇRÉ GURUDEVA… it is the time to witness the love, loving relationships devotees share with each other… it is the time to relish and cherish… it is the moment of lifetime… it is the time to learn how to be really happy (by serving).
Like always, Preparations for the Celebrations started about a month before. Of the many themes, ‘Swan’ Theme was finalized for the festival, with Swan signifying how a devotee is/ how a devotee should be. As ÇRÉ GURUDEVA Explains that just like a Swan (paramahaàsa) who takes only milk portion from milk, leaving behind water, a Devotee takes only good qualities from others leaving behind whatsoever bad qualities they have. Powder blue and Purplish Blue colour combination were selected.
Some devotees got golden laser swans made from their artists while another devotee got backdrop, frames made from his factory. Young Mätäjés themselves beautifully made golden, bluish, whitish Swans studded with pearls and glitters. Everyone had spontaneously naturally put in all their love and efforts for this was their own Function where they were not just an invitee.
The decoration day (a day prior to the D-Day) was a fasting day.. fasting for Nåsiàha Caturdaçé but Devotees love for the Lord made it a feasting day.. there was feasting of Prasädaà, in other words, Prasädaà of different varieties was served from morning till night alongside decoration.. there was feasting of loving reciprocations as Devotees beautifully decorated the Venue solely for the pleasure of the Lord. Cakes were also simultaneously being made by Mätäjés.
With Swans hanging from fall ceilings, Fondant Swans kept on Cakes Tops, Laser Swans placed on the backdrop, Glittery Swans on the walls and gates, the Venue was set.. Devotees left for their homes not to take rest but to do the remaining preparations and prepare offerings for the DEITIES.
Time for the commencement of Function was 2pm.. but from morning, Devotees began to pour in with big bags of Bhoga, big bags of gifts.. They gave final touches to the decoration, made rangoli, arranged 56 Bhoga.
It was DEITIES ANNIVERSARY… undoubtedly it was very Very Auspicious Day.. it became all the more Auspicious as ÇRÉ GURUDEVA blessed 3 Devotees with Initiation, connecting them to Maïjaré Bhäva Lineage, the Chain of selfless love.
Thereafter, Bhoga Offering to the DEITIES was done. It was DEITIES 8th ANNIVERSARY.. devotees lovingly served varied Bhogas to THEM.. surprisingly the total number of Bhoga offered was 888.. which included 56 + 56 types of drinks (served by 2 Devotees), 56 types of biscuits, 56 types of samosäs, 56 types of fruits, 56 types of bread items, 56 types of homemade sweets. There were also different varieties of toffees, namkeens, däls, sabzés, miöhäé, paränöhäs, dry fruits, digestives, wafers, snacks etc. While ÇRÉ GURUDEVA lovingly offered these love-filled offerings to our Lovable DEITIES, melodious Hare Kåñëa Kértana was going on.`
Then “Hari Hari, Viphale janama goìäinu” – Präröhanä by Narottama Däsa Öhäkura was done by devotees, which was followed by Presentation in which was shown 8 years of our Blissful journey with our DEITIES.
The awaited moment came as ÇRÉ GURUDEVA started the Pravacana.. enlightening us with the Revolutionary Lecture of Japa, the Lecture which can change one’s spiritual life forever. The Discourse was followed by Ecstatic, Beautiful, Mesmerising, Electrifying Hare Kåñëa Kértana by ÇRÉ GURUDEVA.
Cake cutting of 3 beautiful white and blue cakes was done thereafter. The Humility Personified ÇRÉ GURUDEVA also appreciated Devotees for their labour of love in making fondant swans, spending 9-10 hours standing in making Cakes.
As the Celebrations proceeded, gifts were served.. not just by Devotees but by Devotees’ Kids to each other.. Gifts ranged from toffees to cotton candies, from nachos to namkeens, from biscuits to ice cream powder, from tang, jaljeera to buttermilks, syrups and squashes, from miöhäé to dry fruits, from Milton bottles to Bed sheets.
Sumptuous Prasädaà was then served which devotees honoured lovingly.
We were blessed further with after-Lecture TALK in which ÇRÉ GURUDEVA gave practical tips of how to do Japa the right way.
Then came the moment which we never wished.. ÇRÉ GURUDEVA departed from the venue. It was around 10pm but Devotees were as enthusiastic and as energetic as they were at 10am in the morning. They lovingly winded up the Venue, helping each other and then left for their respective homes with big bags of gifts, DEITIES Prasädaà and endless memories to relish and cherish.
This “one”-ness “our”-ness is the beauty of the culture ÇRÉ GURUDEVA Have Blessed us with, which persistently flows right from preparation till conclusion of any Festival and it continues non-stop for all services, all festivals, all celebrations.
