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All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga!
Dear devotees, please accept my reverences.
At the present I want to share with you some memories from Mela 2004. This writing is a sketch, a quite short summary of what happened on the Mela. No doubt, it could be a book. Thus, just with the desire to share with you some drops of the experienced nectar, I offer you these lines that intentionally are few, for a quick and objective view of what was this nice meeting. I also hope that you can forgive the lack of edition and orthography you will find.
First I want once again to thank our dear spiritual masters Srila B.A. Paramadvaiti Maharaj and Srila Atulananda A. who made this Mela a nice experience.
The Mela did not start on 19th of May, but on Friday, 14th of May, with the arrival of His Divine Grace Srila Guru Maharaj to Lima city, and even a little before of that, with the arrival of Sripad B.V. Sadhu Maharaj and senior devotees like Prabhu Kanka from Argentina. The following Saturday arrived Gurudeva Atulananda with a group of devotees from Chile. So one could imagine how the Mela started.
Days before this, the devotees of the Peruvian yatra were in a marathon to finish the last things with the Yoga Planetarium. In a very loving way Srila Guru Maharaj supervised the last details for the presentation to the press that would take place the following Monday. This work was a marathon from Sunday in the middle of a nice feast on the anniversary of Srila B.V. Harijan Maharaj.
Monday 17th of May
Press conference on the farm
With the support from many devotees, the press conference was realized; a conference that counted with the presence of the mayor of Aucallama and representatives from Chancay. There were also representatives from different communication media and personalities who came from Lima in a bus organized by the devotees. Everything turned out very well; the banquet was sensational and the commentaries in the press were nothing but a grand admire of the entire experience. Srila Guru Maharaj thanked the devotees of the department of public relations for a well-realised service.
Tuesday 18th of May
Leaders' reunion
It was a day of lots of work. Srila Guru Maharaj presented many works of the devotees from different yatras and glorified all of those who are working in the different departments and that were not present at the reunion. The conference was well attended, even though many sannyasis and temple presidents had not arrived yet.
Wednesday 19th of May
Official opening of the Mela
This day was very intensive. The yard of Jirón Callao became impassable, due to the presence of so many devotees who entered and went away. About some ten devotees came from all parts to inscribe, leaving the luggage and to install themselves in the hotels. The environment was very nice, because all the devotees manifested a great joy to see other devotees after so long time. It was a feast of offering and receiving reverences by big amounts. Everything was a very calm atmosphere except for the mothers in charge of the inscriptions that at many tables tried to attend everyone in the best way.
After the breakfast, which inaugurated the grand marathon of the cookers, especially of mother Mitravinda, who, together with Dayalu prabhu, was in charge of the prasadam of the entire event, the devotees installed themselves in the different hotels near of Jirón Callao. All of this happened very quickly, also the lunch was quickly over and in the same way the devotees already prepared to go to the programmed visit at the Pachacamac sanctuary, a place that is situated on distance of one hour from Lima by bus. The departure was a little delayed and the trip also. It was very funny to see the buses of the devotees being parked but moving from below upwards, due to the strong kirtan of the devotees that were dancing inside of them. Srila Guru Maharaj went forward with the Gopesvara group of dancers and a German friend who came to the Mela to make a film. The trip was longer than normal. Unfortunately there was little time to stay in the sanctuary, the sufficient for a fire ceremony, kirtan and dance from the Gopesvara group. The kirtan was well animated and intense in the midst of the ruins; the sound of the conches and the mantras combined with the mystic character of this place.
In the night an event was held in the civic centre. Srila Guru Maharaj presented the senior devotees and the services they realize. Many devotees already were very tired, and yet they made a lot of kirtan and prasadam in the night.
Thursday 20th of May
Day of the march
Four buses took the whole big group of devotees to the central park of Barranco. A small park, but very nice and cosy in a tourist district of ancient Lima. There the devotees gathered for the morning class that extended until midday, with music presentations and interventions by Srila Guru Maharaj and Gurudeva Atulananda. Srila Guru Maharaj presented many devotees who had come to the Mela. Everyone appreciated the presentation of Prabhu Akarma from Colombia, who visited Peru for the first time. The devotees from the south were very happy to see this great devotee from Vrinda and his songs that stole the heart. Also the presence of Prabhu Syamal Krishna from Colombia was a great inspiration for all the devotees.
The breakfast and the lunch were in the free air, a picnic. Nobody in the park was left without a plate of prasadam. After this the devotees distributed about some ten of plates of prasadam to everyone who passed there. This park is situated in front of the municipality of Barranco, the major church and the library. In the end of the event, which was the beginning of the march, came a representative from the municipality to thank for the presence of the devotees and offering his total support. Srila Guru Maharaj received him with much happiness and we were already prepared to start the march that, thanks to God, started in time.
The march was a very nice experience. Srila Guru Maharaja thanked especially Prabhu Mukunda Vilas and Prabhu Ramananda for their great artistic work for this event.
The band of the march with devotional topics like Sri Guru Astaka or the Gaura Arati, the Chinese dog, the marionette of Mother Earth, the wagon of children, the Siquris group, the Gopesvara group of Hindu dance, the group of folklore dance, the kirtan groups of devotees, the Zancos, etc, were some distinguishing elements in the coloured march and that left more than one astonished. But it was much more, and once again, thanks to God, everything turned out well organized and nice. With the help and company from the local police, the march developed very well, passing by the principal avenues of Barranco and Miraflores. Srila Guru Maharaj was very content, and danced and sang all the march. Sripad B.V. Damodara Maharaj helped in the direction of the March. Thank you, Maharaj.
The march ended at the gates of Champañat college. A religious college in the centre of Miraflores. There the devotees had rented a conference hall for the event of the day. Srila Guru Maharaj presented more devotees who had come, and together with music and artistic presentations, the day of the march closed. This day without any doubts, was unforgettable for many. Srila Guru Maharaj said that since that Srila Bhaktisidhanta Saraswati contracted a march band to receive his English invited, a march band has not come to be used again until the day of today.
Friday 21st of May
Travel to the farm
The departure to the farm was quite early, despite of that the program of the previous day was quite heavy and everyone were quite tired. The trip was quite calm and fast. Srila Guru Maharaj used the bus trip to make a reunion about the new projects of the SEVA in Bogota.
In the farm the devotees took prasadam in the morning, and then Srila Guru Maharaj invited everyone to make a non-programmed visit to the caves of Chacra y Mar. This experience was totally a 100% adventure. First we passed the monument of the religions. Srila Guru Maharaj invited the whole group to climb the hill with an adobe to fortify the monument. Up there, Badarayani Prabhu and Mother Yayavati offered ice-cream to everyone, a nice surprise to the joy of all the devotees. Delicious ice-cream, and very appreciated by all devotees. After this the walk to the caves was indeed an experience with risks, but very intense. The goal was a third beach, hidden by an even more hidden cave, where getting wet half the body on the way, was a part of the adventure. Inside the cave a very special kirtan was held; Srila Guru Maharaj recited several mantras of invocation and then more kirtan. The experience was very intense, kirtan inside a hidden cave with an opening in front of the devotees where entered the waves of the ocean.
In the night was realized the first program on the farm for the Deities and the first night concert with participation of different devotees. It was a grand inspiration for everyone to see so many Sannyasis and temple leaders assembled.
Saturday 22nd of May
The day of seminaries and concert
An intense day of much activity and artistic events. Initiations. Prasadam feast. Integration and resting.
Among the most frequently visited seminaries were Bramacari life, life of renunciation, Vishnu Priya Ashrama I and II, and others that were held at the same time. There were also classes of cooking and dancing. Actually, time was missing for many programs that had been planned.
The night festival was varied by the nice artistic work of the theatre group of Prabhu Munivyasa and the devotees from La Serena, the ecstatic kirtans of Damodara Maharaj, the presentation of Bhagavad Gita Andino and the verses of Vrindavana Chandra Prabhu, the son of Ranchor Prabhu from Medellin.
There was also a presentation on a giant screen, a presentation of multimedia works from the Guru Maharaj Office, videos and other works made by devotees on computer.
Mother Damodara Priya and Mother Narayani made a nice service to all the Mela children. Melita 2004 developed with much enthusiasm with the support from many fathers and mothers. During all the days of the mela, the children were well attended with an intense and pleasant program for them. Thanks to Mother Damodara and Mother Narayani.
The evening concert ended at 3 AM. Srila Guru Maharaj, in these last days, went to rest at approximately 2 AM, but he was also one of the first to get up in the morning that some days were quite cold with quite a lot of fog, but at midday there was a quite pleasant warmth. The climate was in our favour.
Sunday 23rd of May
The principal day. Inauguration of the Yoga Planetarium.
Finally the day awaited. The devotees at the farm not only finished to polish the new marble floors, but they finished with the most beautiful work that started 6 years ago. The Yoga Planetarium is now a reality. With the intervention of Mother Mahambrita the stained glass paintings, Prabhu Ambarish in the Arts, Prabhu Jagad and the direction of Prabhu Prapanna, Prabhu Gouri das and Sripad B.V. Vaikanash Maharaj together with hundreds of more devotees who have helped. The Yoga Planetarium is a beautiful work of art. To describe the glories of this project is a book apart, which already the Peru SEVA has published and it is also included within the presentations that were held. All devotees worked from early in the morning to prepare the principal ceremony.
Srila Guru Maharaja cut the red ribbon of the opening of the temple together with Sripad B.V. Sadhu Maharaj and the presence of hundreds of devotees, friends and children. Our dear spiritual sister Premabhumi Devi Dasi from Peru yatra was married with a spiritual brother from Colombia. The ceremony was very coloured with dances by the Gopesvara group. The day passed very quickly, many visitors came from lima, but not so many as we had expected. Everything turned out very nicely and I thing that they devotees were very content with everything. The prasadam was good. Gurudeva Atulananda appreciated very much the prasadam of the festival.
Still some details are missing for the Yoga Planetarium to offer its functionality at 100%, but already much has gone forward. Kalki Avatar Prabhu has together with the office team realised the publicity material of the planetary, triptychs that explain each one of the 20 trulys that represent the different levels of realization on Gupa Kumar's travel. Also a video presentation is being prepared, a slide show, and all of this for a publicity CD that is being made in the office and will be good for the Inbound tours.
Monday 24th of May
The day of goodbye
The bus with devotees from Ecuador had already departed the day before, but today, after breakfast, the devotees who were left, which was a group of 3 full buses, went off for Lima. Srila Guru Maharaj would go from Lima to Miami at 10.47 PM. The commentaries from all the devotees expressed satisfaction.
Thanks to God and the efforts of the local devotees and the help of everyone, the Mela was possible and to the satisfaction of many. A devotee said to me: "I have just one complaint of all the Mela: I was bit by an ant".
Of course, we also committed many faults, in fact, the devotees are very generous and because they have their heart full of love, they did not see all the faults, but even so the organizers also were very content, seeing the joy in the devotees. We ask forgiveness for all offences and bad attentions.
I want to end this writing with thanks principally Sripad B.V. Tapasvi Maharaj who worked during all these moths to give the best comfort to everyone and to make that their experience of the Mela would be unforgettable. We also thank all the devotees who helped; the list would be very long, but I do not want to make this writing much longer. Your names will be engraved for eternity in each adobe of the trulys.
I am sorry if having forgotten or disregarded some event or important happening of the Mela in this report. Without any doubt, a total report from the Mela would be possible with the help from many devotees, so we leave this for the consideration of all those who participated in the Mela, to write and share their experiences with everyone.
Srila Guru Maharaj, from Miami, after the Mela sent this message: "Tell all the Peruvians that the Mela was very nice and that they worked in a very special way. Congratulations."
See you again in four years. Mela 2008 in Peru Yatra Ki Jay.
Srila Guru Maharaj Ki Jay.
Srila Atulananda Acarya Ki Jay.
At your service,
Pancatattwa das
PS. The Mela continues...
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