26/JAN/2020 - Thakurgaon, India

(26/JAN/2020 - Thakurgaon, India) Today morning Guru Maharaja got ready earlier. But, somehow or other things got delayed and Guru Maharaja left to the pandal around 10:30am. There were some police guards came to take blessings from Guru Maharaja. And, one couple came and asked for a blessing to beget a child. And Guru Maharaja asked them to follow Putrada Ekadasi in order to get a child.

Today also Guru Maharaja will initiate around 931 candidates and 120+ brahmana Diksa. So, Madhava Kanta Prabhu left early to pandal to filter more devotees. He rejected almost 68 devotees. But, still 120+ devotees passed the exams. They all got their Bhakti-sastri completed. And we were discussing that, we have to make it more tuff for the candidates to get brahmana Diksa even, by making Bhakti Vaibhava compulsory. There was one Mataji who got initiation many years back, now she came to take Brahmana Diksa, but she didn't complete her basic reading quota to take Brahmana Diksa; but she said and the devotee leader who recommended her also said, by six months time she will complete the reading. Guru Maharaja really got angry and said, "All these years she didn't read books, now she says in six months will complete. I don't believe anymore!" And got rejected. So the Diksa tests were made much more strict.

But, somehow the initiation class, and accepting Guru Asraya itself became 2pm. So Maha Varaha Pr and everyone requested Guru Maharaja to take his lunch and then give initiations. Guru Maharaja agreed. Wherever we went we saw thousands waiting for Guru Maharaja's darsana. Devotees, non-devotees standing for three hours, four hours just for that momentary darsana. And Kirtana Priya Pr and I were discussing that, how much we are not taking advantage of Guru Maharaja's association. 

Kirtan Priya Pr fed the lunch today. Guru Maharaja was saying "Hiranyakasipu! Hiranyakasipu!" And said, "Srila Prabhupada gave the name Ravanahari to one of his disciple. So, I can also give a name Hiranyakasipu-hari." And, we requested Guru Maharaja to go to bed and rest for at least 30 mins. The yajna was going on as per the instruction of Guru Maharaja. Guru Maharaja said, "The Diksa candidates can complete the yajna and take prasadam and take initiation." Being merciful, he said these words. So, exactly after 30mins Guru Maharaja got up, we were dressing him up, and when I took a hat from his sweatshirt packet, some money was there that fell off and Guru Maharaja said, "Srila Prabhupada told me that, " I have to always keep some money with me!"" Then got ready and went to pandal started the initiation program.

When Guru Maharaja went to pandal we were interviewing some devotees, leaders, and Krishna Kirtana Pr's team's performances on the other stage. After the initiation, Guru Maharaja went to hall where 120+ brahmana Diksa candidates were assembled. And, Guru Maharaja spent around 50 mins to give them all mantra and a sacred thread. When, he came out from that hall, some twenty boys were standing outside to take blessings. These twenty boys were working day and night for this initiation office. Guru Maharaja blessed them all.

Then we started from there to our residence. While we were leaving the pandal, we heard a song "Jayapataka Jayapataka Bole Dako re, Emon doyala bhave keho nahi re! Keho nai, keho nai, keho nai re! Emon Doyala bhave keho nai re!" written and sung BT Narasindi temple president Prahlada Krishna Pr. And we were all singing that song for 30mins until we reach our destination.

Somehow, we felt that, we are in "Jayapataka Loka" where everyone and everything is connected with Guru Maharaja. Everyone's focus is to take his darsan, hear from him, talk about him, sing about him... So the total vibration was complete echoing Guru Maharaja's glories. Even in every shop, they got Guru Maharaja's picture. It is like a intoxication - we were just seeing these devotees with so much joy, enjoying every hour they wait to see Guru Maharaja. When they see him, some cry uncontrollably - and, when his wheel chair pass through, men, women everyone roll on the ground and take dust from that place and pack it for their home. It is simply a rewind button to be in Bangladesh, some 500 years back, how the Caitanya Caritamrita says; same experience can be felt here.

Caru Candra Pr said, these many people from where they are coming... When they heard Guru Maharaja is here, thousands and thousands appear in this village. Actually, deva, devis descending here and coming to be part of this utsava. We may think that he is exaggerating; but it is not. In this small village, and thousands comes - just for his darsana. Unbelievable and inconceivable.

Dharesa Pr said, when he was discussing with Bhakti Vinaya Maharaja about the arrangements in this village for this festival. Maharaja said, "Here many Muslim farmers are there, when I said, " Guru Maharaja is coming! They said, "We will make a big mela, and do not worry Maharaja!"" So, they provided land to do parking, land to make pandal. They worked more hours and helped Maharaja! Even the Muslims they want to see this festival to be big - because Guru Maharaja is coming. 

And only Guru who visit this part of Bangladesh, which is completely surrounded by villages. And a poorest part of Bangladesh is only our Guru Maharaja. He visited here first in 1988, 1990, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2006 installed Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha. And in 2008 he came with Safari. Now, after twelve years he is here in 2020. So, this place is very significant.

In a day, 4000 kilos of rice being cooked and fed to all the devotees. 60 devotees - a cooking team cooks non-stop. There are 5000 steel plates, and 5000 devotees can sit and eat, that big pandal. And you can eat how much ever you want. And there is no delay in serving, cleaning plates, and rechecking the plates, everything was organized wonderfully. And, rice and dhal are all from the direct harvest from the Thakurgaon village. The farmers just coming with their crops and dumping in the kitchen, and set of devotee cutting the veggies and cleaning, set of devotees simply cooking and cooking and feeding the devotees three times a day. This Ananda-utsava is really amazing. And Gauranga Prema Swami Maharaja said, "This is Maha Bhakta Ananda Mela!" I am not able to type more, so I am stopping here. Those who are not here in this festival, they really missed some very important ever relishing history in their life. (Syama Rasika dasa - Personal Diary)