Sri Sri Guru Gaurangau Jayatah

Some impressions on Lord Balarama’s Appearance Day Festival held in Caracas, Venezuela at the Sri Chaitanya Sridhar Govinda Seva Ashram, August, 11th 2003

All impressions were gathered, transcribed and translated into English    by Kamala Kanti dasi by the mercy of the Vaisnavas.

You can feel the harmony everywhere; all devotees are very united, serving with love and affection. We missed the presence of Purujit Prabhu who is on traveling Sankirttan. By the mercy of Srila Govinda Maharaj we are now altogether under the same umbrella.

- Syama Gouri Didi

Everything is happening, in some way, thanks to the devotees who live in the ashram, because they receive everybody with all their hearts without taking into account one’s impurities. Hence these devotees are encouraging and helping us to serve. The festival was really beautiful, full of happiness and the mood of service reigns everywhere. The prasadam was delicious and generous.

- Triveni Didi

The festival was excellent. Thanks to Govinda Maharaj’s mercy I feel proud and very happy of having such a beautiful festival today, the Sri Balarama’s Appearance Day.

- Rasamoy Didi

It was a wonderful festival. Even though I haven’t slept the last two days, doing service with some other devotees at the Temple, now I am feeling supremely happy because this is the atmosphere you find here today: happiness for having the opportunity to serve and get the nourishing association of the devotees.

- Kartiki Didi

I am very happy to see that all devotees have met to celebrate Lord Baladeva’s Appearance Day. Everybody is glorifying the Lord with great enthusiasm and deep harmony. This is flowing by the mercy of Srila Govinda Maharaj, and I hope that this preaching program will go on in this way. The Prasadam was absolutely delicious and generous.

- Kaliya Krishna Prabhu

I’ve really liked the festival. There were lot of enthusiasm and contentment. Devotees sang and danced very happily and from their hearts. The lecture was very interesting and enlivening. The Deities were more beautiful than ever and the place was gorgeously decorated with so many beautiful flowers. It was an excellent festival.

- Judith A. (Guest)

Prasadam was exquisite, specially the cake. It was a very pleasing and beautiful festival. There were lot of people, I think more or less one hundred and fifty persons. The ambiance was very pleasant, everybody was very happy. It was pretty hot inside the temple room, but despite of that we all danced and sang with full energy and happiness to glorify the Deities who were supremely beautiful today.

- Judith Q. (Guest)

Everything was really nice. The devotee who gave the lecture was very expressive and the lecture was interesting and inspiring. The food was simply wonderful, and the devotees served us very kindly and lovingly. I hope to come again very soon. I came with my wife and we both spent a delightful time here.

- Alberto A. (Guest)

A very nice festival. The environment was very charming and friendly. The lecture was very interesting and pleasant. I think this is a very nice way to praise God.

- Ricardo (Guest)

It was the best festival I have ever attended in my whole life. It was the best prasadam I have ever tasted in this ashram. The Kirttan was the most lively I have ever seen. I could feel a harmonious environment and a great taste towards devotional service.

- Jacqueline (Guest and Friend)

I am fascinated with the handcrafted mandala put as a background in the altar, it is splendid. That all the blessings be bestowed upon the devotees who so extraordinarily attend, decorate and arrange the Deities and the altar. ¡Really beautiful!

- Syamala Didi

This was a very warm reception. The temple is very nicely decorated. The lecture and the narration of Sri Baladev’s Pastimes were very interesting. And the prasadam was very tasteful and sumptuous, as always.

- Ravindra Krishna Prabhu

In this special occasion my heart was filled with great joy for the Harinama Sankirttan manifested today.

- Astabhuya Prabhu

Thanks to this festival I could revive the most beautiful moments of my spiritual life.

- Dharma Rupa Prabhu

I would take the opportunity to send a message to Srila Govinda Maharaj: "Srila Gurudev, you are surprising me more and more every instant. One and a half year ago when I saw you, I could never imagine that You will get all this in Venezuela so soon. My obeisances."

- Vasudeva Prabhu

Parama Karuna is stealing everybody’s heart, but very specially the heart of the guests who visit this Temple.

- Ray Charan Prabhu

The mood of service is very contagious here, and each day more friends are coming to our Mission. This Ashram is the manifestation of the infinite mercy of Sri Guru and Gauranga.

- Yadunath Prabhu

Deities are very beautiful. Prasadam is delicious, particularly the cake and the juice. I’ve liked the songs very much, the devotees have sung very nicely and I’ve danced a lot.

- Madhura Radhe Didi (8 years old)

I am very happy because all my spiritual family is together in harmony and pleasantly sharing each and every moment, making devotional life very nice.

- Goura Shakti Didi

With many thanks for all who gave their 'Voices from Venezuela,' giving their impressions on Lord Balarama's Appearance Day Festival held in Caracas, Venezuela at the Sri Chaitanya Sridhar Govinda Seva Ashram, August 2003.

Also please see pictures of this festival day.