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Damodara Report

December 21, 2006 - 5:47pm — phani

by Srivas Caitanya Prabhu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Preamble

Consistently over the years the month of Damodar has grown by leaps and bounds, bringing everyone to a central theme of rejoicing in this sweet pastime of the Lord. The pomp and grandeur of this festival is bringing new dimensions into the homes and the hearts of all who bear witness to this celebration. What started as a small festival in a suburb of Kuala Lumpur some 6 years ago with approximately 30 home programs has reached an astonishing 1,500 home programs all within the month of Damodar. How did we do it … surely its mercy and the combined effort of all the lovely and responsible devotees of Sri Jagannath Mandir, Kuala Lumpur.

Our Vision

Our vision was to give an opportunity to everyone within our reach to taste Krishna Consciousness and for the  participants to be, directly or indirectly, our walking ambassadors (with seeds already planted for their gradual elevation), speaking the glories of this wonderful festival, glories of Srila Prabhupada, and the loving approach of our devotees.

Organization

As we grew organization was inevitable. HG Vrindavan Chandra prabhu as the Patron, HG Uttama Caitanya prabhu, our Temple President, as the Overall Commander, HG Srivas Caitanya prabhu the Director of Congregational Preachers Division in charge of field operations, and a combination of talents both senior and enthusiastic devotees were placed in charge of various pivotal roles for systematic growth.

Methodology of Program

The program would consist of the following

  • A simple bhajan or kirtan for the participants to follow;
  • Narration of the Lord's pastimes;
  • Explanation of the rationale for this program and its expansion;
  • Introducing the glories of Srila Prabhupada;
  • Singing of damodar-astakam;
  • Offering of ghee lamps;
  • Distribution of prasadam;
  • Gifts, i.e., posters and Bhagavad Gita mp3 CDs for the host (the idea of giving away gifts has created a great impact, loosening the usual tradition of only accepting …);

Besides the full home programs we have introduced Damodar-Harinamas. Harinama has all the ingredients of a home program but with shorter time spent in each home. We have penetrated into schools, orphanages, temples, with their respective coordinators.

Facts that Figure

Some interesting things happened during the program: Mothers, children, adults and youth joined forces to conduct this program … virtually every member of our congregation was absorbed into the preaching mood, joyfully relating their experiences to each other. In most homes there was healthy competition to decorate the altar. Tears flew as the month ended - a month of complete euphoria!

Comments from the public

Word of mouth spreads like wildfire on the sweetness of this program … ISKCON and Hare Krishna is now a movement that cares for the spiritual well being of our society … many kind words were showered by the public, meeting our public relations objective.

Maintaining records

The details of the home program, i.e., address, name telephone number, will be maintained for future reference, with all details of the program and the list of coordinators and caterers, as every year we will send Deepavali Damodar greeting cards.

What the future holds

On a humble note it is our desire to maintain a sustainable growth for this program. More effort will be placed to systematically engage more friends to take up Krishna consciousness via this program, amidst their present working and family environment. Periodic mailers and invitation to our temple for festivals, we want them to be our friends, earning their complete trust in all sincerity for their spiritual well being - for which our movement and our wonderful devotees are ready to offer their guidance and support. Training and guidance will be provided for all to ensure consistency and to meet the desired objectives of this program.

Appreciation

Damodara festival division places its hands on the feet of all the elders of our society for their blessings; generous sponsors, responsible program coordinators, enthusiastic field preachers, reliable support staff, tasty-prasadam caterers, well wishers, understanding wives (whose husbands were preaching throughout the entire month) and great friends for their undivided support and commitment.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and our parampara by whose guidance and mercy we are all inspired.

 

Damodar Festival Department
An affiliate of the Congregational Preachers Division
Sri Jagannath Mandir
Kuala Lumpur

 

Comments

December 22, 2006 - 7:08am — Non-registered Visitor (not verified)

Home programs and outreach

Hare Krsna: This is a very inspiring story. I think that this type of preaching program is very much needed in the USA at all the Native American Indian reservations where there is a very high suicide rate especially amongst Navajo (Arizona/New Mexixo) area and even Hopi Indians.

The reason I take interest in this as a devotee is because of a novel I recently wrote whereby I did much research into the Navajo/Hopi culture. They are still very oppressed and persecuted by US government.

In fact, to my knowledge there is no ISKCON temple anywhere in the greater New Mexico area nor near the reservations just mentioned. I think the Native Americans would be very curious and take to Krishna consciousness because in some ways, their cultural philosophies correlate very nicely with Vaisnavism.

Perhaps some devotees would like to get involved in opening a preaching center or small temple in the not-too-distant future in the locations described.

Another point, as I have been recently reading about the need to establish varnasrama is that I would imagine there may be very nice tracts of land to establish farm communities near Indian reservations. Just a thought.

In addition, and this may be just me, I do feel that the world is changing very rapidly and that we are headed toward a kind of nuclear skirmish soon and thus, everything Srila Prabhupada said about the importance of varnasrama seems all the more tantamount. We should be ready for simple living and high thinking. We should solve the major problem of FOOD!

In addition, with a view of the above, in several Hopi prohesies it is predicted that many will come to the reservations with tears in their eyes to seek refuge when the bombs start falling. Something to think about.

I would like to hear from other devotees regarding this. There's a big preaching field yet. And America must be the place. This was Srila Prabhupada's desire. There must be a 2nd Hare Krishna explosion in America and it should begin ASAP.

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