Another Birthday, Another Appearance Day!

Last week was my birthday. This year my birthday was on Citra Sakhi's appearance day. Somehow I felt blessed that this one time my birthday fell on such a nice day. I celebrated a Mayapur birthday.

Because of time difference I spent early morning chatting in turns with my children and husband living in Canada and accepted happily their wishes for my happiness and spiritual pursuits.

On that day, we, Guru-seva and I, had planned to share some maha prasad, feed the cows and go to bathe in Ganga, weather permitting. Bathing in the Ganga is very powerful as it has the power of cleansing your heart from sins.

Somehow Guru-seva arranged for a large amount of bananas for us to distribute. The Goshalla is so big now with elevated platforms for the cows, sheltered from both harsh sun rays and flooding. On one side the mamas, the other side the boys, yet another level, the babies. There is even a "dairy bar" selling lassis, ghee, etc... It is very clean and organized, The cows look happy, so do the cowherd boys.

There were guests visiting the cows when we got there. India still loves their cows. The guests were happy to see that each one of our cows has a name as indicated by the different signs posted here and there. They also were happy to be speaking to us, some English, some Bengali, nice interaction. Srila Prabhupada refers to us as his white elephants. Local people are always impressed to see foreigners take up Krishna consciousness. We were born with so much facility for sense gratification but found no taste in that life style. We had all opportunities, many of us born in wealthy families in opulent settings, yet we chose to follow Srila Prabhupada. This is our preaching.

We fed the oxen. Somehow it felt right, many of them were very young, and it was fun to see them eagerly making their way to get the bananas, lifting their muzzles above each other trying to be the one who would get the fruit. We kept changing position to give an opportunity to others to get a taste. Guru-seva's daughter and grand-daughter also came and were feeding cows and calves as well. We had a good time.

Time was advancing and we wanted to go bathe in the Ganga so we left and made our way to the gath across Bhaktisiddhanta road. There was a boat getting loaded with huge silver jute bundles, harvest of jute must have been difficult this year as there was insufficient rain but somehow they must have managed, the boat was full. We waited a bit while different men finishing their work day came to bathe. Life is so simple, for them, 2 cloths one they wear the other they carry. They change the cloths wash the one they had been wearing and there they go, laundry, bath all done, in a matter of minutes. The Ganga became ours to worship, honor and enjoy, just at the right time, as the sun was preparing to set. As usual we first offer obeisances to mother Ganga, offer her a little water, put water first on our heads and then walk in. We were able to chant gayatri in the water and return home while it was still light, although the sky had become reddish.

There it was, a simple birthday party, a little maha prasad from Radha Madhav and special sweet offered in honor of Citra Sakhi, exchanges with my supportive family, a little welcoming of pilgrims, a little feeding Krishna's cows and cleansing our soul in the Ganga, all in association with wonderful devotees.

I am ready to start another year.

More next time.

Happily and slowly taking one step at a time towards Radha and Krishna's Love.

your ever servant of the servants