In the beginning of June I visited New Govardhana for two weeks - a rural community in the subtropical North of New South Wales, a two-hour drive from Brisbane. It is situated in Australia's popular coastal hinterland and nestled in the foothills of the famous Mount Warning. Renowned for its beautiful surroundings, with hills and mountains covered by luxuriant, dense rainforest, it is the home of the exquisite Deities Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari, Sri Sri Krishna Balarama, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Giriraja. Their palace is on the top of one of the hills, offering a stunning view - truly a divine abode...
New Govardhana is one of the most dynamic farm projects I have ever visited - with a lot of land, cows, a high standard of Deity worship, a primary and secondary school, and many devotees living on the project and in the nearby towns. The presence of senior devotees and disciples of Srila Prabhupada such as HH Mukunda Maharaja, HH Ramai Maharaja and others uplifts the atmosphere, and the community seems to have found its natural balance between strict devotional practice on one side, and being liberal and accommodating on the other. Mangal Artik is quite well attended, oftentimes by around 20 to 30 devotees, which is always a healthy sign.
At the entrance of the project is the famous Krishna Village - a separate abode for visitors, volunteers, seekers and sattvic yoga people. Since New Govardhana is situated in a popular area with a warm climate, it attracts a lot of hippies and new-agey and alternative people who are searching for a higher goal in life. They come here as volunteers, and many of them become regularly practising devotees and even join the ashramas.
Everything in Krishna Village is well coordinated, and the volunteers and visitors have a nicely balanced program of service in several temple departments mixed with various educational programs and yoga sessions, gradually introducing them into the practice of devotional service to Krishna. There is a camping ground for tents and camper vans, and those who prefer a little more comfort can book rooms in guest houses or self-contained cabins. The lunch at Krishna Village is very healthy and sattvic, with lots of salads, baked vegetables and other healthy treats. The atmosphere is cool and open-minded, with everyone chanting the prayers for honoring prasadam in a rhythmic and boppy way while clapping along. Every day I would come to Krishna Village to take my lunch while connecting with some of the volunteers in meaningful exchanges.
The focus on outreach and preaching adds to this farm project a cutting edge and dynamic life - something which not many farm projects are blessed with...!
I had a great time in New Govardhana, offering a variety of programs at the temple, several house programs and also an outreach program with the volunteers. During my visit the community had a 2-day kirtan event scheduled which attracted many devotees to participate - even from other parts of Australia. Everybody seemed so eager to come together, and relieved that the Covid restriction had been taken off! It was a great opportunity for me to have a table offering the four books I have meanwhile published - I enjoyed connecting with many devotees who I knew from the "early days" and hadn't met for around 30 years, and established new relationships.
On the third day of the kirtan event we commemorated the Panihati chipped rice festival. I was invited to offer the morning class and relished commenting on one of my favorite pastimes which offers many valuable instructions for us all. Then we took small Gaur Nitai in procession into the fields, where devotees engaged in sportive fun activities and competitions. The joyful event concluded with a delicious feast, served in nature as a picnic.
On the 21st of June I moved on to visit the devotees in Brisbane....
Your servant, Devaki dd
I had a great time in New Govardhana, offering a variety of programs at the temple, several house programs and also an outreach program with the volunteers. During my visit the community had a 2-day kirtan event scheduled which attracted many devotees to participate - even from other parts of Australia. Everybody seemed so eager to come together, and relieved that the Covid restriction had been taken off! It was a great opportunity for me to have a table offering the four books I have meanwhile published - I enjoyed connecting with many devotees who I knew from the "early days" and hadn't met for around 30 years, and established new relationships.
On the third day of the kirtan event we commemorated the Panihati chipped rice festival. I was invited to offer the morning class and relished commenting on one of my favorite pastimes which offers many valuable instructions for us all. Then we took small Gaur Nitai in procession into the fields, where devotees engaged in sportive fun activities and competitions. The joyful event concluded with a delicious feast, served in nature as a picnic.
On the 21st of June I moved on to visit the devotees in Brisbane....
Your servant, Devaki dd
RSS Feed
