Gaura Purnima Celebrated at ISKCON of Houston

By Swathi Murali

HOUSTON: Imagine yourself in a desert. Its dry and the heat is burning your throat, the only moisture is the sweat that is pooling on your forehead and your feet are dragging as you try and search for some relief. Then just as you almost gave up hope you see in the distance an oasis, bright and pure and everything that is good and beautiful in the world and there is a huge resurgence of hope in your person. That is the feeling that permeated almost every being that attended the Gaura Purnima celebrations at Hare Krishna Dham Houston. This festival celebrates the appearance of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who is considered to be the incarnation of Lord Krishna in the mood of his devotee and His appearance is one of the most celebrated holidays in the Gaudiya Vaishnava calendar. Mahaprabhu is most remembered for propagating the non- sectarian chanting of the Holy Names of the Lord:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare 

 Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the most celebrated incarnation of the Lord because of his loving, kind and compassionate nature. His entire life is marked with events where he broke down the false barriers of devotion misused by the prideful and misguided persons so that all people could experience the love of God.

 This year Gaura Purnima fell on Sunday, March 16, and was celebrated alongside the weekly Sunday Feast program. The celebrations began with a Maha Abhishek (ceremonial bathing) of Their Lordships Sri Sri Nitai Chaitanya Chandra followed by a class by world renowned Hindu Monk, His Holiness Gunagrahi Swami. Throughout the entire temple program, the feelings of devotion and love Krishna and his devotees seemed to electrify the atmosphere. Devotees were jampacked together, chanting the holy names of the Lord in the ecstatic kirtan led by Anish Pillai.

 Soon after, the devotees moved to the cultural center, Gauranga Hall for the cultural program filled with music, dance and a drama detailing the life of Mahaprabhu by the Sunday School Children. The cultural program kicked of with a bharathnatyam dance by Radha Chenna followed soon after by a dance and music presentation by Krishnaya Corbett and the Jiv Jago youth band. Both of these presentations were beautifully done and was followed by a Drama headed by the Sunday School Children. The Drama highlighted many of the pastimes of Mahaprabhu and seeing the little ones dressed up and enthusiastic to retell the stories of the Lord was the perfect and inspiring ending to a great festival.

For further information visit Hare krishna Dham, Houston at 1320 W 34th St, Houston TX 77018 or for future events call at  713 686 4482 or log on to http://www.iskconhouston.org