Two weeks ago at a Yamuna Ji presentation in Bhakti Yoga centre in Chemnitz a very nice devotee came forward to help in Yamuna Ji campaign. He works for the famous ” Frauenhofer Institute” in Germany. His work allows him to deal with many companies and governments. He travels many times a month to India. His main field of work right now is “Waste Water Management for Kaveri River” in India.
He would like to meet Brajraj Sharan Maharaja in Vrindavan this Kartik month to see what can be done in regard to Yamuna Ji. In first week of September the first Worldwide Kirtan Mela was launched near the city of Chemnitz in Germany. There about 700 – 1000 devotees from aproximately 30 countries were performing a Nam Sankirtan Yajna while chanting for 12 hours a day for 5 days. This Kirtan Mela was inspired by the sages of Naimisaranya who came together 5000 years ago to perform a thousand-year yajna for the upliftment of the earth and to counteract the evil effects of Kali-yuga. Only 500 years ago Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared to spread congregational chanting of the Lord’s holy names.
He predicted that the time would come when the holy names would be sung in every town and village as the chanting of the Holy Names is the prescribed yajna forthis age. In the late ’60s His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada arrived in the West to fulfill this desire in grand style. Thus the kirtan movement was born and the divine vibrations of the holy names now resound around the world. Now in 2011 this first Kirtan Mela was just the start for a worldwide Nam Sankirtan Yajna.
Many famous kirtan singers and spiritual leaders like HH Candramauli Swami, HH Sacinandana Swami, H.H. Bhakti Vijnana Goswami, H.H. Jayadvaita Swami,H.H. Indradyumna Swami, H.H. Kavicandra Swami, H.H. B.V. Madhava Swami, H.H.B.B. Govinda Swami, H.H. Bhakti Vaibhava Swami, H.H. Janananda Goswami, H.H.Kadamba Kanana Swami, H.H. Niranjana Swami, H.H. Lokanatha Swami, H.G. Dina Sharana Devi Dasi, H.G. Madhava Prabhu,H.G. Aditi Dukhaha Prabhu, H.G. Aditi Dukhaha Prabhu, HG Sarvatma Prabhu, H Gyadhubara Prabhu etc. took part in this wonderful event of congregational chanting of the Holy Names. As for Save Yamuna Ji campaign this event was very much sucessful.
Whereas all other booths and tables had to go to a far off place we got the best place for our information table as we were allowed to set it up at the entrance of the Kirtan Mela Hall. Due to the location, ALL the devotees who came from aproximately 30 different countries were able to be informed about the campaign. Many devotees came to help spread the message. Ganeshyam Prabhu from Mumbai very enthusiasiticaly approached devotees from morning till evening to get their signature and explained the cause. By efforts such as this, we were able to collect about 700 signatures and explained to the representatives that they too could do something in this regard in their countries. Russian devotees also came forward and translated the Flyer and Map into Russian. The translated flyer can now be used for Kartik month in Vrindavan as many devotees from Russia will come to Vrindavan.
HH Sacinandana Maharaja was very much appreciating the effort, and also suggested that I approach a News team that came to make a short report on Kirtan Mela event. Unfortunately they only had a 2 minute time limit to cover the Kirtan Mela in their news report and Yamuna Ji issue did not fit in this time frame. Maharaja gave 1 hour interview to them but they had such little time, they only took 3 sentences out of all of it. They did write very nicely about the devotees – so i could try to approach them again about Yamuna Ji. Many ISKCON leaders got to know about the Yamuna Ji issue.
There were many who already knew of it. I also explained the topic to Dina Sharana Mataji – who is GBC for Germany – and she was very much interested and willing to help. She sugessted that we should post an article on Yamuna Ji issue in the German Free Forum. This we will do. Also one devotee who has set up 108 TV chanel came forward and offered to make a film on Yamuna Ji problem next time he comes to Vrindavan. This will be either during this Kartik or around march next year. On Saturday the Kirtan Mela culminated in the biggest Ratha Yatra in Germany.
It took part in city Leipzig and we took some pictures for Yamuna Ji there also and set up a table to collect signatures and distribute Flyers. At this occasion I also realised that although some people have no idea about India, Krishna, Braj, Devotees and Yamuna they are still very eager to give their signature to just save a river from ecological disaster. I just distributed Flyers to people who just came across our festival and to whomever i spoke they were very open and willing to sign and spread that message as people are very much into ” Save nature” and ecological topics….