GVA Celebrates Fall Utsav


Gaudiya Vaishnava Association (GVA), is a non profit spiritual organization that has been operating in the Atlanta area for a number of years. GVA was founded by His Divine Grace Shrila Bhakti Swarup Tirtha Goswami Maharaj with the sole objective of spreading spiritual awareness all over the world, and to propagate, preach and promote the only means of deliverance - the chanting of the Holy Names of God, Shri Krishna. In order to bring this awareness to the wonderful citizens of Atlanta, GVA conducted a month long Utsav starting with the Duluth Fall Festival.

Picture 1 : Duluth Fall Festival Parade

On September 24th, GVA conducted the Ratha Yatra by participating in the Duluth Fall Festival parade in Duluth, Georgia. Under the spiritual guidance and august presence of its Founder Acharya, His Divine Grace Shrila Bhakti Swarup Tirtha Goswami Maharaj, the devotees carried Their Lordships Shri Jagannath, Shri Baladeva and Shrimati Subhadra Devi in a well decorated rath on the streets of the city of Duluth. An age old tradition that originated from Puri, India, it is still followed in many temples around the world. Lord Jagannath bestows His causeless mercy to one and all by coming outside the temple and being carried in a rath (chariot) as a yatra (journey).
His Divine Grace Shrila Maharaj, seated in a beautifully decorated peacock float waved to the parade onlookers and gave his blessings. The people of Duluth who gathered along the Ratha Yatra route received the Unlimited Mercy of Their Lordships. Amidst all the extravaganza, it is noteworthy to say that the Harinam Sankirtan (Chanting of the Holy Names of Shri Krishna) with Karatalas & Mrudangas performed by GVA in the 2 hour parade was ecstatic and attracted the young and the young at heart and everyone danced jubilantly. In this ratha yatra, devotees carried the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra banners, while young boys in traditional blue and yellow kurtas, girls in red and pink gagras, and seniors from the Chattahoochee High School in colorful Indian dress danced to the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra throughout the parade route.

Picture 2 – Shrila Maharaj blessing the crowd

On October 6th, Shrila Maharaj was invited to the Chattahoochee High School, Alpharetta to conduct a workshop on the Science of the soul, God consciousness, and the basis of spiritual life. Shrila Maharaj was received with honor by the School Principal with the school marching band playing. The workshop was well attended by seniors who were inquisitive to know more about the culture and teachings of the vedas. High school students who also had questions, clarified their doubts with Shrila Maharaj during the question/answer session.

Picture 3 – Science of Soul Workshop at Chattahoochee High School, Johns Creek

The major event of the Fall Utsav is the Shrimad Bhagavatam discourses by His Divine Grace Shrila Maharaj between September 25 and October 14 in the Cumming and Alpharetta areas. Shrila Maharaj, one of the eminent speakers of Bhakti Yoga and preacher of Vedic scriptures, gave discourses from the 10th and 11th Cantos of the esteemed Shrimad Bhagavatam, which is the natural commentary on the Vedanta Sutra by its author – Shrila Vedavyasa.
Shrila Maharaj sang the prayers of the Personified Vedas, spoke about how Lord Shiva was saved from Vrkasura, and all about Lord Shri Krishna's glories from the 10th canto. Shrila Maharaj also spoke about the Curse upon the Yadu dynasty, Meeting of Maharaja Nimi with the nine yogendras and Liberation from the illusory energy from the 11th canto of Shrimad Bhagavatam in great detail.
Humanity as a whole is struggling to find answers to the problems that we face. Global Warming, Famine, Poverty, War, Floods, Tsunamis to name a few. One solution after another proposed by the greatest minds are not bearing fruit and we are facing failures at every turn. Someone should have an answer to these. Yes, the answers can be found in the ageless Vedas that came out of India says His Divine Grace Shrila Maharaj, the author of various books on the philosophy of Krishna consciousness and magazines. He gives simple and succinct discourses on a range of spiritual topics that have benefited many seekers of true peace and real happiness that address problems faced by humanity and how one can get relief from these miseries.
 

Picture 4 – Chattahoochee High School Seniors with Shrila Maharaj
 

GVA distributes various lectures given by Srila Maharaj in English, Hindi, Bengali and Tamil in audio/video media and hosts Srimad Bhagavatam classes in the Alpharetta and Cumming areas. For more information please call 1-888-9GVA-USA or visit online at www.bhagavatvani.org.