March 25, 1971 : Bombay
Satsvarupa: ISKCON's Bombay headquarters was a four-room flat on the seventh floor of the Akash-Ganga building. Such a headquarters would be a necessary base for the preaching Prabhupada wanted to do in Bombay, and his next preaching would be a grand eleven-day pandal program which can perfectly link America's ingenuity with India's spirituality. He gave the example of a blind man and a lame man.
America, because of materialism and ignorance of God, was blind. And India, because of foreign invasions, poverty, and misinterpretations of Vedic knowledge, was lame. America had technological advancement and wealth, and India had spiritual knowledge. The job of the Krishna consciousness movement was to combine the two strengths and uplift the world. And one practical application would be the Bombay pandal festival.
Syamasundara organized a massive publicity campaign, with giant posters and banners strung across the streets, announcing "His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada will speak in English language about the science of God. Prasadam distribution and bhajan singing will be led by his American and European bhaktas - Hare Krishna Festival at Cross Maidan - March 25 to April 4."
Madhudvisa Dasa: The pandal began on March 25th and it lasted till April 4th. It was an 11-day pandal. They wanted to extend it, it was so popular. This is a very prestigious place, as you know. Cross Maidan is right in the center of town, and there Srila Prabhupada established the pandal. So every day people were coming to the pandal, but it wasn't just sitting down at night and listening to the lecture. Prabhupada established a temple. The Deities were there, the seven offerings a day were going on, the Deities were being bathed, Their dress was being changed, the garlands were being changed, the vases were being changed, the prasadam distribution was going on, a whole temple was established.
America, because of materialism and ignorance of God, was blind. And India, because of foreign invasions, poverty, and misinterpretations of Vedic knowledge, was lame. America had technological advancement and wealth, and India had spiritual knowledge. The job of the Krishna consciousness movement was to combine the two strengths and uplift the world. And one practical application would be the Bombay pandal festival.
Syamasundara organized a massive publicity campaign, with giant posters and banners strung across the streets, announcing "His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada will speak in English language about the science of God. Prasadam distribution and bhajan singing will be led by his American and European bhaktas - Hare Krishna Festival at Cross Maidan - March 25 to April 4."
Madhudvisa Dasa: The pandal began on March 25th and it lasted till April 4th. It was an 11-day pandal. They wanted to extend it, it was so popular. This is a very prestigious place, as you know. Cross Maidan is right in the center of town, and there Srila Prabhupada established the pandal. So every day people were coming to the pandal, but it wasn't just sitting down at night and listening to the lecture. Prabhupada established a temple. The Deities were there, the seven offerings a day were going on, the Deities were being bathed, Their dress was being changed, the garlands were being changed, the vases were being changed, the prasadam distribution was going on, a whole temple was established.
Reference: Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta Volume 4 - Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami & ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai (Bombay) - 25th Anniversary
Recently Added
Trending Today