Radhadesh E-Newsletter January - February 2022

Radhadesh E-Magazine

7 Cities in 7 Days also in this issue: RADHADESH MELLOWS

DIWALI & GOVARDHANA PUJA REPORT

Issue 13

JAN- FEB 2022

Dedicated to...

This newsletter is dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

We remain forever indebted to him, our eternal spiritual master, and pray for his blessings so that we may continue to establish Vrindavan here in Radhadesh.

CONTENTS 7 Cities in 7 Days

06

The Radhadesh Sankirtana Party went out to 7 cities in Belgium and graced the streets with book distribution

New Accounts

08

Radhadesh switches to a new bank! Which means that the account numbers of different departments have changed.

Diwali recap

11

Radhadesh celebrated the Diwali festival last year with great enthusiasm. See some pictures and feel the atmosphere

Radhadesh Mellows

13

Radhadesh Mellows?? Will it happen? Yes! It will! But only online! So join the festival through your screens!

Radhadesh Sankirtana Mission 14 What is the next big step for the Radhadesh Sankirtana Mission?

"Book distribution is also chanting. These books I have recorded and chanted and they are transcribed. It is spoken kirtanas. So book distribution is also chanting. These are not ordinary books. It is recorded chanting. Anyone who reads, he is hearing.

Book distribution must not be neglected."

Letter to: Rupanuga: Mayapur, 19 October, 1974, Atlanta.

Govardhan Puja recap

17

Upcoming Festivals

19

Editorial team : Shyamsakhi dasi, Surabhi Kunja dasi, Syamananda das Photography: Syamananda das, Surabhi Kunj dasi, Faro Durbuy, NASIMO, Shyamsakhi dasi and our community members.

IIllustrations: Saccidanandana das & unknown artists Graphic design: Surabhi kunj devi dasi Proofreader: Syamananda das & Bhagvati dasi

DEAR READER, Ok, wouldn't it be nice for a change to have a new year article that doesn't mention 'new year resolutions'? And why not, I hear you cry! Well for a few reasons. One is that it is a very well established fact that no one keeps their new year resolutions. The new diet, the fresh smoothie program, the workout plan, improved spiritual ideas, on and on it goes... Most don't even survive till the end of January!

The other reason is that, although we live in the 'so-called' scientific era, most people are not aware of the science of 'sankalpa', the science of making and keeping a vow for our improvement.

It is explained in the writings of our acharyas that a vow has four aspects: 1. The plan how to be determined regardless of any obstacles.

2. The careful attention needed to make sure I protect myself from all things that could break my vow.

3. Being real clear in what my purpose is in following this vow and the benefits I will receive (and the negative consequences of not doing so also have a role.

4. And then knowing and accepting that I will need help and assistance from others to see my vow to success.

So then armed with this basic methodology, there is some hope that our 'new year' vow can actualy survive more than a few weeks. And this is important.

Because while all the vows to improve ourselves physically are definitely to be encouraged, the real vow we need to make, and not just on the 1st of January but every day, is the vow to take serious our special human form and fulfil its real mission to go back home, back to Krsna, where every single day is like a wonderful New Year's Day.

Transcendental Book Distribution

s e i t i 7 C Days in 7

WRITTEN BY BHAKTA GOPINATHA

DECEMBER MARATHON We

did

it!

After

traveling

all

over

Belgium, trying to meet and give as many

people

Prabhupada's

as

possible

transcendental

Srila books,

here are the final numbers for the Radhadesh Party...

Travelling

Sankirtana

765 Books Distributed!!! (including about 200 Bhagavad-gita's in French, Dutch, English & German) 100's of 100's of Radhadesh visiting cards/ Maha Mantra flyers handed out 1000's of people met along the way 1000's of smiles exchanged Dozens of wonderful and sometimes very deep conversations shared with complete strangers 7 cities (Hasselt, Namur, Brussels , Gent, Bruges, Antwerp, Leuven) in 7 days (18th to 24th of December) 914 kms covered along the Belgium roads Devotees joining us on book distribution throughout the week, including some for the first time And many special moments to never forget!

A very special thanks, full of gratitude and love to all the devotees in Radhadesh and outside who kindly helped us in so many ways: sponsored books, laxmi donations, prasadam, countless encouragements, etc.

Without you, we could not have done it! You all had a significant role to play in every single book that went out. Thank you.

The First Chapter of our new "Travelling Sankirtana Party"... it's just the beginning!

WANT TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT? Contact me at gopinatha@radhadesh.com

The story of the

Syamantaka Jewel

The Syamantaka Jewel drama play from last Diwali and Govardhana Puja got recorded and edited and is now available to be watched on YouTube.

Available for everyone who missed it or wants to see it again.

youtube.com/c/iskconradhadesh

DIWALI

the festival of lights

On 4th November we hosted around 120+ guests from

Luxembourg,

The

Netherlands,Germany-

Brussels-Antwerp-Leuven-Gent-Liege-Maastricht etc for the Diwali event.

The event had different

activities for the whole family. It started with a Kids Diwali workshop, followed by a Diwali lecture

by Ekachakragram prabhu.

The residents of Radhadesh performed a theatre play and our castle reception was transformed into a theatre hall.

Gaura Arati was packed and everyone had the opportunity

to

Gopinatha.

And

offer

dipa's

finally

to

there

Sri

was

Sri a

Radha

classical

dance on the Dasavatar by Lilarani and Vraja lila.

Outside

we

had

kirtan

with

fireworks

and

sparklers. As every festival, prasadam was the key element of the event. The day was concluded with Kirtan & Damodarastakam.

For all the sponsors a special dipa was offered in their name to Sri Ramacandra and all Their Lordships. We hope to celebrate this event with all of you again this year!

Warm regards, Gopi Ramana Dasa & Shyamsakhi Dasi

The next step in the RADHADESH SANKIRTANA MISSION

After the wonderful transcendental Book DIstribution Marathon experience for our Traveling Sankirtana Party (who are all definitely hungry for more), and seeing with confidence the eagerness of our community to help and participate in whatever way they can, it is time for the next big step and an absolutely essential upgrade in our sincere desire to increase our Radhadesh & Benelux Sankirtana Mission and thus further please Srila Prabhupada... a temple SANKIRTANA VAN!!!

For us to increase our capacity and possibilities to go out on Sankirtana more often (which would include Book Distribution, Harinama, Food For Life, House Programs, etc.) and also to more easily give the opportunity for devotees from the community to join us when we go out, we will preferably need to invest into a 8-9 passenger seater van. The price for such a van, which is either new or in very good condition, would cost +25,000€. Unless, we can collect enough laksmi for an electric (or hybrid) van which would cost closer to +40,000€.

Anyone who would like to help us get a sankirtana van as soon as possible is welcome to donate whatever they can. At the moment we have already put aside 1500€ to the budget, which we collected by distributing books during the 1 week December Book Distribution Marathon and from our first anonymous donor who already gave a very kind donation of 306€. We would really want to try and get the van latest before the end of the year, in time for the Srila Prabhupada December Marathon 2022, as we plan to have a traveling sankirtana party for "the whole month" this time. But sooner, the better of course!

If you wish, please donate to this account with the reference: "Sankirtana Van" You can also send a donation in installements (ex. monthly), if that is easier for you.

Account Name: RADHADESH IBAN: BE09 7512 1123 8657 BIC (SWIFT): AXABBE22 Please contact Bhakta Gopinatha at gopinatha@radhadesh.com for more information.

h s e d a h d a R The Travelling ty r a P a n a t r i Sank

Govinda's Restaurant NAPOLITANA PIZZA Every Thursday 12:00 - 15:00 Radhadesh - Chateau de Petite Somme | Petite Somme 5 | www.radhadesh.com/restaurant

served fresh and hot!

Ridiculously delicious

Radhadesh highlights!

Govardhana Puja 2021

Upcoming Festivals 13 February

14 February

21 February

Varaha Dvadasi

Nityananda Trayodasi

Srila Bhaktisiddhana

The appearance of Lord

On the romantic day of 14

Sarasvati Thakura's

Varaha is celebrated on the

February we celebrate the

Appearance day

13th of February. According

appearance of Lord

to the Radhadesh Vaisnava

Nityananda.

Calendar, half day fasting is done the day before

Radhadesh highlights!

Are you coming to Radhadesh?

For those of you who would like to sometimes visit Radhadesh and do some practical devotional service, kindly write to us in advance to service@radhadesh.com . In that way we can anticipate your visit and arrange some particular service for you.

For your inspiration, let us consider the following: In the 12th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, Krsna explains that the best thing you can do is to 'just fix your mind upon Me'. Of course, most of us are not able to 'just' do that all the time. Therefore Krsna continues to say that if we cannot do that, we should engage ourselves in sadhana bhakti, meaning to rise early, chant the holy names, read Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, etc. But again, not all of us are able to continuously engage ourselves in sadhana bhakti and therefore Krsna says that if we cannot do that, we should work for Him. In fact, the combination of remembering Krsna, hearing and chanting about him and doing some practical service is a very powerful one. Feel free and inspired to visit Radhadesh and experience this combination yourself.

NEW BEGINNINGS POWER AND JUBILENCE

14 Jan, 17:00 CET – 16 Jan, 15:00 For many it has been an interesting time, to say the least. A lot of us have been a little stagnant, waiting for our chance to bounce back into action. Some of us have taken time to nourish ourselves, start a hobby or do some creative internal work that you may have planned to do but but never had the time for chance to stimulate your mind. Either way, now is your chance to re-stimulate your mind, body and senses with an uplifting weekend of yoga, movement, creativity, expression, gardening, walking and tasty hot nourishing meals.

Explore within and get your body and energies flowing, revitalise your senses and connect deeper and connect with your deeper self.

Experience gentle styles of yoga, deep relaxation, inspiring meditation, mantra chanting and walks.

SELF LOVE AND INNER PEACE 25 Feb, 17:00 – 27 Feb, 15:00

WWW.RADHADESHRETREATS.COM

Guided tours of CHÂTEAU DE PETITE SOMME French Dutch English

1 october - 30 june 15:30 10:30 | 11:30* | 15:00 16:00

1 july - 30 september 11:00 | 15:30 10:30 | 11:30 | 15:00 | 16:30 16:00

*only during the weekends From October till June, we are closed on Mondays. Except for school and bank holidays and pre-booked groups.

Due to government guidelines and to avoid disappointments, we recommend you book online, by e-mail, or by phone.

Visitors without a reservation are still welcome but may be refused if the capacity is reached.

Currently, there is a maximum of 20 people per tour.

WEDDINGS Plan your outdoor wedding in Radhadesh.

Wedding season is from May - August.

Email to weddings@radhadesh.com

"When there is love in our heart, only love will come out" -Radhanath Swami

Memberships programs Become a member and directly serve Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha.

For more information go to radhadesh.com/members or email members@radhadesh.com

Radhadesh is a non-profit organization with over 100 permanent residents and more than 5000 congregational members and friends.

Become part of this wonderful spiritual family and participate in our lovely programs from your home.

From only €10 a month you are then united with us in helping Radhadesh achieve amazing things. You can then also become part of our annual member's weekend and participate in this joyous occasion.

You also with us plenty of attractive benefits depending on the support package of your choice!

Bronze membership € 10 / month

Silver membership

Gold membership

Platinum membership from € 84 / month

€ 50 / month

€ 30 / month

Vaishnava Calendar 2022

Designed with great care, it provides you most important events in 2022 It has most stunning pictures and verses from Bhagavad Gita.

Some of our products available online...

€6,50

Bhagavad Gita The Bhagavad-gita is universally renowned as the jewel of India's spiritual wisdom.

Spoken by Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead to His intimate disciple Arjuna, the Gita's seven hundred concise verses provide a definitive guide to the science of self realization.

€7,60

Karatals Small hand cymbals made from brass originating from India.

These hand cymabals or karatals are perfect for a kirtan gathering and great because they are compact and convenient for long or short travels.

€22,10

Buy online

WWW.RADHADESH.COM/ESHOP

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