Banana Festival in Murwillumbah, Australia

Posted on August 29, 2011 by admin-vasanti No Comments

by Akhilesvari dasi

The sky was dark and threatening rain, as we approached the showgrounds, those same showgrounds where many Festivals of Devotion were held with our beloved Srila Gurudeva right here in this little country town Murwillumbah. The sight of Lord Jagganath, Lady Subhadra and Lord Balarama seated on Their majestic Ratha Yatra cart was most wonderful, and accompanied by the sound of loud kirtan, it was a feast for the senses. Every year local groups and businesses organize floats to go in the Banana Festival Parade, and the organizers always schedule the devotees to come last, like the Grand Finale of the otherwise mundane, yet colourful parade. Being scheduled on the 3rd Saturday in August, it is always at the height of Festival season for us, and one year actually fell on Janmastami itself. This year was two days before and therefore became a part of the three day festival leading up to Janmastami. Joining together two local groups of devotees, from both ISKCON, based at New Govardhan in Eungella, and from the International Pure Bhakti Yoga Society, based at the Garden Ashram in Byangum, the devotees with their beloved Lords were a sight to be seen, ecstatically singing and dancing through the main streets of Murwillumbah. Devotees from New Govardhan had prepared small packages of dried fruit and nut prasad to distribute to the onlookers, and devotees from IPBYS distributed 100 books written by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja, both the Way of Love, and Secrets of the Undiscovered Self, as well as 100 small leaflets which simply included the last chapter of The Way of Love, explaining the great benefits derived from chanting loudly, along with a picture of Gaura Nitai and some further contact details and websites. Nearly everybody accepted these gifts, young and old, and everyone was very happy to see the ecstatic dancing and the glorious sight of the Ratha cart.

The mood was very blissful, and those who were fortunate enough that day to have darsan of Lord Jagganath will surely receive benefit for lifetimes to come. Three or four teenagers even joined us in the pulling of the ropes of Lord Jagganatha’s cart, and could not help but become extremely joyful and happy. We often find this also happens on our regular weekly harinama sankirtan on Friday afternoons. Teenagers will join in behind our group pretending at first to mock our dancing and singing but often find themselves swept up in a wave of ecstasy, laughing and dancing, not quite sure if they are making fun of us or joining us! The rain held off, and even allowed us a little time for some more personal book distribution in the park, where the Banana Festival festivities and free rides for children were being held. This is a photo of our youngest book distributor, Madhurika, age 4 and a half, distributing a book to a very favourable man, just in front of the jumping castle. Perhaps in his next lifetime he too will be jumping and dancing in the ecstatic kirtan of the harinama sankirtan party.