One week after Gaura-purnima, in Laguna Beach California, this much-anticipated gathering of devotees once again flooded the atmosphere with the ecstasy of hari-nama-sankirtana. This annual phenomenon aptly dubbed ‘The Festival of the Holy Names’ by His Holiness Indradyumna Swami, is the highlight of many devotees yearly activities.
Consisting mainly of hours of happy chanting, this occasion provides an opportunity for devotees from all over Southern California to get together and dive deep into the ocean of the chanting of the holy names.
After kirtana and a lecture by Indradyumna Swami in the temple room, the Deities of Gaura-Nitai are accompanied by hundreds of devotees on hari-nama-sankirtana to the Beach, along the boardwalk and back to the temple. The kirtana then continued thunderously in the temple room until everyone is swept off the material platform, minds and bodies leaping in the grasp of the holy names. The sweet melodies continued until the devotees were about to collapse and then all are treated to a huge feast.
We are working on producing a DVD of the full program but as an appetizer here is a 3 minute video of His Holiness Giriraj Swami with the devotees at the festival.