His Holiness Giriraj Swami Maharaja hosted the auspicious celebration of Srila Tamal Krishna Goswami’s disappearance day and Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji’s disappearance day, on Saturday, February 17, at the home of Kandarpa Manjari and Krishna Kirtan Prabhus in Ventura.
Other special guest speakers included Amogha-lila dasa, Mahashakti dasa, Nrsimhananda dasa, and Urvasi dasi, as well as Balaram dasa from New Dwaraka and Guna Avatara dasa from Israel.
The festival began with kirtana. Then Guru Maharaja invited the devotees to speak about their realizations and experiences with Tamal Krishna Goswami, affectionately called Srila Gurudeva by disciples. At the end of the offerings, Guru Maharaja addressed the gathering and related some of his experiences with Srila Gurudeva. Then Amogha-lila Prabhu recited the mangala-carana prayers, as the participants observed the puspanjali ceremony. And then Guru Maharaja offered arati to Srila Gurudeva, while Nrsimhananda Prabhu led the singing of guru-puja.
The festival culminated with a sumptuous feast prepared in Srila Gurudeva’s honor, consisting of rice, dal, chapatis, cauliflower pakoras and raisin chutney, an eggplant, tomato, and panir subji, a broccoli, cauliflower, and potato sabji, raita, halava with whipped cream, and juice.
Expect audio recordings of the devotees’ appreciations soon. For now, here are some images from the occasion:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Photographs and text by Krishna Kirtan prabhu.