Last Janmastami, I spent it alone in a really tiny apartment. It was nice, but a bit lonely. This Janmastami, I thought I’d travel the hour and a half to Gita Nagari. I’ve never been to GN for a festival, which is odd since it’s the closest temple. I’ve been to lots of other temples for lots of other festivals, but Gita Nagari never really clicked with me.

New Vrndavana was the plan for this year, but that didn’t work out, so Gita Nagari it was. This allowed for a quick trip, so I invited Sarah. She’s been to a temple before, but never for a program or festival. I wasn’t sure what she would think of Gita Nagari, but figured it couldn’t hurt.

I wasn’t really looking forward to what I’ve grown used to seeing at festivals in the past few years. All these puja thalis and donor dinners and kalash weirdness. It sort of bugs me to see devotees pimping the deities, convincing Hindus to be better Hindus (rather than devotees) and all under the name of “fund raising.” I don’t care who you are, it’s creepy and such a shame.

That’s what I was all geared up to deal with at Janmastami in Gita Nagari. But when we got there around 6:30, there were maybe 20 devotees in the temple room having a small kirtana.

I saw my friend, Chris, and we chatted a bit. And then he offered to take us on a little tour of the farm. He’s been coming here since ‘89. I was at GN in ‘98ish, and once or twice since then.

As we toured the grounds and hung out with the cows, I regretted not visiting here more. Maybe in the short time that I have left on the east coast, I’ll visit again.

To end the little tour, we stopped at Bhakti Tirtha Swami’s puspa-samadhi (sort of like a memorial site). It was newly finished and pretty beautiful. Very well done. Some Amish fellows worked on it, though they wouldn’t lay the tile because it was an altar for a different religion. I can respect that, but why build the alter itself, but not lay the tile? Amish are finicky like that.

It was getting later and the sun was dipping down to the horizon. Time for the festivities to start. The schedule said that there were going to be “Charades.” I had never once seen “Charades” at a temple. Devotees have weird names for things. We sometimes use words that usually mean something completely different from what we actually mean. But I’ve never heard “Charades” used at all. So needless to say, I was really excited for Krishna Conscious Charades!

But much to my dismay, that didn’t happen. I’m not really sure why, but sometimes things just fall apart. And it’s probably better that that fell apart rather than an arati or abi-sheka.

It was pretty hot in the temple room and more devotees had shown up. I recognized a few, which is usually the case and always nice. Before too long, the swing festival portion of the evening was the place to be.

They took Radha-Damodara off the altar and placed them on a wonderfully decorated swing in the middle of the temple room. The devotees formed a haphazard line and funneled in to take turns at pushing Their Lordships’ swing for a few seconds while the kirtana grew in size.

It was a really great kirtana with three or four second generation kids on the drums. It’s always better when the kulis are providing the beat.

We stayed in the temple for a bit, chanting along with the kirtana, but it got a bit hot and I was getting a little dizzy, so we went outside to cool off.

And I’m really glad that we did. I was planning on going back inside for class, but ended up having a great conversation with a couple from the New Vrndavana area. I remembered the husband, Bala, from when I lived at NV in the mid 90’s. There was also a second generation mataji who grew up at Gita Nagari.

The conversation turned to deities. Apparently there were some very ecstatic and huge Gaura Nitai deities at Ratha-Yatra this year. They were brought there by a devotee who makes deities. He’s the father a few friends of hers, but she couldn’t remember his name. Neither could Bala. I took a stab at it, since I thought I knew who they were talking about. Turns out that I did! I was supposed to contact this devotee about making me a set of Gaura-Nitai deities, but never did – I was hoping to find a set needing a new home.

But since nearly a month has passed and nothing has come up (well, nothing that wasn’t morally apprehensible/abominable), I was seriously kicking around the idea of contacting this deity maker. And after the conversation with this Mataji, I’m doing it. Actually, I did it. Wish me luck.

Night was fully upon us now and class was over. We weren’t planning on staying to the end, what with the drive home and all. The plan was to leave after class, after the abi-sheka (deity bathing).

I was hoping to get a chance to take part in this, but this abi-sheka was on the altar and, not being an initiated brahmin, I can’t go there. We could watch and it was really beautiful seeing Their Lordships taking a little bath. They’re so adorable. I’m used to many big deities at New Vrndavana, but these little brass Lords are wonderful. Jaya Radha Damodara!

It was about 10:30 when we cut out. We were given some prasadam, some fruit, since this is a dairy farm and nothing is vegan (which is fine, I completely understand). We also got Radha Damodar’s garlands! I haven’t gotten garlands at a temple since I joined up. The first time I was ever at a temple, I got one of the garlands. And until a few years ago, I still had it. I gave both of them to Sarah as mementos of her visit.

One long drive later, I dropped Sarah off at her car and got home just in time to break the fast with the fruit that we got at Gita Nagari (Sarah took the cantaloupe, I took the watermelon).

What a great time. It reminded me of the festivals from when I just joined up! The full emphasis was on Krishna, not just “fund raising.” Actually, fund raising wasn’t even mentioned. There was no talk of money. It was Krishna’s day. If we properly worship Krishna and treat the devotees well, Krishna will provide. We don’t need hired (and well paid) fund raisers to make a temple run. A temple is run by devotion and devotion only. And this temple has bhakti bulging at the seams!

Gita Nagari Dham ki Jaya!