ISKCON Baroda: 4 Days Padayatra From Baroda to Dakor

In continuation of the earlier initiative to organize padayatra from Baroda to Dakor, and after completion of two successful padayatra’s in 2017 and 2018, this year we have concluded our successful third year from Dec 12th to Dec 15th. Following is the summary of the padayatra.

DAY ONE:

Early morning at 6.00am about seventy padayatris gathered at temple premises. After early morning arati to Sri Sri Nitai – Gaura chandra, we started for first halt at Saishav school in Sevasi village. Once we reached this destination, we performed kirtan amongst 600 students which was very well received and attracted participation from all students/teachers. Soon after the Kirtan we went to our next destination i.e., Ankhodiya village where we distributed many Bhagavad gita as it is. We also performed our Guru puja there followed by breakfast prasadam. Subsequent to this we resumed our padayatra to next destination i.e., Dhanora village where the sarpanch Pravin Sinh Zala of the village made all arrangements for the night halt. It was a small village however all the villagers enthusiastically participated in the Nagar sankirtan. Almost a congregation of 200 went across the village along with us performing kirtans, distributing Bhagavad Gita and mercy of Sri Nitai – Gaura Chandra. This was followed by the night halt/rest at 9 pm.

DAY TWO:

Devotees gathered for Mangala arati at 4-30am. On the onset of sunrise, all devotes started walking towards the Fazalpur village which is on banks of Mahi River. From there we proceeded towards Vasad which is a very big village. Devotees distributed Bhagavad Gita in this village. Subsequent to this we proceeded towards Sarsa where we had lunch prasadam and night halt. During the evening, walking through the inroads of village and passing by every door, we performed Kirtan and distributed Prabhupada literatures. In addition to this, within the Govt. School in Sarsa we distributed 1000 Gitasaar books to students.

DAY THREE:

On the third day, many devotees joined padayatra from Baroda and from nearby villages. Soon after Sringar Aarti, we started our walk towards Khmabodaj village where we were invited by CJ Patil school management to distribute books. After our breakfast in this village, we reached Ode village where we performed Sankirtan in the school. Near about 2200 students were present in the school. This was a huge gathering and first of its kind when compared to all our earlier padayatra programs. The Principal and staff where very cooperative and eagerly participated in the program. Soon the sankirtan was joined by all these participants making it an amazing spiritual experience for all the participants. We also distributed around 700 Gitasaar and around 150 Bhagavad gita books here. Subsequently, we took lunch and dinner prasadam here and had our night halt.

DAY FOUR:

On the last day of padayatra, there was a huge increase in participation with devotee numbers increasing from 80 to 150. This further validated Guru Maharaj’s words that padayatra will increase from strength to strength as we continue to do it. The striking feature of this padayatra was that we had more youth than Grihsta devotees in the current padayatra when compared to earlier ones. From Ode, we reached Umreth village. We did Sankirtan in Umreth village dancing with Gaur Nitai on our heads and passing on the mercy to villagers. We had our breakfast at Umreth and reached Dakor by 1.30 pm. At banks of Gomati Talav in Ambawadi ashram, all the devotees gathered and had Katha on Dakor Ranchhodrai. All the devotees and donors for the program were felicitated with the vote of thanks which was then followed by serving of lunch prasadam. After this devotees had darshan of Sri Ranchhodrai and then dispersed to their homes.

This was ISKCON Baroda’s third annual padayatra. In this padayatra, we traveled around 16 villages and distributed around 1350 Maha big books and around 2000 Gita sar.
We heartily thank Shri Basu Ghosh Prabhu and Shri Nityanand Ram Prabhu who has always inspired us to visit every Taluka and village of Vadodara and to spread divine mercy. We also would like to thank our inspiration and ISKCON Padayatra Minister H.H. Lokanath Swami Maharaj who took this initiative for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada. Finally, we would like to thank our grand spiritual master Sri Srimad A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada for his continued mercy and spiritual strength which has lead us to perform this padayatra and to please him and Nitai – Gaura Chandra.
We also thank all the devotees for their physical, mental or financial support for this padayatra. We are now determined to organize such padayatras every year and spread the message accordingly.
All Glories to Raja Ranchod Rai.
All Glories to H.H. Lokanath Swami Maharaj.
All Glories Srila Prabhupada.
Jagat Guru Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!