By Bhakti Purusottama SwamiLike Vrindavan and Navadwip Parikramas making the Sri Kshetra parikrama in Puri greatly benefits our devotional life. Although Puri parikrama is an ancient tradition it is relatively unknown to many devotees. There is a fixed tithi for this Puri parikrama.
It takes place on the day of appearance of the Panchajanya Sankha conch shell.Puri, or Nilachala dham is also known as Sankha kshetra because it has the shape ofa conch shell. The Shastra encourages devotees to circumambulate Puri, Shankha Kshetra on this day. The path is approximately twenty-one kilometers, about the same distance as the circumambulation of Govardhan Hill. This tithi falls four days after Kartik or Rasa purnima. Devotees coming to Vrindavana for Kartik can also easily plan to attend this Puri festival after completing their Vrindavan parikrama without a schedule conflict.
For two years now ISKCON has been organizing a grand parikrama in Puri. Last year over twenty-five hundred devotees attended. On the first two days devotees visit all the major places of the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. On the last day devotees will circumambulate the all of Puri Kshetra .
We humbly encourage all devotees to take full advantage of the spiritual mercy afforded by visiting and exploring the holy dham on this auspicious parikrama. We request your help in any way you may wish to offer it. Our desire is simply to make this Puri Parikrama Festival a grand success. Free prasadam and accommodation shall be provided all participants.
Many sannyasis, GBCs, ISKCON leaders and senior devotees plan to participate in the parikrama this year, some of those now committed are: Jayapataka Swami, Bhakti Charu Swami, Gopala Krishna Goswami, Loknatha Swami. Gouranga Prema Swami, Bhakti Sidhanta Swami and Bhakti Gourava Narayan Maharaj. You are sincerely invited to come and get the mercy of both the glorious Puri Parikrama and the association of these devotees.
Parikrama schedule: November 26th to 29th, 200726th Nov. Arrival of devotees at ISKCON, Bhakti Kuti, Puri27th Nov. Visiting different pastime places of Lord Sri ChaitanyaMahaprabhu and Jagannath katha
28th Nov. Visiting different pastime places of Lord Sri ChaitanyaMahaprabhu and Jagannath katha29th Nov. Parikrama of Sri Kshetra Puri Dham. A transcendental twenty-one kmwalk around Sri Kshetra. We pass along beautiful ocean beaches, through forests and numerous holy sites such as Narendra and Indradumna sarovara, Chakra tirtha, Lokanath temple, etc.
Help needed:Kind hearted devotees are requested to donate generously for this parikrama.PRASADAM Offerings:per devotee Rs200 = $5For ten devotees Rs2000 = $50For one hundred devotees Rs20000 = $500
For one thousand devotees Rs200000 = $ 5000Breakfast prasad Rs60000 =$1500Lunch prasad Rs 90000 = $2250For One day prasad Rs150,000 = $3750Four days prasad Rs 600,000 = $7500ACCOMMODATION Offerings:
Accommodation cost @ Rs25/ .For 4days Rs100,= $2.50Ten devotees' accommodation Rs 1000, = $25One hundred devotees accommodation Rs10,000 = $250One thousand devotees accommodation Rs100,000 = $2500One day accommodation Rs 75000 = $1750
Four days accommodation Rs 300,000 = $7000Whatever you can afford to donate to sponsor accommodation for devotees inPuri dham will be wonderfully rewarded. By arranging accommodation for devotees at Puri Dham your accommodation in the spiritual world is guaranteed.
Parikrama Procession Rs 10000 or $250Publicity Rs 20000 or $500Pandal , light , and sound Rs 50000 or $1250Traveling expenses for Sannyasi Rs 30000 or $750Parikrama path repairing Rs 20,000 or $500
Temple decoration Rs 30,000 or $750Highlights of the Sri Kshetra Parikrama" Hearing Jagannath and Goura Katha from ISKCON senior devotees,sannyasis and Srila Prabhupada disciples" Ocean Bathing
" Jagannath Prasad" Visiting all Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's places of pastimes" Separate parikrama tour groups to accommodate Hindi,English, Bengali and Oriya speaking devotees." Circumambulating Sri Kshetra , twenty-one km walk around Puri Dham
" A great festival of chanting, hearing, dancing and taking JagannathaPrasad" Free Prasad" Free accommodationPlease Note: Simple accommodations will be provided for all devotees. If you require a private hotel room please contact us in advance for booking arrangements.
" ISKCON Devotees World Wide Are Cordially Invited to AttendRegistration fee -Only Rs200 = $5How can you participate?" By personally attending fully or part of the festival and parikrama
" By taking up some service while you are here at Puri" Giving your suggestions and ideas for making this festival even more successful" By donating generously for the festival through money or goods or service.
" By encouraging devotees to participate Sri Kshetra Parikrama.Important information: General accommodation will be provided to all devotees free of cost. If any one wants to get special accommodation they can request a private
hotel booking. Please contact Goura Nitai das as early as possible.Goura Nitai das E mail - ISKCON.puri [at] pamho [dot] net or ISKCONPURI [at] yahoo [dot] co [dot] in">ISKCONPURI [at] yahoo [dot] co [dot] in
All Devotees must register in advance so accommodation and other facilities can be arranged accordingly.Weather at this time of year will be normal. Not too hot or not too cold.How to reach Puri?
You can come by train directly to Puri. Or by air to Bhubaneswar and then by car or bus to Puri. From Bhubaneswar to Puri it is about 50km.Please Send Donations and Registration Fees to:From banks in side India
Name of the Bank : ICICI BankAccount Name : ISKCONAccount No. : 037201000450Branch Name : ICICI Bank, Sarat Bose Road, KolkataFrom banks out side IndiaName of the account "ISKCON Gour Purnima Festival Fund
Account No: 237010100071336Bank: UTI Bank Limited12MM Ghosh Street, 1st FloorKrishnanagar, Dist NadiaWest BengalINDIA 741 101Swift Code: UTIBINBB005Or,Send your donation and fees through on line to
Visit www.mayapur.comWhen you send your donation kindly informbps [at] pamho [dot] net
