Our News Jan 28, 2016

No Pictures of this Year's Snow yet Here are a couple from 2010

Three feet of snow!!!  Our primary services therefore have been snow plowing and clearing and salting, so we can have access to feed the cows and re-bed them, and to continue other services for our Deities, guests and devotees.  The cows have a beautiful thick coat of fur/hair now and this helps keep them extra warm.  We have been trying for a while to purchase a good “brushing machine” for them – like this (Please click here) -

- check out page 4 for the Technical Data and cost to get an idea J.  Please email Dhruva@theyogafarm.com to contribute to this – the cows will be in ecstasy and your reward will be eternal bliss J! We also have brush heads mounted in the milking barn for them currently so they get a good scratch when they come in for milking.  However, they are pretty worn down now so you can also contribute here - we need 26 brushes 2 feet long (as we have 26 stalls) – we usually get these (click here)  - please email Dhruva or order them and have them shipped to ISKCON Gita Nagari, 534 Gita Nagari Road, Port Royal, PA, 17082 – Thank you in advance.

You are Invited! Hot off the press from the organizers of the Memorial Weekend Retreat: come spend the long weekend with these wonderful souls:  Hare Krishna !    Sri Gita Nagari Dham ki Jai! The appreciation and gratitude expressed by each and every person attending the Gita Nagari retreats is an indication of how eagerly we all look forward to this event each year. Our gratitude goes out to His Holiness Romapada Swami, who very compassionately extends the mercy of Sri Sri Radha-Damodara to one and all by conducting the retreats in the peaceful, serene setting of the holy dhama of Gita Nagari. HH Romapada Swami's enthusiasm to always serve his beloved Spiritual Master, Srila Prabhupada, and his sincere desire to see his dear Godbrother, HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami's inimitable radiant smile, indicate his love, dedication, and commitment to them.    This year's memorial day retreat is a very special one as the topic is "The Petals of ISKCON's Lotus", an event honoring ISKCON's 50th anniversary. This event will be graced by HH Romapada Swami, HG Ravindra Svarupa Das, HG Vaisesika Das, HG Tamohara Das, HG Krsnandini Dasi and HG Vraja Lila Dasi. The retreat will begin at 5 PM on Friday May 27th, 2016 and will end by 3 PM on Monday May 30th, 2016. We will be sending out a detailed event schedule as we get closer to the retreat.There will be an ecstatic kirtans lead by distinguished kirtaneers such as HG Acyuta Gopi Dasi and HG Ananta Govinda Das. Also we have exciting line-up of children's activities, to fully engage 5-12 year old in farm-based Krishna Conscious fun and play.    Please click on the Evite invitation emailed to you and let us know if you will be able to make it to this year's Gita Nagari Retreat. Please provide name(s) and age(s) of persons attending the retreat. Alternatively, you can email Satya-sara das at reachsarva@hotmail.com. We request you to please inform and invite your friends. The registration fee for the retreat is $80 per person over 12 years of age ($30/day if attending part of the retreat) and $30 per child between the ages of 5-12 years.    Thank you for your time and consideration.    On behalf of the Gita Nagari Organizing Team, Rati das

Our News Jan 25, 2016

Snow - Last Tuesday we had our first real snowfall – less than an inch and this week we are gearing up for a snow storm!  We got the snow plow truck going and would like to invest in a salt spreader for our paved lane – please support here if you can – it costs $980.  You can email Dhruva@theyogafarm.com with your desire and contribution.  It gets pretty icy and slippery here so all the residents especially the cows and our guests will greatly appreciate your generosity and contribution in this regard. North American Temple President’s Forum -Parijata dd attended the North American Temple President’s Forum on behalf of Gita Nagari in Houston this past week.  She returned with favorable reports and shared the highlights at our Community Meeting last Sunday.  The Community Meeting was especially enlivening this past weekend – thank you to everyone who contributed.  The minutes will be out shortly.

Kitchen - The big move back into our fabulously remodeled kitchen is in progress as we write this (Wed evening 10:45pm – Nandi and Krpamoya are setting up the kitchen).  Will post pics in the next newsletter.  A Huge Thank You to everyone who contributed in various ways, and of course to Nandisvara das for leading the Project and doing much of the work/service himself.

Welcome Back! - Special Welcome Back to The Yatras (Snana Yatra Prabhu and Mother Jhulan Yatra) who returned from a recharge in India.  Krishna Kumar is also back after a very successful book marathon and already plugged in, while recovering!  Nandisvara das leaves to New Zealand for a well deserved break and will return  – all the residents, including the cows and oxen who are very fond of him, will miss his association and service. Home Program - Pariksit Prabhu, Mother Anasuya, Vrnda devi and Vishaka devi hosted our community at their home where everyone had an opportunity to re-connect on a deeper level around a very effectively facilitated gathering.  Devotees shared freely and made commitments – sure ways to advance in devotional service!  Thank you Prabhus for this significant service! Tulasi devi - Another significant offering is the very healthy care of Tulasi – she is vibrant, fully “leafed”, rich green and reciprocating with Her servant very wonderfully.  Pariksit Prabhu takes exceptional care of Tualsi devi and ever since he has been doing this service, she has not just survived every winter but continues to flourish!  He has plans to renovate her home – her special warm greenhouse.  The floors need replacement and the walls painted.  Please do support this special service – you can email parijata@theyogafarm.com with any contributions you would like to offer. All services and offerings are significant so please connect with us on how you would like to be involved – we have so much planned for 2016 – much more service than volunteers!  Email parijata@theyogafarm.com regarding this. Food Distribution - Fresh Express Food Distribution continues steadily by the dedicated efforts of Mothers Yasoda, Jambavati and Mayapuralila – we are well situated in our new venue – thanks to the Mifflin Borough Council. Boiler - As the temperatures dip really low, all of us at Gita Nagari want to extend our sincere gratitude to Yasoda-dulal Prabhu and all the sponsors he rallied to purchase a new boiler for the farm, last year.  By your generosity, Sri Sri Radha Damodara, the devotees, all guests who stop by or stay over, are very warm.  The residents especially are able to serve in a focused way, free of bodily concerns regarding the cold and are in good health.  Your gift of heat to us is very precious and deeply appreciated.  Thank you, from our hearts. Our Wood Boiler keeping us warm; Brrr! Icicles!; Hooking up the Snow Plow; Sati - our blissful and talented garland maker; Krishna Kumar (KK) back in action - he looks cute in his apron :)