CROATIA - REPORT

Dear godbrothers and godsisters, Hare Krishna!

All glories to Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Gurumaharaja!

Please accept our humble obeisances.

In August, after our visit to Italy, Guru Maharaj decided to visit Croatia. From Italy He arrived by boat together with His grhastha disciples Tusta-gaura dasa and Vraja-sundari devi dasi. The boat stopped at Split, a city on the Adriatic coast, and by car they proceeded towards Zagreb, capital of Croatia.

Gurumaharaja stayed in Zagreb from 5th to 7th August 2008 in Zagreb temple. Along with the standard temple programm and lecture, he held harinama with around 15 devotees (devotees from the temple and congregation) and home programs. Harinama was on 6th August, starting at 11 A.M.. Gurumaharaja sang the Holy Name, playing various melodies on accordion, distributing the mercy of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, engaging others in Harinama.

Harinama started from the main square in the center of Zagreb. People were stopping, watching, smiling... Very soon they started to dance, sing, taking prasadam, ballots, books... Gurumaharaja radiated with special mercy and while giving it to others they beamed with smiles. Happiness appeared on the children's faces, they were dancing till mums and dads, aunts, grandmothers and grandfathers also joined.

Because Gurumaharaja likes to distribute mercy of the Holy Name to many people as possible, from the main square we started to circulate around neighbouring streets. This was the real meaning of walking harinama. A few steps from main square is Tkalchicheva Street, were we went. It is the street full of shops and coffee bars, so that is why it is favourite place for shopping and entertainment. Singing the Holy Name Gurumaharaja elicited a glance, a smile or even a look of surprise from people's faces because with usual shopping people get the most valuable gif t - the HOLY NAME (As gratis packet).
 

Gurumaharaja took a little rest in Tkalchicheva street on the bench and then proceeded through others. Via Duga street we came again to the main square. The wooden floor in front of one coffee bar was used by Gurumaharaja as a mini stage. When reaching the main square Guru Maharaj was asking devotees to lead the bhajans while others were dancing. Vraja-sundari Mataji and Vrindarika Mataji were engaging passers-by in dancing and singing.

From main square next to the hotel "Dubrovnik" we started towards Bogovicheva Street through which we came to a square - "Petar Preradovich." Song, dance in the nectar of the Holy Name were pouring out like a rain after the season of drought. People were listening and only a few were dissatisfied, only a few. After a short time we spent at the square "Petar Preradovich" we passed' through "Oktogon" and went towards Ilica street (longest street in Zagreb).

People were attracted, smiling.. Again we reached the main square and then through Jurisicheva and Kurelcheva Street we entered Vlaska street. That street was the last part of the harinama. Also, tis is the street where devotees have a restaurant named "Vegehope." That was the end of the harinama but lunch for Gurumaharaja. Taking the prasadam Gurumaharaja was speaking with devotees and then returned to the temple where he took rest for of few hours. Evening time he was invited to a home program (bhakti sanga program).

Harinama was a very nice experience... Three hours of happiness... Three hours of nectar... Three hours of pleasure.... Three hours of nectarean service.. Three hours of surrendering under the protection of Gurumaharaja, Srila Prabhupada, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai... In every town and village... And also we can say in every street in every town... Moments when every spoken Holy Name was a song... Every step was a dance... And desire that all that will last for eternity...


Your servants, devotees from Zagreb

(Reported by Sacimata, Croatia)