July 11 – 18, Simhachalam, Germany.
"Hare Krishna Hare Rama little nice souls, welcome to the camp for little vaishnavas."
With this traditional camp anthem began already the 13th year of the Hare Krishna Children Camp at the German Simhachalam farm. This year record-breaking 80 Czech, Slovak, German and Irish children and their parents have attended.
Every day there was multifarious spiritual-entertaining program for
children, which contained creative activities, telling and reading
the stories, theater, songs singing, swimming in the nearby natural
aquapark, a trip "The Trees Crowns Path" in Bavarian
Forest National Park, the
Ratha-yatra Festival, combat expedition… There was also a camp fire
with guitar playing and paneer toasting :-) All this was enhanced
by the spiritual mood of the Temple schedule and blessed by the mercy
of "the Bavarian lion" – Lord Nrsimhadeva.
There was a nice event – meeting with a
new selected Jandelsbrunn's
Mayor who visited the farm for the first time and who appreciated our
collaborative working with children in his speech. He also wishes
that this kind of actions would continue in the future. He likes this
peaceful meeting and cooperation of people of different ages,
nationalities and religions.
During the camp, 16 years old Jayanti, daughter of bhaktin Eva, celebrated her birthday. During the year Jayanti lives in India, Mayapur, where she attends a gurukul for girls. Another girl celebrating her birthday was 10 years old Rukmini, daughter of bhaktin Šárka and Gaura Nataraj Prabhu. Both girls got a big birthday cake, gifts and a lots of favour and blessings from all vaishnavas around.
During the camp, 16 years old Jayanti, daughter of bhaktin Eva, celebrated her birthday. During the year Jayanti lives in India, Mayapur, where she attends a gurukul for girls. Another girl celebrating her birthday was 10 years old Rukmini, daughter of bhaktin Šárka and Gaura Nataraj Prabhu. Both girls got a big birthday cake, gifts and a lots of favour and blessings from all vaishnavas around.
In the morning lectures from Srimad-Bhagavatam, 10th canto, chapter
"The Meeting of Nanda Maharaja and Vasudeva",
many interesting themes were discussed related to the beauty and
wealth of Vedic culture, cow protection, education and
parenting…Gadadhar Prabhu, in
his lecture, was talking about the
newest information from the International Scientific Conference he
organised last year. The information was related to study of
consciousness and Near death experiences (NDE).
At the end of the camp,
Dhira Nitai Prabhu, who is living at Simhachalam with his family and
who is the Guest House keeper, expressed acknowledgement to all the
parents and children for big attendance by the name of the farm
leaders. This big involvement proves that parents are more and more
aware of the importance and responsibility of leading and educating
children in Krishna consciousness. The Hare Krishna Children
Camp is very unique in this way and is incomparable in all Europe.
All devotees living at the Simhachalam farm agree with each other
that this event is the sweetest of all festivals during the year. And
that it takes place in the presence of the deity of Lord Nrsimhadeva
is definitely not a coincidence because Lord Nrsimhadeva is the
embodiment of the mood of paternity (vatsalya-rasa).
A big acknowledgement to all the devotees
who assisted the organization of this event. Especially we would like
to thank Prahlad Nrsimha Prabhu who, despite his age, for so many
years organises the camp, provides buying food, helps with cooking,
makes breads etc. and oversees a smooth running of the camp. Next, we
would like to thank the cooks: Narahari Devi Dasi, Yogeshvar Prabhu
and Vaibhavi Devi Dasi, for their devoted service in the kitchen and
ensuring delicious prasadam during the camp. Great thanks goes to
Lila-shakti dd., Prema-mayi Radha dd., Kalakanta dd., Lalita Gopi
dd., bhaktin Catherine, Nagendra Kanya dd., bhakta Sebastian and
others for organisation of programs for children. Great thanks also
goes to Govardhan Milkshop (bhakta Frantisek and Varshana dd.), which
delivers milk and dairy products to the camp. Thank you very much!
For the next year we are planning to add
musical workshops for parents and children, add more thematical
lectures about home-schooling and educating children in Krishna
consciousness.
Thanks to all the devotees and friends for their blessings to successfully continue and develop this children camp in next years. Hare Krishna!
written by: Priya-kirti Dasa.
photos by Pundarika Devi Dasi, devotees from Simhachalam.
Thanks to all the devotees and friends for their blessings to successfully continue and develop this children camp in next years. Hare Krishna!
written by: Priya-kirti Dasa.
photos by Pundarika Devi Dasi, devotees from Simhachalam.