Students of Children Seminary School visited Iskcon Newtown Kolkata on 13th Dec 2024. They were accompanied by their teachers and school’s principal was also present.
Although we think that only grown-ups are interested in spirituality and like to visit temple, but we saw that the students were happy to be in the temple.
They came by bus and reached temple at around 11 am. Anything auspicious should begin by taking darshan of the Lord. So, we decided to immediately visit the temple. Students kept their belongings in a hall and then quickly proceeded to the temple in queue.
Darshan of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga & Goshala visit
In front of beautiful Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga, children stood in rapt attention seeking the blessings of the Lord.
Meanwhile devotees were melodiously singing Hare Krishna kirtan in the temple hall. Children and faculty members too joined in singing the holy names of Krishna. Each child and faculty members were given a flower to offer to the Lord, which they did while the kirtan was going on.
We then decided to have dancing kirtan. We thought that students and teachers may be reluctant for dancing kirtan, but everyone happily joined and danced to their hearts content for the pleasure of the Lord. Simultaneously one of the faculty members, was applying tilak to the students and the teachers.
Students dressed in school uniform wearing vasinav tilak looked beautiful. After darshan and dancing kirtan, everyone was given charanamrita.
From temple hall we proceeded to Goshala. Children were excited to see the cows. One of the devotees, HG Somdev Prabhu, spoke about the importance of cows and how we should take care of them. They were also given food items to feed the cows. They all were happy to see the cows, to be with the cows and feed the cows.
Interactive session, Quiz & Gita sloka recitation
From Goshala, we proceeded to the hall for our next program. It was important to explain the students about the place they are visiting and essential facts associated with it. We explained to them about the deity, Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga, whose darshan they had taken.
We then told them about Iskcon, Srila Prabhupada, Goshala and organic farming. This is the month of Gita Jayanti, so we also told them about Bhagavad Gita and recited the verse.
Bhagavad Gita Verse Recitation
yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo
yatra pārtho dhanur-dharaḥ
tatra śrīr vijayo bhūtir
dhruvā nītir matir mama
Translation
“Wherever there is Kṛṣṇa, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion.”
This verse very clearly says that if like Arjuna we too take shelter of Krishna then we will always be happy. We also asked few students to recite the verse which they did. Principal Mam also came forward and recited the verse. She also recited the famous verse from Bhagavad Gita 4.7.
yadā yadā hi dharmasya
glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya
tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham
Translation
“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I descend Myself.”
The discussion was interactive and in between we had quizzes. Those students who gave correct answers were given prizes. Even Principal mam participated in the quiz and got a gift.
During our discussion, we also showed them videos. One was about the cows and how Krishna loves cows. Second video was about the importance of having good association. Although students were in a picnic mood, but it was also important to share some important spiritual lessons which will help them in their life.
Game, lunch & gift
It was 1:30 pm but students wanted to play before taking lunch prasadam. So, they went outside to an open ground about 300 metres away from temple to play. Meanwhile faculty members were exploring the temple and trying to see various places.
By around 2:30 pm. students returned back, and it was time for lunch prasadam. Lunch prasadam included yellow rice, white rice, aloo rajma, lauki sabji, sweet rice.
As per their schedule they were to leave after lunch prasadam.
While they were boarding their bus, we gave students and faculty members one rasgulla and a badge which had pictures of Krishna, Jagannath, Radharani. By seeing this badge, they will remember the Lord and their visit.
We are grateful to the principal, to the teachers and to the students of Children Seminary School for visiting Iskcon Newtown, Kolkata. We hope they will continue coming to the temple.
We also pray to Lord Krishna to shower his blessings upon each student and all the faculty members of Children Seminary School.
