Shrimad Bhagavat Katha in Surat, India
Surat, the diamond city located on the banks of river Tapti, hosted Pujya Bhaishri’s Bhagavat Katha from 20th to 27th December 2009. The people of Surat had been waiting anxiously for the last seven years to host Pujya Bhaishri’s katha. Their joys were doubled since the proceeds of the katha were to be used in the aid of the patients of Bharat Cancer hospital run by Shri Ambika Medical Trust and Shri Bharati Maiyya Memorial Foundation. Shri Govindbhai Dholakia, who has been rewarded the Rajarshi award, donated Rs. 6,100,000 for this purpose. The family of Shrimati Savitaben Govindbhai Panchal of Bodhanwala were the chief hosts and paid the costs of the katha.
The Shobha Yatra set out from the residence of the Panchal family at 2.30pm on 20th December. Thousands of devotees enthusiastically welcomed Pujya Bhaishri and the Shobha Yatra.
In the katha, Pujya Bhaishri skilfully expressed the trials and turbulence faced by mankind with excerpts from the Shrimad Bhagavat. Mixing humour and wit with quotations from the Shrimad Bhagavat, Pujya Bhaishri also provided effective solutions to the present day problems. In addition, Pujya Bhaishri unravelled the spiritual mysteries of the human existence by citing examples from the Vedas, Puranas and ancient and medieval bhajans. The joy seen on the faces of the audience reflected how Pujya Bhaishri had touched their hearts through the katha.
Shri Krishna janma was celebrated with great zeal and zest at 3pm on 24th December. On the day, the katha mandap was over filled with people right from the morning. Shri Govardhan puja and Shri Rukmini vivah were also celebrated amidst lots of joy and fun emphasising the saying in Naradji’s bhakti sutra: ‘Yam labdhvaa stabdho bhavati’, meaning the expression of delighted people resembled that of being awestruck!
Many saints and industrialists graced the katha with their presence. This included Pujya Mahamandaleshwar Shri Hansrajji who extended his blessings in his brief address. Cabinet Minister of Gujarat, Shri Narottambhai Patel, also came to listen to this katha.
On the final day, the devotees were filled with divine bliss from the katha, but were simultaneously sad to see the end to such a delightful experience and bid goodbye to Pujya Bhaishri.
