Appreciating Mayapur & Jagannath Puri Dham

Bhakti pilgrimage retreat in Kolkata, Sridam Mayapur and Jagannath Puri

8th - 21st February 2023

A retreat in 3 holy dhāmas – Kolkata, Sridhama Mayapur and Sri Jagannath Puri. Devotees will come together for sadhu-sanga, kirtana, Krishna-katha, and service together in holy dhāmas.

Retreat is a natural part of life. Each day the darkness retreats as the light appears; each night the light retreats as darkness ensues. Each month and each day, year-round, the tide flows in and then, retreats. The word retreat comes from Old French, “retret,” which means to “draw back,” or to “call back.” How often do we take time to meaningfully “retreat” from our demanding lives to go inward to address the needs of our souls?

Taking the time for spiritual renewal by joining an organized retreat is an essential element of spiritual practice; yet, all too frequently we overextend ourselves, putting off this much-needed practice that leads to our spiritual health.

Visiting Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastime places in the dhāma will not only renew the participants – body, mind, and soul – but will also deepen their personal relationship with Him. Join in to renew yourself and feel a deeper connection to Kṛṣṇa, His devotees, and to devotional practices!

Accommodation will be based on two persons or a family per room with ensuite bathroom.

The world famous prasada of Jagannath Puri is cooked in earthen pots over wood fires, and the cooked food is offered to Lord Jagannatha and then distributed to all. While staying in Jagannath Puri, we plan to partake of this rare spiritual treat each day.

• International and domestic flights
• Airport transfers in India
• Accomodation for 1 night in Kolkata, 5 nights in Mayapur and 4 nights in Jagannatha Puri
• Overnight Luxury Coach travel from Mayapura to Jagannatha Puri
• Local Travel during Retreat
• Daily Guided Trips
• 3 daily meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Light Dinner)
• Sankirtan seva in dhama
• Pre-retreat readings and sangas on Zoom
• Travel tips document

• Visa / OCI
• Travel insurance
• Passenger locator form
• COVID-19 tests or documents
• Laundry

• Morning worship, like mangala aarti (optional), Tulasi puja, and guru puja
• Japa Circle
• Hearing in the association of devotees about the glories of the 9 processes of bhakti,that begins with Śravaṇaṁ and Kīrtanam: hearing and chanting.
• Service to the dhām and it’s residents through prasadam distribution
• Travel to various pastimes places of Lord Caitanya and His eternal associates
• Harinama and Book distribution
• Journal writing, and much more . . .

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, “Not like a galloping horse; not for exercise; not for sight-seeing or enjoyment, but with a mood of service we must go to the places that Mahaprabhu Himself visited and exhibited His audārya-lila.”

Mahaprabhu told Viṣṇu-priya, “Please give Jiva your darśana and blessings.” But if we go to Navadvīpa-dhama independently we will not obtain any transcendental darśana. Just looking at a face is not darśana. Trying to see Navadvīpa dhama with our mundane eyes is a useless endeavor. By hearing we can somewhat understand the dhāma’s glories, but that is not enough. Only when we are given spiritual vision will we be able to have real darśana of the dhāma. Until then, we are blind.

The Spiritual Master gives us eyes to have darśana of spiritual things. He knows how to show us reality—distinguished from maya—and never cheats us, by telling us to look at mundane faces. He reveals to us the sweet life-giving nectar of Govinda’s pastimes.

Madhavananda Das, joined ISKCON in Los Angeles in 1982. He moved to Bhubaneswar Orissa in 1993 where he has been living since. He was instructed by his spiritual master Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja to edit his lectures into publications.
For over fifteen years he has been serving as the director of ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications, the editor of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Magazine, and the email magazine Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu.

HG Madhavananda Prabhu will join us in Sri Jagganath Puri

Vraja Bihari Das (also known as –Venugopal Acharya) is a full-time monk, author and spiritual teacher at Shri Shri Radha Gopinath Mandir, ISKCON Chowpatty, for the last two decades.
He has a Majors degree in Economics and a Masters in Monetary Policy and International Finance. He shares his daily reflections, meditations, and discourses on his website www.yogaformodernage.com. With over 1000+ articles on his website and hundreds of talks on his YouTube channel, Acharyaji continues to help and guide the masses across borders through his social media.

HG Vraja Bihari Prabhu will join us in Kolkata and Mayapur

Payment

In order to reserve your space 50% deposit will be required on booking.

The remaining 50% will be due on 30th October.

Spaces are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment.

Cancellation Terms

25% from the 50% deposit will be refunded back if cancelled by 30th August

10% from the 50% deposit will be refunded back if cancelled by 30th October

No refunds after 30th October

If the retreat is cancelled due to less registrations, your funds will be refunded in full, excluding £25 admin fee.

Book your interest