Taveuni Retreat

BY Shivanjali Anamika ( Jenny)

" It was the most overwhelming experience. We had Harinaam for 4 hours and went to many devotee’s place. We all recited the Mahamantra at the top of our voice and had kirtans. Devotees danced and enjoyed. Upon returning to the school, everyone was served prasadam. After prasadam, many devotees went for a swim at the sea just opposite the school."

 Dear Humble devotees,

Hare Krishna 

Please accept my pranam. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. All Glories to Srila Gurudeva.

 Its now two weeks after our return from the Taveuni retreat. I suppose most of you are busy with work after break and this terrible calamity has added more our current commitment. This probably held most of us back from updating the Forum on the happening and realization of the retreat.First and foremost, I would like to thank Vrajendra Prabhu, Mahaprabhu and Vikash Prabhu of organizing the wonderful retreat. And I wish to personally thank HG Ram Charan Prabhu and all his family (Shyama Priya Mataji, Vrajendra Prabhu, Atmasakti, Vikash Prabhu and Vijendra Prabhu) for their help and support during our stay in Taveuni. Also to HG Jairam Prabhu for being the veteran of our cooking team as usual.The trip went on as planned. Taveuni indeed is a very beautiful place with friendly people around.

 We left for Taveuni on the Friday afternoon of 2^nd January, 2009. Upon arriving at the Taveuni wharf on Saturday , Vikash Prabhu escorted us to Sri Laxmi Narayan temple in Taveuni town. We arrived at the temple after an hours bus ride. All the devotees settled down. All matajis camped in the temple and all prabhus at a school, just opposite the temple. Prasadam was served after everyone settled down. Ram Charan Prabhu and Shyama Priya Mataji prepared khichdi, chutney, pickles and uto cookies. Everyone seemed to enjoy the uto (breadfruit) cookies.After the prasadam, our youths started to prepare afternoon prasadam under Sat Narayan Prabhu’s guidance.

 After helping with the food preparation, the youths decided to go the Natural Waterslide. Despite the rain, devotees were still eager to go to the natural waterslide.  3 trips were made in the carrier to take them to the Natural Waterslide. Devotees had to walk some distance to get to the actual spot as the waterslide hasn’t been developed into a proper tourist site and its still in its natural surrounding with no proper pathway. Upon reaching there, I was surprised to see the number of people at the waterslide. All of them seemed to be enjoying the cool mountain waters of the tropical island Taveuni.

We stayed there for an hour or so before returning to the temple. At the temple, the mataji’s were all ready for the evening program and were having Kirtans. We all had our shower and got ready for the evening program. In the evening a lot public had come to attend the program. HG. Vijaya Prabhu took the evening class and simultaneously, a Bhagavad Gita seminar was also being taken by HG. Uttama Sloka Prabhu at the school. After the program, prasadam was served to everyone. The next day, everyone woke up early in the morning and got ready for the Mangal Aarti which was held at the temple. While waiting for the mangal aarti, some devotees took a morning walk while chanting. At around 6 pm we had the Mangal Aarti and the Tulsi puja. After that, some devotees went to attend the Bhagavad Gita seminar while other remained in the temple for the morning class. After the class, prasadam was served and then the devotees were asked to pack all their belongings as we all were going to the famous Bouma waterfall and after that to South of Taveuni. Everyone seemed to be really excited to be going to the waterfall. The bus had arrived at the temple to transport all the devotees to the waterfall.  

 After about a 1.5 hour bus ride, we reached the famous Bouma waterfall.

 Everyone enjoyed the cool waters of Bouma waterfall. Prasadam was served by HG Jai Ram prabhu and other devotees. After that, we returned to the temple just to load the luggage onto the bus and then we left for South of Taveuni. It was a beautiful place. We got to see lots of tall coconut trees on the way. 

We camped at the Southern Taveuni Indian School. It was a very nice experience and we all got to stay so close to nature. There was an evening program at the temple a bout 1  hour drive from the school and also seminar by HG. Uttama Sloka Prabhu continued at the school premises. The next morning we all went to Ram Charan Prabhu’s place. Few devotees were already there in order to help HG Jairam Prabhu with the cooking. After the cooking, everyone went for Harinaam (Nagar Kirtan) 

  It was the most overwhelming experience. We had Harinaam for 4 hours and went to many devotee’s place. We all recited the Mahamantra at the top of our voice and had kirtans. Devotees danced and enjoyed. Upon returning to the school, everyone was served prasadam. After prasadam, many devotees went for a swim at the sea just opposite the school.

In the evening, the youths had campfire and kirtan just beside the sea-wall. The next day, on Tuesday morning, we had Mangal Aarti and then everyone packed and cleaned the rooms, ready to leave. Since the ship was delayed everyone shared their realizations from this Taveuni Yatra. Following that, we had a group photo and to conclude, perhaps Krishna also showed his mercy and there was a circle rainbow around the Sun. It was the first time we saw something like that. It was beautiful and luckily I got it captured in my camera.  

On our way back to the wharf, the devotees had kirtans in the bus. It was a funfilled and at the same time a Krishna Conscious trip. Its true, to be in Krishna Consciousness, you just have to make Krishna the centre of everything you do. Even in this material world, everything, even your normal life activities become spiritual!! Haribol!!!!