By Dimple Joshi
NHSF (UK) London Zone Co-ordinator
After the huge success of NHSF (UK) South Zone 9 Hour Ram Dhun last year, National Hindu Students’ Forum (UK) London & South Zone organised another spectacular bhakti event; a 12 Hour Krishna Kirtan held at Slough Hindu Mandir on Saturday 9th March 2013 from 9:30am to 9:30pm.
Being a co-coordinator with Jaimal Patel for the Krishna Kirtan, it was overwhelming to see young Hindu students and the local community arrive the night before to help prepare for the event- from decorating the stage to cleaning the kitchen. Seeing the determination and confidence within these young Hindu Students marked the first steps taken towards a successful event and building a bridge between the students and the community.
On the morning of Saturday 9th March 2013, we held a Ganesh Puja and spiritual mantras were delivered by Parth Upadhya. Soon after the Hanuman Chalisa was sung, which not only gave me strength but it filled the Mandir with positivity and peace. As soon as the Hanuman Chalisa was complete at exactly 9:30am I sang the first line of the Kirtan ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare’. This is it; the 12-hour journey of chanting Krishna’s name had begun. It felt like a dream!
Throughout the day, sewa activities were carried out such as collecting non-perishable food, which was later donated to the local homeless shelter and preparation of the Bhojan Prasad. Various exhibitions and activities were held throughout the day including a Kids Corner, which involved face painting, colouring and learning about Lord Krishna’s life through pictures. We are very grateful to Anthony Nolan for attending to raise awareness about the importance of Bone Marrow in the Asian community
It was fantastic to see a great turnout of students from over 20 universities who had given up their Saturday to attend 12 hour Kirtan. Furthermore, I was thrilled to see students coming forward to sing the maha mantra and play different instruments with such passion and confidence. Universities across the UK coming together certainly proved ‘Sangathan mein shakti hai’ –In Unity Lies Strength.
As the end approached, the energy levels were ready to hit the roof, the singers were singing from the top of their voices and musicians playing with limitless energy, this ended the kirtan with everyone fully recharged.
It took months of dedication and hard work to plan this event and for that I would like to take this opportunity to thank my co-coordinator, Jaimal Patel, both NHSF (UK) London & South Zone team members, all chapters, National Committee members, singers and musicians involved. Furthermore, I would like to thank the committee members of Slough Hindu Mandir who supported and allowed us to use their facilities. Keeping the best till last, the Krishna Kirtan would not have been possible without the blessings of Lord Krishna.
“You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.”
Lord Krishna