The annual Badger festival with Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja was held from June 12-18. On June 15, Giriraja Govardhana Annakuta ceremony was observed, beginning with a large kirtana and harinama. During Srila Narayana Maharaja’s visit to Badger in 1997, he had performed an ancient Vedic ceremony to install the great mountain Giriraja, along with the two divine lakes Syama-kunda and Radha-kunda there. He had called them from Goloka Vrndavana, and brought them to Badger. Since that time, he has held this yearly Annakuta festival, as it was originally celebrated at the time of Sri Krsna and His Vrndavana associates 5000 years ago.

Begining of the Govardhana Parikrama

Greeting Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

Ladies' Kirtan Party - Parikrama of Giriraja

Men's Kirtan Party - Parikrama of Giriraja

Directing the kirtana parties and the distribution of 800 plates of various preparations for the devotees to carry on their heads and offer to the lotus feet of Govardhan.

Offering Prayers to Giriraja Govardhana

After bathing and offering arati to Giriraja, Srila Maharaja had the devotees repeat the following prayers after him:

yatraiva gangam anu navi radham
arohya madhye tu nimagna-naukah
krsno hi radhanugalo babhau sa
govardhano me disatam abhistam

[“In the middle of Manasi Ganga, which has arisen from the heart of Sri Govardhana, Radha was sitting in Krsna’s boat. As He began to make the boat sink, He embraced Her and She, in turn, tightly clung to Krsna’s neck. Together They looked very beautiful. May that Govardhana, who provides the setting for this secret lila, fulfill my desire.” (Sri Govardhanastakam, verse 7)]

He then told the 600 devotees present, “When the boat carrying Krsna and the gopis went to the middle of Manasi Ganga, Krsna told Srimati Radhika, “My boat is old, so it may sink.” Then Srimati Radhika, out of fear, embraced Krsna. Govardhana is eye-witness to this. May he sprinkle all his mercy so that this pastime will manifest in our hearts.

“pramada-madana-lilah kandare kandare te
racayati nava-yunor-dvandvam asminn-amandam
iti kila kalanartham lagna-kastad-dvayor me
nija-nikata-nivasam dehi govardhana! tvam

nija-nikata-nivasam dehi govardhana! tvam (Please give me residence near you).
nija-nikata-nivasam dehi govardhana! tvam (Please give me residence near you).

[O Govardhana! Please grant me a dwelling near your side so that I can easily witness and serve the youthful lovers Sri Radha-Krsna as They perform newer and newer secret, amorous pastimes within your many caves, where They become completely maddened from drinking prema. You are present and making everything possible. (Sri Govardhana-vasa-prathana-astakam, verse 2)]

“ ‘Oh Krsna, You are very powerful. Please give me the service of Srimati Radhika (Radha-dasyam). Give me only this and nothing else.’ This is our prayer to Giriraja Govardhana.

“Giriraja Govardhana ki jaya! Giriraja Govardhana ki jaya! Giriraja Govardhana ki jaya!

”Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe! Jaya Jaya Sri Radhe!

Editorial Advisors: Pujyapada Madhava Maharaja, Sripad Brajanath dasa, Sri Prema-prayojana dasa
Assistant Editors: Hariballabha dasi
Editor: Syamarani dasi
Transcriber and reporter: Vasanti dasi
Proofreader: Krsna-kamini dasi
Pictures courtesy of Visvarupa dasa and Vasanti dasi