It’s been a big first month in Radhadesh this year of 2011. We had our awesome New Year’s Eve party – where we shot rockets off the Castle and threw tom thumbs at each other. We woke up that very same day to prepare for the New Year Day Gala night, which the College staff and students put on under the guidance of HG Jaya Krsna Prabhu. Kumari decorated the hall full-fancy and they asked me to provide the comic relief for the night. I stole an idea from an unknown source and arranged some interactive skits, in which our audience hosted mad parties full of mysterious guests.
We kicked off our study year with an outstanding start. HH Kadamba Kanana Swami led us all in a Caitanya Caritamrta retreat for a whole week. We delved into the nectar of the CC and also looked at it from the scholarly point of view. It increased the taste of some and the urge to read of others, as well as providing some stone strong support to our conviction of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission. Nimai organized a very animated drama in no less than a day, which we all performed for the pleasure of Kadamba Kanana Swami and the assembled Vaisnavas.
Throughout the weeks of January we discovered a new extracurricular activity: film making. Some of the students (including myself) had previous film making experience so the concept was loved by all. I spent my spare time writing skits, scripts and shot lists. We shot our first skit for a House Rules meeting for the coming month of February, giving the students a little bit of extra entertainment in the colder months.
We continued to have delightful courses, kirtanas, festivals and house parties. The month culminated in the Radhadesh Mellows kirtana weekend. I had the opportunity to take potential new students around the campus, and we all engaged in ecstatic dancing and chanting. Manu, the main organizer, had a load of publicity and a great stock of Vaisnava blessings. So many kirtaneers came; so many Swamis and so many good vibrations went out. Those who missed out were eagerly watching online, on the constant live feed. The crowd was equally large online as it was in kirtana the hall.
Another month starts in Radhadesh and there are many more adventures to come. I apologize for not keeping you all up-to-date until now – it’s been a rocking hard ride. Hoping to write more in the future.
Your servant, Madhavendra Puri Dasa.
Messages from Mad Hatter 