2006 - The Round Up

2006 was a great year for IPS and a great example of the variety of opportunities there are to be engaged in devotional service. IPS were thorougly engaged in creating innovative projects of their own and supporting the Manor during festival times!

Here is a quick round up:

We made good use of the colours we organised for the Holi festival. The infamous picture of UV comes to mind [if you have seen the video/presentation]. People from all over came to see the bonfire and chuck colours at each other.

Upton Centre [home of East London Jamming] was re-decorated by the devotees - loads of hard work to make the hall look great! The numbers keep growing, a record of 210 when His Holiness Sivarama Swami graced us with his presence.

We went on our summer trip to New Mayapur! We were so so soo fortunate to have the
presence of His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami - MIND BLOWING KIRTAN, His Holiness Paramgati Swami - ETERNALLY SMILING, Her Grace Urmila Mataji - WHO IS IN TOWN AS WE SPEAK and His Grace Gauri Prabhu - WHO IS ALSO IN TOWN-funnily enough!

When we returned we celebrated the beautiful festival of JANMASHTAMI! We took over both the VRINDAVAN FOREST and the 'LOST' tent [can't think of a better name]. The Vrindavan forest displayed 21 stunning past times of the lord! The Lost play was appreciated and praised by all who saw! The actors, setting and directing was excellent! All of IPS were heavily engaged into the production and organising of both areas!

From HAVS [I've never known what that stands for] to VICTORIA HALL. Harrow Jamming moved to a new and larger hall. The new hall has already been blessed with the presence of several senior devotees and we keep attracting the new people - keep up the good work!

Dussera witnessed the burning of a much more fierce, muscular RAVAN! An excellently directed play with a new cast. At one point we did not want to burn RAVAN he looked that good! PS devotees were constantly enagaged in the constructing of RAVAN and rehearsing for the play!

The Diwali program in East was moving and truely inspiring! Sandeep Prabhu, Naveen Krishna Prabhu and Bhutabhavana Prabhu blessed us with their words that touched all our hearts! The fireworks were DISPLAY FIREWORKS not DOMESTIC FIREWORKS - no more needs to be said on that! Everyone had a great time!

The Christmas programme was a good laugh as devotees took to acting, singing, dancing..........being papp'd..................and we got to reminisce about the beautiful Deities in New Mayapur! An article on the event was published in the Asian Voice along with pictures of devotees dressed up in funny costumes!

IPS was blessed and glorified by several senior devotees. His Holiness Radhanath Maharaj said Pandava Sena is a 'Spiritually satisfying group of people'.

The importance of looking back at what we have accomplished through the mercy of senior devotees and Srila Prabhupad as it helps us realise we are very fortunate to be engaged in devotional service and in the association of so many other devotees. It also makes us realise that we can do great things in this way and keep expanding Lord Caitanya's family!

With this mood it would be nice if all of us, in the next year can commit ourselves a little more to our family and be inspired to better every festival, programme, Jamming and expand into new areas and projects! Let us together further build Srila Prabhupad's army and focus, responsibly and enthusiastically on Lord Caitanya's mission!

Thank you to all the Pandava Sena devotees who have been engaged in service in 2006 and welcome to those who are new, do not worry, we have enough room for everyone!