Pilgrimage of the Heart 2026- Welcome Day 1

 

Day 1,  Arrival at Jagannath Puri

Preparing the Hall for Programs

Welcome Devotees to the Sacred Yatra

First and Foremost our heartfelt thanks to Guru Maharaj and Guru Maa for this sacred Yatra. Globe-trotting constantly is not easy, yet they lovingly do it for all us - traveling, guiding, inspiring, and giving their time and energy so we can grow spritually. Their sacrifice, compassion, and dedication touch countless lives and uplift our hearts.

We are deeply grateful for their care, their guidance, and their boundless mercy. 

Day Started with Book Distribution Tips 

Simple and Practical steps for effective and heartfelt book distribution. Please follow them with sincerity and enthusiasm:

1) Make Contact

2) Kick Your Shoes Off

3) Lollipop

4) Sticker

5) Books

6) Language Card

7) Mountain Pose

Lecture Highlights

When Caitanya Mahāprabhu was teaching about devotional service, he presented 64 items. One of them is chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa; another is associating with devotees; and others are living in a holy Dhāma, reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and worshiping the Deity.

He said that of all the 64, these five are so potent that even if you have a little connection with them, you'll make advancement in devotional service. And so, this "coming to the Dhāma" is noticeably prominent in his Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's teachings, of course, he said you should always live in the Dhāma—but if you can't be there physically, you should be there in your mind and heart.

But how will you develop such a connection unless you come here? That's why we're here. So, in great humility, we enter this holy place. I offer my respectful obeisances to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, who introduced this Dhāma to us, as well as all the other aspects of devotional service.

Not only did he introduce it, but he keeps introducing it to us through his books and through all his lectures, teachings—and also by the example he set by inviting his whole international society to come every year. Of course, there were fewer devotees at that time, but I think the invitation still holds. He relished seeing all of his fledgling disciples from various parts of the world—some of them freezing cold, others from places where no one had ever heard "Hare Kṛṣṇa"—coming into the Dhāma together: Māyāpur, Vṛndāvana, and sometimes Purī. So, we offer our respectful obeisances to Śrīla Prabhupāda and beg his permission to be in this Dhāma for a week, and to hear and chant together.

While we are here as travelers—because you've already noticed—"travel" comes from the word travail. If you follow the etymology, everyone knows travail means an extreme of discomfort, but it also traces back to an instrument of torture. But it's not torture when we know we are coming to the Dhāma. Just going through security is kind of like a preparation for leaving this world: "And what do you still have on you, buddy? We'll go through it and look." 

We can't hide anything in this world. It all goes through an X-ray machine and a pat-down somewhere. It is best if we dispense of the useless things that we're carrying around with us before we get to the final security checkpoint. This is a good place to do it. Not that we come here just to leave our troubles or sins, but naturally, when we come here in a mood of service, we'll find that whatever material aspirations we have can be transformed into aspirations for serving Kṛṣṇa. After all, that's what's permanent.

Conclusion

With grateful hearts, we offer our sincere appreciation to all the volunteers whose dedication, enthusiasm, and loving service made this Yatra so special and meaningful. Your tireless efforts and spirit of devotion created a wonderful atmosphere for everyone.

Special heartfelt thanks to:

🌸 Shraddha Mataji

🌸 Ramananda Sakha Prabhuji

🌸 Vishaka Mataji

🌸 Nikunja Vilasini

🌸 Rashmi Mataji 

🌸 Divyanam Prabhu