June 1, 2020
The Transcendental
Holy Week for Mexico
This 2020, we celebrate the 48 and 49 years of the Transcendental
Holy Week in Mexico. After a few weeks in preparation at the LA temple,
Citsukhananda Prabhu along with Bhutabrit dāsa and Bhakta Jan (later Ujjuala dāsa)
arrived at Mexico City on June 1, 1971. This date marked the beginning of the
Krishna Consciousness Movement in Mexico. Soon two Mexican boys joined them,
Bhakta Paco (later Prakāśānanda dāsa) and José Luis Kolin Weshke. Soon I joined
on August 1.
During the first year, Citsukhananda Prabhu tried
several times to get Śrīla Prabhupāda to visit the Mexico City Yatra, finally
it was agreed that he would visit on June 1, 1972, which would coincide with
the date of arrival of the Hare Krishna movement in Mexico a year before.
However, for some technical circumstance the date had to be postponed for the
following day, June 2, 1972. Needless to say, it was a very festive and
ecstatic celebration Śrīla Prabhupāda’s visit to Mexico. It was a week full of
preaching for Śrīla Prabhupāda. Literally millions viewed him thru a prime time
news TV interview. Some devotees joined the movement later on from watching
that program. After a day in Puerto Vallarta, he flew back to LA on June 7.
Nanda Kumara was Srila Prabhupada’s personal servant this time.
The following video was taken on that first visit of
72. In the background, it is Śyāmasundara dāsa speaking. And there appear Paṇḍitji
Pradyumna Prabhu talking with Rohini Kumara das, a devotee from the 26 2nd
Ave. time, and Jagatananda dāsa also an old timer from NYC.
Citsukhananda is leading kirtan with his guitar seated
at the garden; Yamuna Jivana is playing maracas, Bhakta Chuk, Bimala Prasad,
Patri-Madhukanta devi dasi, a Canadian devotee made and initiated in Mexico.
The pregnant woman is Narmada, Haihaya’s wife. Ujjuala dasa is standing
clapping and dancing. The balcony is where Śrīla Prabhupāda room is.
Rama-Govinda (Parvata Maharaja) is dancing in front of the car. Wearing a
garland is an American summer student she was from Wisconsin, and then there is
me, I am wearing a white kurta, we had to wear whatever was available.
Madhavacarya dasa is helping Citsukhananda to put a flowers arrangement on a
tree. Candravalli Devi Dasi is at the door wearing a yellow sweater. Wearing a
white shawl is Mother Apsara.
At 1:26 starts the program at the Mexico City Masonic
Lodged where Śrīla Prabhupāda delivered a lecture. Many of the devotees can be
seen here. Śrīla Prabhupāda is on his vyāsāsana, which we took to all the
programs. There is Śriji dāsī in a blue sari, Prakāśānanda Prabhu on the
right by the mic, next to him is Vyāsatīrtha dāsa. Sitting, next to Narmada
mataji is Rādhārāṇī devī dais. Śyāmasundara is behind the vyāsāsana on the left
side; Paṇḍitji Pradyumna is on the right side.
