Pre-Ratha Yatra Week

This week is going to be incredible busy. So much service has to be done. 40,000 people attend Ratha Yatra almost every year. So alot of cooking and cleaning around the temple must be done.

I've been given a lot of service to do. Hara Kumar  asked me to take over in caring for Tulasi Devi. It feels so nice to take fully care of her again. This time I hope to serve her better. Im such a fallen soul and unqualified to take care of her but Tulasi is still so merciful and still wishes me to serve her even though there are more qualified devotees here than myself to take care of her.

Then my guru Maharaj gave me some extra service to do. He wanted me to clean around outside the temple. There was trash and weeds all around the temple. Im pretty much finished with that service now. I had just finished the front side of the temple. My guru Maharaj was very pleased and happy with the results of how i cleaned it. Im very happy that he is pleased. Krishna knows I wish to keep my guru Maharaj pleased and happy. The first day when I had started this service I spent five hours straight outside pulling weeds, sweeping the drive way, picking up trash, and pulling more weeds out from the small garden outfront. My back was hurting me the next day so I couldn't do much. It seems like whenever I do strenous work like this my back hurts me the next day. But I had to do this service to please  my guru Maharaj and it was direct service to him.

Mahavendra Puri also requested me to concentrate on the dishes. There are already so many devotees helping in the kitchen. So I really couldn;t get to the sink. There were devotees cleanign the kitchen and cutting vegetables and cooking. I helped a little bit but my back was in pain again. I think I may have to buy some inexpensive shoes to wear in the kitchen. Maybe going barefoot or standing barefooted hurts my back since the floor is so hard. I'll see if I can find some shoes that are not leather to wear.

We also have a 12 hour kirtan this week. I am looking forward to that. And I can't wait to attend ratha yatra as well. I've never been to a large Ratha yatra before only small ones in Cleveland Ohio. I love going ot Krishna Conciousness festivals. They are a lot of fun. :) Who would think that religion and spirituality can be fun in life? It helps one to keep ones mind focused on Krishna who is God Himself.