[fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]Kothapeta was, once upon a time, a very beautiful village with lush green farms, full of overloaded large mango trees, cashew nut tree groves, hundreds of coconut and tal trees. But just in a decade it has transformed into a concrete jungle. There are at least 10 4-storeyed apartments. It is very difficult to identify it as a village though official documents recognize it so. Farmers sold their lands to contractors in return of huge paper money. This easy money has resulted in popping up of many liquor shops, rise in promiscuity, and appearance of several brothels in every nook and corner of the village. According to one police officer, 9 raids there were conducted on brothels last year. Besides this there are many more sinful activities which are going on but cannot be described here for the sake of decency and space.

From last ten years, ISKCON devotees have been preaching here. As a result of which there are around 60 people who chant Hare Krishna and attend satsanga regularly. Since there has been lot of focus on developing varnasharama-related activities over the years, about fifteen families have realized the importance of cow-based agriculture. They are now practicing to grow their own food either in their kitchen gardens or in their farms. In every Sunday program, announcements are made about the offerings to the deities, which they bring in the form of home-grown vegetables, flowers and fruits. Every year there is a three-day Varnashrama workshop organized to encourage, share and improve different Varnashrama-related activities. There is one goshala with 3 big cows and 2 calves maintained by the ashram devotees. The ashrama devotees are also making an attempt to cultivate eight small pieces of land (leased for free by the local congregation member/s) for growing vegetables, flowers and fruits.[/fusion_text][fusion_text][/fusion_text][fusion_text]On January 5, 2015, Sri Govind Gau Gram Prachar Yatra program started with Go-puja with not so encouraging attendance of just about 60 devotees. The devotees did not get discouraged and continued with a lively rathyatra procession. The Lordships Sri Jaganath, Baladeva and Subhadra were taken in a palanquin from ISKCON Chirala temple to Panchayat office area where the program was planned. Lectures on Bhagavad-gita, Mahamantra and on cow protection were given by different congregational members. The women occupied the carpets, while men chose to attend the program standing at some distance. Inspite of repeated requests to take the provided seats the men were standing. Perhaps because only women are expected to take interest and participate in devotional activities. Nevertheless there were a few enthusiastic farmers who expressed their interest in adopting cow-based agriculture. Many participants requested for a copy of the documentary videos shown during the programme. Relatively, the programme may appear dull in terms of number of participation of the villagers (because of the rising vicious influence of the city), yet it inspired the regular devotee congregation to continue with their preaching activities with the same zeal. They expressed their desire to participate in every future village programs organized by the Yatra devotees.

Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!

Sri Govind Gau Gram Prachar Yatra ki Jai!![/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible” margin_top=”20px” margin_bottom=”” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_separator style_type=”none” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””/][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]Reported by: Hari Kirtan Das from Hyderabad[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]