GOALPARA, March 24 - The three-day International Appearance Festival of Gaudiya Math began today in commemoration of the 94th appearance of Swami Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj, the renowned Guru of Gaudiya Vaishnava theology.
Swami Tirtha Maharaj was the president of All India Chaitanya Gaudiya Math. He also served as the president of the World Vaishnava Association (WVA) and founder of Global Organisation of Krishna Chaitanya�s Universal Love (GOKUL).
He was born on April 24, 1924, on the day of Ram Navami in Goalpara , Assam. He studied in the Cotton College and then completed his Masters degree in Philosophy from the Calcutta University in 1946. He became the president of All India Chaitanya Gaudiya Math in 1979 and also travelled around the world spreading the teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Talking to this correspondent, secretary of the organising committee of the festival said that the programme will begin at Tirtheswar Devalay, the abode of Swami Tirtha Maharaj which has now become a temple for Krishna devotees.
It is located at the foot of the beautiful Hulukunda Pahar in Goalpara town and all the devotees from around the world, especially from European nations like Ukraine, Russia will join the celebrations and the committee is expecting a turnout of around 20,000 devotees for this grand three-day event.
Already the town is buzzing with activities giving it a festive ambience and more than 2000 devotees are engaging themselves for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the festival, which end of Monday.
As per the programme schedule, on Saturday glorification of Swami Tirtha Maharaj will be carried out at Hari Sabha at a congregation where sanyasis and devotees will speak and share their experiences with Swamiji. The programme will end with Hari Kotha which is scheduled from 5 pm to 9 pm.
On March 25, floral tribute ceremony to Guru Maharaj will be held and from 10 am to 1 pm Guru Puja along with other rituals will be carried out. In the evening, a cultural programme and Ram Leela performances will also be staged at Hari Sabha.
On the last day, coinciding with the festival of Ram Navami, a mega cultural rally will be taken out at 9 am from Tirtheswar Devalaya which will pass through the roads of Goalpara town finally ending at the PR Govt HS & MP schoolground. It will be followed by a grand feast.
Meanwhile, the organising committee has appealed to all sections of the society to join the celebrations and to learn about the renowned guru Swami Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Maharaj and the teachings of Krishna Katha.
