Radhe Radhe.
We announce with great sorrow that the roof of the Mandir at Suryakund caved in today, just when the celebration of the Disappearance Day of Siddha Srila Madhusudan das Baba was on full swing. The parikrama of the village had just ended when disaster struck. The Vaishnavs celebrate this occasion on a mega level and all vehicles seem to head towards just one goal – SURYAKUND.
However today this turned out to be an unprecedented accident, when the roof that had been repaired recently, broke down. PLenty of devotees died on the spot and many more injured. Three Vaishnavs from radhakund were killed in this sad incident.
Majority of the deceased and injured were men, since the men lead the sankirtan and had filed inside the Mandir first. The ones who were safe got no vehicle to return, since all vehicles were being used to carry either dead bodies or for rushing the injured to the hospital. The Vaishnavs were forced to return on foot which took a long time.
Today is also the Adhivas-kirtan evening for our dear Param Gurudev 108 Srimad Kunjabehari Babaji Maharaj, or whom we lovingly call ‘Dadu Maharaj’. It is usually a very enjoyable affair with hot khichdi prasaadam topped with hot brinjal fritters, which the devotees find highly delectable in the cold December evening. Baba even provides hot water to the devotees for washing their hands. Yet, now everyone’s spirit is highly dampened with the sad turn of events.
By the mercy of Swaminijiu, Binod Baba who is usualy such a prominent figure in the Suryakund mega fest (since Tinkodi Baba’s disciples handle this grand affair), was absorbed in his personal Bhajan, and had stayed in Barsana – away from the crowd. (What a relief !!) Also, my parents, who have great penchant for attending all the ‘Siddha Baba’ feasts had stayed home (for reasons even they did not know). i thank Swaminijiu sincerely ofr keeping all our loved ones safe; at the same time my heart is heavy remembering the devotees who have sufferred. Please let us sincerely pray for the dear departed souls, for the speedy recovery of the injured and the family members of the affected devotees. Radhe Radhe. 😥
Well, to tell the truth – the sankirtan-cum-parikrama party had just reached the place of disaster, and the ‘doi-karma’ not yet performed. Yet prasad was already distributed – which is unprecedented (since due honour is first given to the devotees who participate in the parikrama) – and so most of the devotees were in the midst of taking prasadam when they left their bodies.
Also my major point of consternation is – the roof was recently done. This indicates clearly the height of corruption involved during the construction – in using inappropriate building materials. We strongly feel that a committe should be formed to inquire into the fallacy in the construction and all parties involved in it should be brought to book.
Radhe Radhe sweet boy. My second thought flew to your GM 🙂 definitely and i found out he was safe. 🙂 And yes, we must investigate the source of prasadam – i am a great believer in this – as you already know !