Sixty students from the North Point Senior Secondary Boarding School in Kolkata visited ISKCON’s headquarters in Mayapur, West Bengal for a day trip organised by Mayapur Tourism recently.

For most of the students in grade ten and over, it was their first trip to Mayapur. Upon arrival, they were greeted with sprinklings of cooling rose water and sacred chandan clay—a warm welcome from the devotees which they later called “a special privilege.”

Feeling refreshed, they then took a tour to ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada’s Bhajan Kutir and Pushpa Samadhi (mausoleum). There, they listened attentively as guide Guru Dayal Dasa briefed them on Srila Prabhupada’s life and teachings.

As they walked through the Samadhi’s museum, they recollected the incidents in Prabhupada’s life which they had just heard and joyfully correlated them to the exhibits. Students and teachers then posed for a group photo in the Samadhi staircase.

After the Samadhi tour, they proceeded towards the temple to pay their respects to the Deities of Sri Sri Radha Madhava and to take part in the Raj bhog arati worship service.

After lunch, they were invited to the Mayapur Tourism Center hall for a lively and inspiring interactive session. Youth outreach expert Shiromani Dasi then spoke to the students about how Krishna is one’s only well-wisher, and how by chanting, one can cultivate a friendship with Him.

Students were very responsive and inquired about chanting and how to apply Krishna consciousness in their daily life. A few even took beads to begin chanting. Before they left, they participated in a kirtan which had everyone dancing in joy. Teachers were amazed to see their students’ enthusiasm.

Meena Sethi Mondal, Founder Secratary & Managing Trustee of the School remarked that she never expected the students to be so inquisitive about the process of Krishna Consciousness, and showed great interest in learning about Mayapur. She promised to bring her students for a longer stay and also invited Mayapur Tourism to visit her schools to conduct further interactive sessions and kirtan.

For more information on outreach and activities at ISKCON Mayapur, please visit http://mayapur.com.