Hare Krishna,
Please accept my humble obeiscances.
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!!
On 23rd March, a public curfew was announced by Hon. Prime Minister of India, which was extended further as Lockdown and is still continuing today- on 16th May. Tomorrow, further notices are expected regarding it. Till now as many as 85,940 Corona cases have been registered officially while death toll stands at 2,752. No transportation is allowed with exception of some necessary items like – grocery, vegetables, milks etc. Almost all industries, commercial firms, trains, airplanes are closed. In order to facilitate the students and labours locked down in others state 15 special trains are running since 1st May. So, overall life is standstill for most of the people.
In temples, visitors are not allowed. However, devotees are utilizing this opportunity for outreach. Famous ex-Indian Cricket Team Captain Mr. Saurav Ganguly is supporting ISKCON Kolkata to feed 10,000 people prasadam every day.
Similarly, ISKCON Delhi has been supporting government by providing prasadam for lacks of people everyday. Delhi Chief Minister appreciated his work of ISKCON.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/divine-service/article31384031.ece
Devotees in general are utilizing this time for increasing their sadhana and also conducting online classes practically everyday and discussing Krishna-katha. Now, in this lockdown, no one is able to put excuses like- ‘I am busy’, and hence participation has increased. Also, regular devotees are becoming more fixed up in their individual sadhana, since there is no travelling. From devotees point of view, I feel this lockdown has helped many to become more serious in their individual sadhana. Also there are ample opportunity to undergo different e-cources being conducted by different temples and thus deepen their understanding of bhakti.
Devotees are taking this opportunity in positive spirit. Of course amongst most miserable are those who are addicted to intoxication and not getting anything in this tough situation. The crime has reduced to practically nil in India while ‘in-house’ quarrels are in rise than ever.
I have been in Haldia since last 2 months. It’s a small village near the oil-refinary factory of Haldia. These days have offered me wonderful opportunity to go deeper in my own sadhana. I am able to regularize my sadhana and increase it. Devotees here organized a yagya on Sri Nrisimha Chaturdashi for protection from Lord. It’s just unimaginable to be in such a situation.
Your servant,
Purushottam Keshav Das
HpS - Jaya!!! Please send an update like this here!