770816 - Letter to Vatsala from Tamal Krsna

Vrndavana,

August 16, 1977

From: Tamal Krishna

Berkeley

Dear Vatsala Prabhu,

Please accept my obeisances. I have been instructed by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada to answer your letter dated August 1st, 1977. Needless to say Srila Prabhupada was very pleased with the results of the Rathayatra festival. And he viewed the newspaper articles with a large smile. He commented, “I began this Rathayatra festival when I was a young child. I used to take Lord Jagannatha, Subhadra, and Balarama in my wagon in front of my father’s house. I would hire one sankirtana group to follow, and would distribute prasadam along the way. My father used to spend Rs.40/-which at that time was a large expenditure, especially on a child’s play. All in all it was a grand affair, and all of the neighborhood used to appreciate. Now by the grace of my childhood Deities, Sri Sri Radha Govindaji, I have been able to continue this Rathayatra festival even up until this day.” So you are assisting Srila Prabhupada in a service which has been very dear to Him since childhood. Please continue to hold more and more festivals so that all the people of San Francisco may become Krishna conscious.

I hope this finds you in good health.

Your servant,

Tamal Krishna Gosvami

Secretary to Srila Prabhupada

His Grace Vatsala das

c/o ISKCON Berkeley

/tkg