History Of Beach Kirtan Festival
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September 25, 2017, was something that was never expected in the history of ISKCON Mauritius. It was the birth of the Beach Kirtan (Beach Kirtan Festival). It was started by His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami Maharaj at Flic En Flac, Public Beach. There was no tent, no stage, no big audience as we have today. It was only Maharaj and a group of disciples and devotees at the beach. Actually, Maharaj decided to have a beach kirtan program on the spot that day and it was a big hit. Everyone loved it. Even the passing tourists who were on the beach joined in the chanting of the Holy Name. Then in 2018, Maharaj came to Mauritius again and this time, we had the program under a small tent with Maharaj and with a much bigger crowd along with bigger facilities. The program continued with Maharaj until 2019. It was the last visit of Maharaj. Covid 19 came and everything changed. It was in 2022; Maharaj got cancer and came to know that he had very few days to live. Thus, he retired to Vrindavan, and he spent his final days over there until his departure in 2023. One of his final requests that he asked was to continue the Beach Kirtan program in Mauritius. Thus, in September 2022, trying to fulfill his Spiritual Master’s desire and instruction, Yasodanandana Das went to Grand Baie along with some devotees and did the Beach Kirtan Program over there for the first time in the North.
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March 2023 was a big blow for the KKS and ISKCON community. His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami Maharaj took his last breath and entered in the eternal pastime of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna and his devotees. It was a big lost, however, for all the devotees. Thus, in May,28, 2023, under the blessing of His Holiness Bhakti Bringa Govinda Swami, His Holiness Sundar Chaitanya Goswami Maharaj and all the devotees, Yasodanandana Das along with the help of some disciples and His Grace Vrsabhanu Das and some more senior devotees, formed a small team and reignited the flame of Beach Kirtan Program at Flic En Flac with a much more elaborated program with Food for Life Program and Prasadam. Then in 2025, there has been a major change in the program. This year for the first time, along with great efforts of the Beach Kirtan Program team, the Beach Kirtan Program that all the devotees knew turned into a big festival with way more facilities and activities. This year we had a Kids Corner and an Interfaith Booth for the purpose of preaching, along with an Ecstatic Kirtan with HH BB Govinda Swami Maharaj and it was indeed a big success.