ISKCON Ekachakra (left); the Goshala at ISKCON Ekachakra (right).

From December 21 to 25, 2024, a Holy Name Retreat was held at Ekachakra, the birthplace of Lord Nityananda, organized by Devaki Devi Dasi and assisted by Dhara Devi Dasi. The event brought together participants from various parts of the world, including India, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and the UK. 

The retreat offered an immersive experience focused on chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. The primary aim was to help participants chant while feelingly calling out to the Lord, remembering that there is no difference between the Lord and His Name. The serene and spiritually vibrant atmosphere of Ekachakra provided the perfect impetus for this transformative journey, fostering a deep connection to the Holy Name and a sense of unity among devotees from diverse backgrounds.

The event began with prayers and offerings to Lord Nityananda, invoking his mercy and blessings. Upon arrival, the attendees went on a parikrama around Ekachakra, visiting places connected to Lord Nityananda’s pastimes, including Bakula Tala, Panadava Tala, and Hantugada Tirtha. The parikrama helped participants attune themselves to the mood of the retreat, which was inaugurated the same evening with kirtan led by Dhara Devi Dasi and an introduction address by Devaki Devi Dasi.

The next three days of the retreat were centered around a series of seminars conducted by Devaki Devi Dasi. These sessions created a space for introspection and spiritual transformation as participants were guided to reflect on their chanting practices, focusing on the subtle yet profound effects of inattentive chanting. They were encouraged to identify the distractions, complacency, or mechanical tendencies that had crept into their spiritual practices over time.

The sessions combined philosophical depth with practical application. On the next two days, there were also japa sessions at the end of the seminars, allowing the participants to apply what they had learned in the initial days and experience the difference between focused, prayerful chanting and mindless repetition. This can be compared to an internet connection having a poor signal, wherein the connection does not actually get established.

Kirtan sessions, led by Devaki Devi Dasi, further deepened the experiential learning. In these chanting gatherings, participants were encouraged to let go of self-consciousness and immerse themselves fully in the sound vibration of the Holy Name, realizing that genuine chanting arises from a place of humility and surrender. 

Participants prepared short dramas each day which brought dynamic and engaging energy to the sessions, effectively reinforcing their key messages. There was also an interesting exercise of writing a letter to the Holy Name, which encouraged participants to reflect on their personal relationship with the Holy Name and provided an opportunity to express their struggles, realizations, and aspirations.

Many participants described the seminars as eye-opening, as they not only learned new techniques but also gained a deeper understanding of the spiritual essence of chanting. The setting at Ekachakra provided an ideal environment for this transformation, allowing participants to step away from the distractions of daily life and focus entirely on their relationship with the Holy Name. 

Kashipriya Das from Auckland, New Zealand, expressed his heartfelt appreciation, saying, “It was a very sweet experience. The three days passed so quickly. It helped me to deepen my relationship with Srila Prabhupada and experience the Holy Name in a deeper way, understanding what chanting actually means and how it’s connected with serving the devotees. Devaki Mataji presented everything so beautifully, and we could feel her heart invested in serving the devotees.”

Bhakta Dhiraj Shetty from Pune, India, shared, “The retreat focused on experiential learning rather than theoretical knowledge. Despite having read many scriptural quotes on chanting, I found the course content to be uniquely transformational. I can’t thank Devaki Mataji enough for her selfless services to Guru, Krishna, and Vaishnavas. Overall, this Holy Name Retreat is a must-have experience for devotees.”

Highlighting the importance of such retreats, Devaki Devi Dasi remarked, “The emphasis is on the experience. It depends on how we absorb ourselves and how we apply what we have learned. We need these retreats regularly since we can easily fall back into bad habits. It is crucial to seclude ourselves for some time and focus on the Holy Name.”

The upcoming Holy Name Retreat at Ekachakra will be held December 24-28, 2025. For more details, visit their वेबसाइट या ईमेल. To learn more about Devaki Devi Dasi’s service, please visit this वेबसाइट.