Brazil’s congregational sankirtana – Sangita
The initiative Sangita (Congregational Sankirtana) started in 2012 in Belo Horizonte and then spread in Brazil. Currently, this initiative goes on in four cities (Belo Horizonte, Recife, Caruaru and Campina Grande). But we’ve had some version of the program in other cities: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza and Joao Pessoa. The results are interesting. I’m sharing some details about the program to show the strength that exists when the congregation embraces book distribution.
In 2012, fifty devotees in Belo Horizonte distributed 2,183 books and collected R$ 3,320 (reais) for the temple and R$ 2,580 for daksine to gurus and senior devotees.
In Caruaru, in 2013, fifteen devotees distributed 1,853 books and R$ 3,430 (2,170 for the temple and 1,260 for gurus and senior devotees).
In 2014 we had a very special time when the Book Distribution Minister, Vijaya Prabhu, visited Brazil, spreading enthusiasm, love, and a lot of books throughout our yatra. By this time, five big Sangitas were active (in São Paulo, Caruaru, Belo Horizonte, Recife and Campina Grande). In Campina Grande’s Sangita more than twenty devotees of the congregation took part, and Yamunacarya Prabhu and Mahanama Prabhu both enlightened us in book distribution. All books distributed were treated as an offering to our dear Jagad Bharta Prabhu, who now rests in peace along with Srila Prabhupada.
Sangita focuses on devotee care and the distribution of books in a way such that one helps the recipients. A main purpose is making friends with the people who receive books and getting their contact info, so we can cultivate the relationship later.
This year Sangita keeps flowing harmoniously and sustainably, and we’ve already had wonderful days of congregational book distribution.
In Caruaru, during the visit of the BBT Brazil’s president, Nandakumara Prabhu, we had enthusiastic book distribution in northeast Brazil. And Nandakumara and Sri Bhakti’s son, Abhay, who is only two years old, just rocked in sankirtana.
That day the amount raised was offered to Jita Mitra Prabhu, who’d just had an accident. We state here our most sincere gratitude to this great Vaisnava.
In Campina Grande, the Sangita program is also going well, highlighting the kids of the yatra, who embrace the activity and inundate the streets and city squares with books.
In both cities we were active once a month and just for an hour, but in March we distributed 117 books (92 small, 50 medium and 40 large books). Sankirtana yajna, ki jaya!
In planning Sangita, the Secretariat of Book Distribution and Harinama, developed a structure similar to Bhakti Vriksha’s: Each yatra has sector-servants.
Sector-servants of Campina Grande: Mahanama Dasa, Atmanivedana Dasa, Bhaktin Sol
Sector-servants of Recife: Krishna Karuna Dasi, Vrindavana Dasa, Krishna-dvaipayana Vyasa Dasa, Vishnu Priya Dasi
Sector-servants of Belo Horizonte: Narasimhadeva Dasa, Vinoda-vani Dasi
Sector-servant of Caruaru: Sastra Dasa
We ask for the blessings of all so that this initiative grows daily and spreads throughout Brazil. We count on everyone’s help.
Your servant,
Prema Sindhu Dasa
General Servant of the Secretariat of Book Distribution and Harinama
