Sankirtan in Stockholm
I was distributing on one of the longest shopping streets known to me in Europe, in Stockholm. This time of the year many tourists are expected. I'd hoped to meet some Germans as I drove through Stockholm with a little stock of German books, but it seems that they all vanished from Stockholm.
Nevertheless, after just a few minutes, I met a girl who was obviously enchanted by Indian culture. She was carrying a hare-nama chaddar and had Sanskrit prints on her hands. She wasn't at all the hippie type of person, but actually serious, much in contrast to other Swedish youth walking around. She had absolutely no knowledge that there are devotees in town, neither had she heard of ISKCON.
But she eagerly bought a Gita and two other books. A typical bhaktin candidate. And so throughout the day I met quite a number of interested people, finally ending up in the biggest esoteric shop in town, where for years we used to place Srila Prabhupada's books. However, it seems that they sold their last Gitas (the only book they ever took) quite some time ago.
So the lady in charge was very happy to meet me and right away took five Gitas. We agreed to stay in regular contact so that I can fill up the stock of books any time it's needed. As questionable as the other publications in that shop are, for people to see Srila Prabhupada's Gita so prominently displayed in such a place means automatically that the book is accepted and established.
And so I may spend my days in Sweden more in the shopping street than elsewhere. In August I am scheduled for Croatia again, the Lika festival, which will also be attended by the newly created Rijeka temple bhakta crew. Let's hope some more potential bhaktas may manifest there.
So much for my short greetings from Sweden.
Your Servant,
Manidhara Das
