NANDAFALVA TURNS 30 YEARS OLD
Jubilee Festival in the Hungarian Farm-country
of the Szeged Area - 1st August 2009 at 4:00 PM

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT

On the 30th anniversary of its founding, the Nandafalva Hindu Community is presenting visitors a special festival. Beginning at 4:00 pm on August 1, 2009, the Open House aims to exhibit the valuable gifts of Vedic culture. The event will take place at 15 locations in the Sanctuary Park around the temple. Visiting all the locations, the guests will gain an authentic view into the life of ancient Indian culture. The guests may choose among various interesting programs: a yoga demonstration, the basics of a vegetarian cooking course, pantomime, a presentation of a Hindu religious service, Hindu songs, recitation of Vedic mantras, Odissi dance lecture demonstration, Henna body art, an Indian bazaar and much more.

At the end of the program, a public Hindu service will be demonstrated. Following the service, the Oddissan dancer Virag Reka Turi will perform with her dance troupe. The event will conclude with an opportunity for all those interested to hear the lecture of His Holiness, Bhakti Alok Paramadvaiti Maharaj, the spiritual master and world-renowned founder of several hundred yoga ashrams located on three continents.

A BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF NANDAFALVA

In the heart of Csongrad County, just 19 km from Opusztaszer National Memorial Park lies the Hindu Temple of the Great Plain. Stations carved of red sandstone surround the temple, welcoming visitors to stroll the grounds.

In 1979, several young adherents of Hindu teachings led by Swami B.A. Narayan formed the Nandfalva Hindu Community in the farm country of Balastya. Nandafalva is named for the Indian holy place called Nandagram. After 20 years of activity, the Hindu Temple opened its doors in 2000. The building itself is a brilliant fusion of Hungarian and Hindu architectural styles made possible by architect Gyula Szigeti's plan to meld it into the Plains countryside. The temple porch, indicative of Plains structures, surrounds the Orissan style temple tower adorned with tiles. Traditional temple construction taking place even today in India, does not refrain from blending the architectural styles of different regions. The 100 kilo bell residing in the temple tower resounds daily in accordance with Hungarian custom.

The temple's Sanctuary Park presents the most significant figures of the Hindu pantheon. One monumental element is the two-ton, two-meter high, monolithic stone carving of the the Pillar of Humility.

REACHING THE LOCATION

The Nandafalva Hindu Temple can be reached from the road connecting Balastya with Forraskut. From Highway M5, take the exit toward Forraskut at the 146-km marker. It is only 2 kilometers from the exit.

INFORMATION

Swami B.A. Harijan
info@nandafalva.hu
Ph: +36 70 459 58 75