It was a lovely mid January Saturday, the Sun was shining and spring was in the air, or at least in our

feet!

The Guildford devotees and Reading devotees arranged to support each other for the first local

Harinama of the Year in Reading.

Arriving late and having found ourselves in Debenhams, sure that we were trapped until we had spent

money in the maze of goods and with no obvious exit in sight; we finally had to ask how to get out.

Eventually finding the exit as if escaping the clutches of a thirsty demon, we heard the distant drums of

the Sankirtan party led by His Grace Dhananjaya prabhu (Prabhupada’s first U.K. disciple) as they

crossed the canal bridge on the way to the rendezvous in Broad Street.

The call of the drums and karatals was sweet and we rushed to catch the party, eventually joining

them as we burst upon the shoppers and Reading folk milling around the town centre.

Prabhupada’s request that devotees work together and co-operate really can have an impact.

Several small separate groups working together can bring a mix of talents not available in each group

alone, and the first Harinama of the year made this point.

Three groups, the Sankirtan, Guildford devotees and Reading devotees on our own are small, but

together we impacted on the local scene in a way that some people will never forget.

Dancing and chanting we passed the shops, stalls and even the local anti war demonstration.

Continuing we were joined by several young people and onlookers who joined in as if they were old

hands.

It is always hoped that numbers swell as the Harinama travels its route and this certainly was the case.

Eventually time passed and we returned to the Friends meeting house for Prasadam ending a very

successful day.