The Hungarian Society for Krishna-Consciousness
has the pleasure of inviting you and your partner to
the Festive Dinner on the occasion of
6pm 16 October 2024
Arrivals from 5:30 to 6pm
Venue:
RaM-ArT Színház
1133 Budapest, Kárpát u. 23.
Dress code: Smart casual
As the availability of seats is limited, we would like to ask you to confirm your acceptance of our invitation by 4 October the latest through the following channels:
E-mail: [email protected]
Brindza Lilla (Abhisārikā Devī Dāsī)
Phone: +36 30 230 9594
About the festival
The name of Diwali Festival (or, by its fuller name, Dīpāvali) means a chain of lights. The Sanskrit expression refers to a miraculous event, the return of King Rāma. On the day of Dīpāvali devotees not only in India but throughout the world celebrate the victory and return of a special incarnation of Kṛṣṇa, Lord Rāmacandra. The story, exemplary life and glorious victory of Prince Rāma over the forces of darkness has a significance not only for the approximately 600 million Vaiṣṇava believers, but also represents an eternal teaching for humankind, which is included in the most ancient epic Rāmāyana. Today, in 2024, just after a wave of pandemic, facing economic hardship and witnessing an armed conflict in our neighborhood, we can admit that we first and foremost need God’s blessing and prowess in our everyday struggle.
Prince Rāma appeared on the planet Earth tens of thousands of years before Jesus Christ as the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in a city at the feet of the Himalayas. The young prince was a perfect heir to the throne: both his father and himself were loved by their subjects, abundance and peace pervaded the kingdom. Lord Rāmacandra appeared in the Sun dynasty and He himself was just like the Sun: effulgent, powerful, just and equitable: he gave shelter to the whole population. When his father intended to abdicate according to Vedic custom and wanted to return to the forest, he wanted to pass the kingdom to Rāma, his firstborn son. Because of court plot however, following an earlier promise, he had to change the succession to the throne and banish Rāma to exile for fourteen years. To save his father’s honour, Rāma accepted the exile without a complaint.
His beloved wife, Sītā and His Brother, Lakṣman also accompanied Him to the forest. They lived there a very simple, renounced life, living on fruits picked in the forest. Driven by lust and hunger for power, the ruler of Lankā, Rāvana abducted Sītā. To save his chaste wife, Lord Rāma led a war against Rāvana with his army of monkeys and other forest animals and recovered His wife from captivity. According to the tradition, Rāma suffered these seemingly unpleasant calamities to have a reason to relieve the Earth from the burden of the demon by killing him. Tradition has it that His enemy was put down at the end of the month of Asvini and he returned to Ayodhya at the time of Diwali, the new year. Their trip by air was marked by lights provided by the happy devotees of Lord Rāma, thence the reference to a string of lights.
Divali is the Hindu New Year
In India the festival of Diwali lasts 5 days. Millions of lights remind us that knowledge and righteousness always prevail over darkness, greed and injustice under all circumstances; it also reminds us that all souls who have left God will go back to Him eventually.
By lighting a lamp or candle on the occasion of Diwali, we can also invite love and success into our homes. The common belief in India is that in this way, we can also invite Lakṣmī, the wife of Lord Viṣṇu, who is the Goddess of fortune, riches, beauty and joy into our homes. She is indivisible from Light, the Supreme Lord, therefore She will follow the lights and be our guest as well.
On the festival of Dīpāvali we invite everybody to light lamps, to carry the Light. We invite you with affection to the Festival of the Light by giving you the light of life force, of the festival, of knowledge at once, maintaining the beautiful and rich tradition of India.
www.krisna.hu
Programme
- The evening's formal opening and welcome speeches by our chief guests
- The Glory of the Bhagavad-gītā - Sanskrit-Hungarian mantra performance
- The ceremonial lighting of the Dīvalī flame
- Vegetarian festive dinner with live music accompaniment
Menu
To celebrate Diwali, we have prepared a selection of delicious Indian vegan and lacto-
vegetarian delicacies for you.
Finger Food
At the reception, we served a variety of tasty bites, including vegetable samosas, gajar-vada
(crispy carrot fritters), and the famous Bengali sweet lavanga latika, a coconut-filled pastry
delight. We hope this vibrant flavor combination whetted your appetite for a traditional Indian
feast.
Dinner
Gulab Jal Nimbu Pani (V) (GF)
A refreshing rosewater lemonade, blending the invigorating citrus notes with the ethereal
fragrance of rose petals, calming digestion and bringing peace to the soul.
Dhal (V) (GF)
A silky mung bean soup, harmoniously balanced with freshly squeezed lemon juice and
crispy papadam bites.
Customize your soup with fresh ginger, lemon wedges, and chickpea pancakes for a personalized flavor.
Ginger, known for its digestive properties, initially warms the body, but after half an hour, it has a cooling
effect.
Allergens: black mustard seeds.
Chawal (V) (GF)
Aromatic steamed jasmine rice, prepared with devotion.
Allergens: sesame seeds.
Shahi Paneer (GF)
The luxurious pairing of roasted cashews and fresh homemade paneer, served in a rich, spiced
tomato sauce.
Allergens: dairy, cashew nuts.
Mix Veg Sabji (V) (GF)
A medley of seasonal vegetables, generously spiced and served in a velvety creamy sauce.
Pudla (V) (GF)
A light, savory chickpea pancake, enriched with fresh spinach leaves.
Dhokla
A delicately steamed treat, one of the finest gifts from Gujarati cuisine.
Allergens: dairy, gluten, black mustard seeds, sesame seeds.
Chutney (V) (GF)
A perfect blend of spicy and sweet – the flavors of apple and gooseberry meet in this tangy
chutney with a hint of exotic spices.
Chili Pickle (V) (GF)
A bold, spicy chili pickle that adds a piquant note and aids digestion.
Allergens: mustard. May contain: soy, sesame seeds, and other nuts.
Sun-Moon Mini Dessert (V) *(GF) *(DF)
An exquisite pairing of dark chocolate and blackberry with the sunny freshness of a mango
lassi cheesecake – a perfect balance of light and dark in every bite.
*Our desserts are also available in sugar-free and gluten-free versions. Please inform your
waiter when served. Thank you!
Our dishes do not contain meat, fish, or eggs. Some of our dishes are gluten-free or vegan,
making them suitable for lactose-free diets as well.
(V) Vegan, lactose-free dish
(GF) Gluten-free dish
(DF) Available in diabetic-friendly version
As the availability of seats is limited, we would like to ask you to confirm your acceptance of our invitation by 4 Ortober the latest through the following channels:
Connection:
Brindza Lilla (Abhisārikā Devī Dāsī)
Phone: +36 30 230 9594
E-mail: [email protected]
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