Photo courtesy of Padmapani prabhu
Jayapatākā: There's one good news, Śrīla Prabhupāda. Gargamuni called last night. Mahendra had informed him that we're going to have our 747 jumbo jet land in Calcutta.
Prabhupāda: Oh.
Jayapatākā: It will be the first commercial flight. They have 310 people coming on the flight.
Prabhupāda: So the government will receive.
Jayapatākā: Then the government will receive them. It will be publicized all over India.
Prabhupāda: Very good. When they are coming?
Jayapatākā: I'm going to call again today to find exact date. About 24th, 25th.
Prabhupāda: What is the date today?
Bhavānanda: 11th.
Note- I (Damaghosa dasa) was on that flight, along with some 310 devotees as he mentions above. It was a "devotee flight only". No karmis were on that plane, which meant we could do whatever we wanted, sleep anywhere, do kirtan when we wanted, go to the upper deck, eat what and when we wanted...etc
And when we landed in Calcutta, the press did not know it was only Hare Krsna devotees coming in on this flight of this 747 jumbo jet for the first time to India. So more good publicity for our movement at that time. I remember Mahendra saying he booked the entire plane just for devotees. I think everyone on the ground was very surprised when only Hare Krsna devotees came out of that plane. It felt like we were ambassadors to their country arriving in style on the first 747 jet. I think Krsna arranged all this...
- One other thing I remembered- I put down my sleeping bag on the floor right in front of the exit door for a snooze because it was such a good spot for a nap -nobody said anything -the stewardess were really nice on that flight. I think they liked being with so many easy going devotees compared to all their normally uptight passengers.
By Damaghosa das
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"In 1976 the devotees chartered a Boeing 747 airplane to fly to India from America for the annual spring pilgrimage and Gaura Purnima festival. Vishnujana Swami led the mangala arotika over the intercom system as we flew high over the Atlantic Ocean. When the airplane encountered some turbulence, the devotees chanted the Nrsimha Prayers for protection. As we landed at the Calcutta airport, a reception party of smiling devotees and a long line of buses stood waiting to whisk us away to Sri Mayapur dhama. We were in good hands."
Padmapani prabhu
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I do remember Jayapataka waiting with buses upon our arrival in Calcutta. Of course, being the first time in India it was a bit magic.
By Vyapaka das