The festival was held in the town of Navadwip after the death of a dog named Bhakti Ma, who was a devoted follower of Shri Radharaman Charan Das Babaji Maharaj, the guru of Shri Ram Das Babaji Maharaj.
2025.10.17 (Vrindavan Today News): Once, Shri Radharaman Charan Das Babaji Maharaj and his disciples were performing a grand sankirtan procession through Śrīdhām Navadvīpa, the birthplace of Śrī Chaitanya Mahāprabhu. After hours of ecstatic kirtan, as they stepped out from Mahāprabhu’s ancestral home, a female dog began following them.
Wherever the devotees stopped to chant, she sat quietly. When the devotees departed, she would roll on the ground at that spot in deep emotion, as if absorbed in divine bliss. Seeing this, everyone developed reverence for the dog.
From that day, she was affectionately called “Bhaktimā”, the Mother of Devotion. Her behavior was astonishing—she never accepted food that was not first offered to the Lord, never fought with other dogs, and received prasadam and blessings just like any other devotee.
In time, Bhaktimā fell ill. The devotees served her with utmost care. When the moment of her departure drew near, all the devotees gathered around her with mridanga and kartal, chanting the holy names loudly. Listening to the sacred Harinām, Bhaktimā left her body, attaining the eternal Śrī Navadvīpa Dhām. The devotees wept like children who had lost their mother.
After performing her samādhi in the holy waters of the Ganges, a feast (mahotsava) was organized on the fourth day in her honor. Babaji Maharaj desired to serve prasadam to the Vaiṣṇavas for Bhaktimā’s deliverance. Invitations were sent, and arrangements were made.
Then Babaji suddenly said,
“Look! Bhaktimā’s own kind must also be invited. It will not be proper if her fellow beings are left out. Go and invite them from every corner of Navadvīpa.”
All were stunned to hear this extraordinary instruction. But the devoted Nabadwip Dāsa, firm in faith, said humbly,
“Please instruct me, Gurudev, how should I invite them?”
Babaji Maharaj replied,
“Whenever you see a male or female dog, bow down with folded hands and say:
‘Our beloved Bhaktimā has left her body. Tomorrow we will celebrate her festival with mahāprasād at our Guru’s āśram near Baralghat. Kindly come with your companions and accept this humble invitation.’”
Following his Guru’s order, Nabadwip Dāsa wandered through every lane of Navadvīpa, inviting all dogs in tears. Passersby thought he was mad, but those who looked closer could see a divine glow in his eyes. His words flowed with spiritual power.
The next day, as the arrangements were ready, some Vaiṣṇavas hesitated.
“We are Vaiṣṇavas,” they said. “Attending a dog’s feast is improper.”
Even the Mahant of the Bada Ākhṛā declined to come, fearing ridicule. Babaji Maharaj tried to persuade them, but to no avail. Smiling, he returned, thinking,
“Ah! It seems Lord Nityānanda wishes to reveal a new divine play today.”
As the afternoon approached, devotees served the available guests. Babaji asked,
“Where are Bhaktimā’s own kind? They have not yet come.”
Just then, an incredible scene unfolded—dogs began arriving one after another. Babaji received each one with reverence, bowing and guiding them to sit in rows. Soon, fifty to sixty dogs were seated silently, not a sound, not a quarrel among them. People gathered in awe to witness this divine wonder.
Babaji humbly asked,
“Shall I serve now?”
The dogs looked on silently. Understanding their unspoken consent, Babaji ordered the prasadam to be served—rice, dal, vegetables, curd, and sweet dishes—all mixed with love and devotion. As the air filled with Hari-dhvani and uludhvani, the food was offered on banana leaves before the canine guests.
Yet none touched their food. Then, a black dog came forward, smelled each plate reverently, and stepped aside. Immediately, all the dogs began eating together! The crowd erupted in tears and chants of “Haribol! Haribol!”
Each time a new dog arrived, a fresh plate was offered. Not a bark, not a fight—only divine order and peace. When all had eaten, Babaji folded his hands and said,
“If your stomachs are full, kindly forgive this servant’s shortcomings and bless us before you leave.”
The dogs stood up, wagged their tails gently, and began to leave in quiet dignity. The devotees bowed, taking the remnants of their prasadam as charanāmrita. Babaji rolled on the ground over the leftover leaves in ecstasy, shedding tears of love. Even the skeptical Rādheśyām Baba cried, saying,
“Baba, I never knew you had such unshakable faith in Nityānanda Prabhu. Blessed are you! Blessed is your devotion.”
That night, as everyone rested, Chaitanya Dās noticed one portion of prasadam still untouched. Babaji said calmly,
“If Nityānanda Prabhu has left it, then surely one guest is yet to arrive.”
A while later, a red-colored dog appeared at the doorway. Babaji smiled and said,
“Ah! Here comes the last guest. Serve him the reserved portion.”
Nabadwip Dāsa exclaimed in wonder,
“This is the very first dog I met when I went out to invite them! How strange that he is the last to come.”
Babaji explained,
“You had asked him to invite all others first and then come with his companions. He fulfilled his duty perfectly. Nityānanda arranged everything with divine precision.”
After the red dog partook of the prasadam, he quietly departed. Babaji and the devotees then shared the final remnants with tears of gratitude, feeling that the Lord Himself had come in these forms to bless them all.
