Since 1995, devotee youth headed by ISKCON Youth Ministry’s Manorama Das and his wife Jaya Sri Radhe Dasi have traveled all over the US and Canada every summer – and Mexico every winter. On each trip, they spread Krishna consciousness and get inspired themselves in the process. 

This Christmas was a brand new experience, as they embarked on their first Caribbean tour. Eighteen youth aged 17 to 25 from the US and Europe supported the tour themselves, paying nearly $1,500 each to spend two weeks of their vacations from work and school doing non-stop Harinamas and book distribution.

They also cemented themselves as ISKCON pioneers by helping to put on Puerto Rico’s second Rathayatra and the first one ever in the Dominican Republic.

There was, of course, some good old relaxing Carribean vacation time too. The tour, which ran from December 18th to January 4th, began with a ziplining adventure over biosphere reserves in Utuado, Puerto Rico and a kayak ride into caves on the Tanama River.

Canoeing on the Tanama River in Utuado, Puerto Rico 

When the company, Batey Zipline Adventures (which is run by two yoga practioners), gave the group an exceptional deal, the devotee youth thanked them the only way they knew how.

“We did a kirtan program in their office, and cooked a prasadam feast for them and all their guides,” says Manorama. “The program was also attended by Draco Rosa, a multiple Grammy-winning musician who wrote many of Ricky Martin’s songs and is famous in Puerto Rico. He is on his third relapse from cancer, which has made him very introspective. He was playing his maracas in the kirtan, took prasadam, and got a book from us.”

Next, the group continued their trip in Puerto Rico by performing Harinama and distributing Prabhupada’s books at a Christmas market in the southern town of Ponse; and visiting the Las Paylas natural rock slide in the El Yunque natural rainforest.

They then spent Christmas Eve doing a six-hour kirtan at New Govardhana Hill, ISKCON Puerto Rico’s temple in the suburbs of capital San Juan. 

Ratha Yatra in San Juan

“The devotees there fed us a huge feast, and then we spent all of Christmas Day doing Harinama in old San Juan, the medieval part of the city that was established by descendents of Christopher Columbus in the early 1500s,” says Manorama.

The day after Christmas, the youth did yet another Harinama in San Juan, this time in the evening while there was a major hip-hop concert going on, and the center of town was crowded with thousands of people. 

“There aren’t so many devotees in Puerto Rico, so most people had no idea what we were all about,” Manorama says. “They were just staring in wonder, and then, because people are so into dancing in Puerto Rico, a lot of them tried to follow along and dance with us like they were learning a new move. They were really getting into the spirit of it – it was so nice.”

The youth also provided the bulk of the entertainment for the second annual San Juan Rathayatra, for which the local devotees built their own cart and Bhadra Das from Florida supported them in organizing the festival.

Tulasi Sutaria, sister of UK-based kirtan artist Jahnavi Harrison, led the kirtan as the parade wound its way through old San Juan, a perfect location with its busy pedestrian thoroughfare, street vendors, cruise ship ports, tourists and trendy eateries.

At the stage program after the parade, the youth presented a forty-five-minute kirtan, two Bharatanatyam dances, and Under The Influence, a powerful ten-minute skit about the soul finding his way back to Krishna through the struggles of the material world.  The piece had local GBC Virabhahu Das commenting, “I was moved to tears. And I’m not usually one to cry!”

“It was all very new to the public in Puerto Rico, but they were very receptive,” Manorama says. “Even the policemen were very curious and super friendly.”

After Puerto Rico, the youth group took a one-hour flight to the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti.

There, they visited the Govinda’s restaurant in Puerto Plata, in the North of the island, spent time at Playa Dorada (Golden Beach), and went on the famous 27-waterfall hike at Damajagua, sliding down natural rock slides and dropping as far as twelve feet into pools below.

At the Damajagua waterfalls in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

In the evening, the youth went on Harinama in the rural town of Puerto Plata, where they inspired the high school kids hanging out there to dance with them, and bravely took on the challenge of distributing books in Spanish.

“The next day, we had our own morning program with the youth on the roof of the devotee’s home where we were staying,” says Manorama. “We looked out over the ocean as we read inspiring verses from the Bhagavad-gita, about how the yajna for this age is Harinama Sankirtana.”

After a short vist to the beach town of Cabarete, the tour moved on to the island’s capital, Santo Domingo, for a stomping New Year’s Eve kirtan at the ISKCON temple there.

“It was so lovely – the devotees there don’t have much, but they love to dance!” says Manorama. “They just got into it, rocking out in the temple for two or three hours strong until midnight. The next day, we sat around in a circle with some of the local youth to get to know each other, and they said, ‘The best thing that ever happened to us is all of you guys visiting. Because we never have any devotee youth association here.’ It was very touching.”

Getting local high school kids to dance in Puerto Plata

On New Year’s Day, the youth learned to think of others by presenting each other with “Secret Santa” gifts, inspired by the six loving exchanges amongst devotees cited in Rupa Goswami’s Nectar of Instruction. In the evening, they again distributed books and performed their most popular Harinama yet, with many people dancing enthusiastically along with them.

On January 2nd, the atmosphere was supercharged as Dominican ex-pats flew in from all over the world for the huge family reunion that was the first ever Rathayatra in the Dominican Republic.

In an effort to reach all of the public, the parade began in a poorer part of Santo Domingo, where street children immediately crowded around the devotees, asking excitedly for flower garlands, gopi dots and tilak.

“We don’t usually venture into underprivileged parts of town with North American Rathayatras,” says Manorama. “So it was a new and moving experience. We heard one of the children saying to their friend who had just received gopi dots, ‘Oh, now you look beautiful!’ And although the parents were more reserved, the kids were all chanting the maha-mantra along with us.”

Chandi Williams distributes books in Puerto Plata

The Dominican Rathayatra turned out to be the biggest challenge of the tour for the youth. After leading the kirtan for much of the three-and-a-half-hour route through the old colonial town, they arrived, worn out, to discover that they were the only performers at the festival site in the Plaza de España square. Reaching deep to find their last reserves of energy, they performed their drama, several Bharatanatyam dances, and the final kirtan onstage, before collapsing, exhausted.

Manorama recalls one girl psyching herself up for the effort: “I remember Malini from Sweden saying, ‘This is the life! This is what we live for! Even though we’re so tired, we’ve got to give it our best, because this is their first ever Rathayatra, and we’ve got to make it really nice for them.’ Then she said, ‘I can do it! I can do it!’ And jumped on stage to dance with everyone.”

The first ever Rathayatra in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

To replenish before the end of their trip, the group spent some time relaxing at Saona Island on its pristine, postcard Caribbean beaches, then flew back home.

While such overseas tours probably won’t be possible again without funding due to their prohibitive costs, the Caribbean tour was a unique trip for the youth. Unlike previous tours they flew to their destination, stayed at devotees’ homes rather than on their tour bus, and rented vans to take them around the country.

But most importantly, they were rewarded by the friendliness and care of the Dominican devotees, and saw the impact they made in return. “There’s only about 30 local devotees on the island, and they don’t get much association from abroad,” Manorama says. “So we really felt how much they appreciated us.”

The performers of the play Under the Influence

Beyond this were the typical benefits of an ISKCON Youth Ministry tour: spiritual inspiration, and making new devotee friends from all over the world -- friendships that last a lifetime and keep the youth connected to Krishna consciousness. 

“We’ve really become like a close family,” says Tulasi Sutaria from the UK, one of the main kirtan leaders on the tour. “And that makes our spiritual activities like kirtan or harinama an especially connected experience.”

“I began 2015 on an ISKCON Youth Ministry tour, and ended it on a tour,” says Anandarupa Kundu, 21, from Atlanta. “It’s been nice to make that full circle, and to reflect on how I’ve developed spiritually, and as a person. Talking to the older youth on the tour has helped me find my way in life.”

Performing kirtan onstage at the first Rathayatra in the Dominican Republic

He adds, “As I get older, a lot of my time is taken up by work and school. And so being able to take time out to be on the tour and be around devotees 24/7 is a really strong spiritual recharge for me. It really helps me focus on the bigger picture.”

 * * *

To help ISKCON youth spread Krishna consciousness and inspire themselves in the process, please donate here: http://youthbustour.com/donate/

Bhumi puja at ISKCON's Jagannath Puri Project
By Basu Ghosh Das
Pictures of the bhumi puja can be seen on the internet here:
http://tinyurl.com/nm53ko4

Jagannath Puri is one of the four holy “dhamas”, sacred places of
pilgrimage, described in the Puranas and is visited by thousands of Hindus
on a daily basis. The Brahma and Skanda Puranas mention that city of Puri
itself was built in ancient times by Raja Indradyumna. It is most famous
today for the ancient temple of Lord Jagannath, His elder brother Baladev,
and His sister Subhadra. This temple was built by the Rajas of Kalinga and
Utkala (ancient names of present day Odisha), situated in East India on the
bank of the Ganga Sagara (literally “Ocean of Ganges water”).

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, after accepting the order of sannyas, made his
headquarters at Puri upon the request of his mother, Sachi Mata.   After
traveling throughout much of India for six years, he resided continually at
Puri for the last twelve years of his manifest presence. Namacharya Haridas
Thakur also resided at Puri during the presence of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and
left his body before Mahaprabhu's disappearance.   One of Mahaprabhu's
prominent pastimes at Puri was to personally place the body of Haridas into
a samadhi on the ocean shore. For these reasons, Puri holds special
importance for his followers, the Gaudiya Vaishanvas.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur was posted as a Government Officer at Puri around
1870.  It was here that his son, Vimala Prasad, who was to become Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur was born.   And his disciple, ISKCON
Founder-Acharya Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada expressed the
desire that a grand center of ISKCON be established at Puri.

The annual Jagannath Rathayatra festival (chariot festival), observed on the
aashaadh shukla dvitiya (second day of the fortnight of the waxing moon in
the Hindu month of aashadh) draws more than a million (ten lakhs) pilgrims
to Puri.   Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu attended the annual festival during his
presence five hundred years ago.   Srila Prabhupada instituted this festival
around the world.  Nowadays this festival has become synonymous with ISKCON,
almost everywhere!

Srila Prabhupada wrote to his godbrother, Bhakti Vaibhav Puri Maharaj on
April 8, 1972:

“You have requested me in your letter to consider for purchasing another
house. But there is one difficulty, because the present administration of
Jagannath Puri sometimes do not allow us to enter the temple. Of course, for
our vaishnavas this discrimination is spiritually illegal: Arche siladhi
gurusu navamati vaisnave janavate: if one is dressed in vaishnava dress,
according to vaishnava law, if he is considered not a vaishnava, then that
is a hellish condition. You know this also. So I think so long Vishwanath
Das, Chief Minister of Orissa, is there, he should pass some law to help us.
Vishwanath Das knows everything, he can pass an act to allow foreign
disciples into Jagannath Puri. Many hundreds of foreign disciples will be
coming to India in the near future, and already we have got nearly 100 men
there, so it is a great opportunity for the administrative officials of Puri
to increase the fame and prosperity of Jagannath Puri all over the world,
and it will be their misfortune if so many qualified devotees of the Lord
are not allowed into the temple, simply because they have taken their birth
in a faraway place. So if you are able to do something, and approach the
right persons like Mr. Vishwanath then we shall be free to have our center
in Puri.”

While the struggle for foreign devotees to enter the temple of Jagannath
continues, it is a fact that despite the continued ban on entrance,
thousands of foreign ISKCON devotees visit Jagannath Puri regularly.  To
date ISKCON does not have a proper center to facilitate these devotees
visits to holy Jagannath Puri dham.

However, that is about to change.

After years of struggles of various types, including having to overcome a
number of legal hurdles, ISKCON has inaugurated the beginning of a grand
project at Jagannath Puri by performing the bhumi puja and installation of
Ananta Shesha on the 18 acre ISKCON project land in a grand ceremony that
was attended by thousands of devotees who participate in an annual three day
Puri Parikrama (circumambulation of Jagannath Puri) organized by Bhakti
Purushottam Swami, ISKCON's Governing Body Commissioner for much of Eastern
India, including his native Odhisha (formerly “Orissa”).

Seven to eight thousand devotees, mainly from Bengal and Orissa, but also
from other parts of India and abroad attended this years Puri Parikrama.
Teachers and students of the Bhaktivedanta Academy at Sridham Mayapur
performed the bhumi puja rituals.    Headed by the Academy Dean
Pritivardhana Das, the boys performed homas to satisfy Lord Jagannath. Later
on Krishna Chaitanya Das assisted Lokanath Swami in the installation of the
Deity of Ananta Shesha, the expansion of Lord Vishnu who is the supporting
power holding up the universe, in the ground where the foundation of the
Radha Krishna temple will be constructed.

Twelve ISKCON sannyasis attended the bhumi puja, i.e. Jayapataka Swami,
Lokanath Swami, Subhag Swami, Bhakti Purushottam Swami, Bhakti Vishrambha
Madhava Swami, Bhakti Gaur Narayan Swami. Gauranga Prem Swami, Bhakti
Nityananda Swami, Rama Govinda Swami, Prabodhananda Saraswati Swami, Bhakti
Ashray Vaishnav Swami, and Bhakti Priyam Gadadhar Swami.

Several senior disciples of Srila Prabhupada attended the program, i.e.
Turiya Das, Pankajanghri Das, Mayapur Chandra Das, Bhaktarupa Das, Basu
Ghosh Das, Shakitmati Devi Dasi, Kusha Devi Dasi and Shubhangi Devi Dasi.
Senior ISKCON devotees Braja Hari Das, Bhadra Charu  Das, Aravindaksha
Govinda Das Madhavananda Das, and Vanamali Das were in attendance.

Bhakti Purushottam Swami spoke and described to the assembled devotees about
the glories of Lord Jagannath's Mahaprasadam.  He explained in great detail
why the Lord's prasadam is offered to the Deity of Vimala (Durgadevi) after
being offered to Lord Jagannath.

Devakinandan Das, the Chairman of the Puri Project Committee, which has been
mandated by the ISKCON Governing Body Commission as the zonal authority for
the Puri Project, addressed the crowd in both Hindi and English and
encouraged them to support the project.   Bhadra Charu Das translated his
speech into Bengali and Oriya.

Jayapataka Swami and other senior devotees on the stage released the large
verison of the Project brochure - a separate pamphlet was also released -
detailing the various aspects of the proposed project. Jayapataka Maharaj
himself told the crowd that Srila Prabhupada had a desire to construct a
large temple and project at Puri and now that desire of his will be
fulfilled. And guests pledged almost a million rupees (Rupees ten lakhs)
towards the project on the spot.

The Puri project itself is situated on 18 acres of land at Sipasirubuli, on
the Southwestern side of the town.  Some of the features of the ISKCON Puri
Project, the estimated cost of which will be approximately Rupees one
hundred crore (fifteen million US dollars) are:

o       Grand Radha Krishna Temple
o       Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Museum
o       Lord Jagannath Lila Museum
o       Library
o       Amphitheater and auditorium
o       Amusement park for children
o       Govinda's restaurant
o       International Guest house
o       Ayurvedic Clinic and Yoga center
o       Inmate ashram & prasadam hall
o       Convention hall
o       Bhakta nivas (residence for devotees) - 500 units
o       Vedic school
o       Dharmashala (low cost residence for pilgrims)
o       Vaishnav market area

Detalied project plans can been seen on the internet at the Project website:
www. puriiskcon.com.

Those who are interested to donate for the project or donate for a residence
in the bhakti nivas, where one, two, and three bedroom/hall/kitchen
facilites are to be constructed may contact Puri Project Director and Temple
President Vanamali Das via e-mail at <puriiskcon@gmail.com>, or
<vanamali.jps@pamho.net>, or contact him over the phone: +91-94370-65008.

Additionally, the ISKCON Puri Project is already operating a guest house to
facilitate ISKCON devotees and life patrons.

The ISKCON Puri Project guest house is situated in a new building located
just off the main Chakratirtha Road, behind the Purushottam Vatika on road
near the Urban Hatt to Railway station road.  Nearby the Puri Railway
station, which is only half a kilometer from the guest house.

Eighteen rooms are available, and all rooms have split air conditioners, and
wifi internet.  All the rooms have attached bath rooms with hot water.

The project has already begun a Govinda's Restaurant.  This fully air
conditioined restaurant, is situated on the main Chakratirtha Road at Banki
Mohan, not far from the Mayfair Hotel, and the Subhash Bose Statue.
Govinda's runs on “alacarte” system.  Life Patrons can avail 20% discount at
Govinda's.
(Text PAMHO:28288819) --------------------------------------

Four kirtan albums by ISKCON chanters, most of them second-generation devotees, made the Top 20 Conscious Music Albums of 2015 list on Australia’s Soul Traveller Radio this January.

The list, voted for by listeners worldwide, included new age, electronica, and reggae artists, as well as renowned artists from the broader kirtan community such as Dave Stringer, Krishna Das, MC Yogi, and Deva Premal.

The Hanumen (from left to right) - Gaura Vani, Purusartha Das, John De Kadt, Benjy Wertheimer

Which makes it all the more impressive that ISKCON devotee artists filled the top three spaces, with Madi Das and The Hanumen coming in just behind Jahnavi Harrison in the coveted number one spot. Ananda Monet followed at number sixteen.

During his Soul Traveller Radio Show on January 2nd, host Shayne Locke brought in Madi Das as his co-host and played cuts from all top 20 albums, mentioning that there was a particularly strong showing from the kirtan community.

Jahnavi Harrison - Like A River to the Sea

“This is not a competition, but more of a conscious music celebration,” he reminded listeners.

The first ISKCON devotee offering in the list at number sixteen, Ananda Monet’s “Inevitable Time” is not actually a traditional kirtan record, but a grand film-score style album that tells the story of the devotional epic Mahabharat through musical vignettes. Ananda, a Russian-born gurukuli now based in the UK, grew up singing the Sanskrit lyrics from the Bhagavad-gita and Puranas, and brings a lot of emotion to her powerful vocals.

The cover of Inevitable Time

At number three, Madi’s Bhakti Without Borders made international news recently for garnering a 2016 Grammy nomination, and features duets with 12 Vaishnavi chanters singing traditional bhajans to infectiously catchy melodies. But to Madi, the album’s most important aspect is that 100% of its profits go towards helping underprivileged girls in Lord Krishna’s hometown of Vrindavana, India.

“It was a huge honor to be on the list, though if I could choose, I would have put myself 4th and Ananda Monet’s album – which is incredible – 3rd,” says Madi. “But being surpassed by friends I grew up with, whose talent and experience, and devotion is deeper, was the perfect way to place in the competition.”

Ananda Monet 

The number two spot belongs to the Hanumen, a sort of kirtan supergroup that includes not only Madi’s second-generation friend Gaura Vani and Srila Prabhupada disciple Purusartha Das, but also features Benjy Wertheimer of world music group Shantala, and American poet John DeKadt.

Soul Traveller called their second album, Leaps and Bounds, “Inspiring,” “Insightful,” and “Illuminating,” and said that it “blends call-and-response chanting, mystic poetry, and world music into a magical brew of sacred love songs.” The record features tracks such as “Invocation (Chaitanya Mantra),” “Bhaja Govindam,” and “I Am Yours / Hare Krishna.”

Madi Das - Bhakti Without Borders

Meanwhile, at number one was Jahnavi Harrison’s “Like A River to the Sea,” produced by Gaura Vani’s record label Mantralogy. The daughter of UK-based Prabhupada disciple Kripamoya Das, Jahnavi is the youngest chanter of all the ISKCON artists on the list, and Like A River… is her first album.

But her genuine, heartfelt devotion clearly won over Soul Traveller’s editors, who noticed something special and raved, “Pure, prayerful melodies emanate from Krishna devotee Jahnavi Harrison’s lips on every track of Like A River To The Sea. There’s no doubt about it:This woman is singing to God.”

Jahnavi Harrison

Jahnavi, for her part, said she was “very honored” to hear the news. “Thank you so much to all of you who voted!” she said. “May we always work together harmoniously to spread music that uplifts the consciousness of the world.”

Source: http://iskconnews.org/iskcon-kirtan-artists-in-top-20-conscious-albums-of-the-year,5316/

 Shri Lochana Dasa Thakura was a disciple of Shri Narahari Sarakara Thakura, a dearest associate of Lord Gaura Raya.
 
   "My hope of hopes is to be near the lotus feet of Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura and serve him with my very life. The cherished desire of the fallen Lochana Dasa is to be allowed, by Narahari's grace, to sing the glories of Lord Gauranga. My Lord is Shri Narahari Thakura, I am His servant. Bowing before him I beg for his service. This is my only aspiration." (Lochana Dasa, Chaitanya Mangala)
 
   Lochana Dasa Thakura wrote Chaitanya Mangala which tells many pastimes of Lord Chaitanya not revealed by Vrindavana Dasa Thakura or Krishna Dasa Kaviraja. He mentions an especially touching conversation Shri Gaurasundara had with Vishnupriya Devi the night before He took sannyasa. Being a talented musician, Lochana Dasa told Mahaprabhu's pastimes in beautiful poetry filled with fire and rhythm. Common people could easily understand the divine character of Shri Chaitanya and awaken their religious feelings. As Devotees regularly chant the Vedic epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, Gaudiya Vaishnava's still wander through Bengal reciting the Chaitanya Mangala.
 
   Lochana Dasa Thakura also wrote many songs praising Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Shri Nityananda Prabhu, and Gauridasa Pandit. Lochana Dasa stresses that raganuga bhaktas must take shelter of Gadadhara Vrindavanishvari to attain Radha-Govinda prema bhakti. Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura used to print and distribute Lochana Dasa Thakura's Shri Chaitanya Mangala. Shrila Prabhupada was very fond of his bhajans. While singing Parama Karuna Shrila Prabhupada would plunge into the ocean of Gauranga prema. Prabhupada wrote an extensive commentary on this bhajana: Bhajo bhajo bhai, Caitanya Nitai, sudrdha visvasa kori … "Lochana Dasa asks everyone, 'My dear brother, just worship Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda with firm faith and conviction.' Don't think that this chanting and dancing will not lead to the desired goal; it will. It is the assurance of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that one will get all perfection by this process. Therefore, one must chant with firm faith and conviction." His samadhi is in 64 Samadhis Area. 

"Lochana Dasa asks everyone, 'My dear brother, just worship Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda with firm faith and conviction.' Don't think that this chanting and dancing will not lead to the desired goal; it will. It is the assurance of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that one will get all perfection by this process. Therefore, one must chant with firm faith

Read more

"Uddharana Datta Thakura, the eleventh among the twelve cowherd boys, was an exalted devotee of Lord Nityananda Prabhu. He worshipped the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda in all respects."

In Braja lila he was Subahu sakha. [G.g.d.]

After remaining at Khardaha for some days, Nityananda Prabhu and His associates came to Saptagram. Saptagram was the abode of the seven rshi's and is known in this world also as Triveni-ghata. Previously, the seven rshis did austerities at this ghata by which they obtained the lotus feet of Govinda. Three goddesses are present at this Triveni sangam, namely the Jahnavi (Ganga), Yamuna and Sarasvati. This most renowned place can destroy the sinful reactions of those who simply see it. Nityananda Prabhu along with His associates took bath in great happiness at this very place. The temple of the most fortunate Sri Uddharana was located on the banks of that very Triveni-ghata.

"With his body, mind and words, free from falsehood, he always worshiped the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda. He was extremely fortunate as he received the right to serve the eternal form of Nityananda. Birth after birth, Lord Nityananda is the Supreme controller, and birth after birth, Uddharana is His servant. All of the various families of vaniks (merchants by caste) were purified by the influence of Uddharan Datta, there is no doubt about it. Nityananda Prabhu descended in this world to deliver the vaniks. He gave them the right to perform loving devotional service. Nitai Cand personally wandered from door to door throughout Saptagram, chanting the Holy Names as His pastimes. In reciprocation, all the families worshipped His lotus feet and took shelter there. All the world becomes charmed to see their worship of Lord Krsna. Who can estimate the glories of Lord Nityananda who delivered these vaniks, who were originally low class, mean minded and foolish. In one hundred years I cannot describe the sankirtana pastimes of Nityananda Ray which He performed with His associates in Saptagram. The bliss that was previously felt in Nadia during the Lord's pastimes of sankirtan there was again felt, in equal measure, during Prabhu Nityananda's sankirtan pastimes here." [C.B. Antya 5.443-461]

"Uddharana Datta Thakura's father's name was Srikar Datta and his mother's name, Sri Bhadravati. Sri Uddharana Datta Thakura was the finance minister of the king of Naihati village. The ruins of the king's palace can still be seen there today.

The place where Uddharana Datta Thakura lived and from which he managed the business of the king is even today known as Uddharanpur." [C.C. Adi 11.81]

A six-armed Deity of Mahaprabhu (sad-bhuja murti), which was the worshippable Deity of Uddharana Datta Thakura, is still present at Saptagram. To the right of Mahaprabhu is Nityananda Prabhu and to His left Sri Gadadhara. On another simhasana is Sri Sri Radha Govinda, and below, a painting and Deity of Sri Uddharana Datta Thakura. Sri Jahnava Mata came to Uddharana Datta's house [B.R. 11.775], but he was not present on this earth then. His son's name was Srinivasa Datta Thakura.
Saptagram is the first station after Bandel on the Bandel-Bard- dhaman line. Within the ruins of the king's palace at Bonauaribat there is a grand temple where the Deities of Sri Sri Nitai-Gauranga and Lord Balarama are still being worshipped.
Bonauaribad can be reached from Katwa by bus.

Uddharana Datta Thakura's disappearance is on the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Pausa.

"He who was previously a very munificent cowherd boy has now appeared as Mahesa Pandita. In ecstatic love, he dances like a madman as though intoxicated to the beat of a kettle drum. [C.C. Adi 11.32]

According to Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, Mahesa Pandita was formerly Maha-Bahusakha in Krsna-lila. He was a companion of Nityananda Prabhu, and was present at the Danda Mahotsava held at Paninati.

In Bhakti-Ratnakara, Taranga Nine, it is stated that when Narottama dasa Thakura came to visit Khardaha, he had darsana of the lotus feet of Mahesa Pandita.

Vrindavana dasa Thakura has described him as a 'param mahanta' due to the fact that he was very dear to Nityananda Prabhu. [C.B. Antya 5.744]

Mahesa Pandita's original Sripat at Sukh Sagor merged into the bed of the Ganges, but his worshipful deities of Sri Sri Nitai-Gauranga as well as his samadhi were moved to Palpara. There is a railway station there, between Simrali and Cakdaha stations, on the Sealdah-Krsnanagar line.

His disappearance day is on the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Pausa.

Gaudiya Vaishnava Viraha Bhajan (Song Sung in Separation Of Vaishnava)

Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu is always free from politics and institutional bashing or promotion. Just simply nectarean Krishna Katha!

View Ebook

Nimainanda, his wife Sucitra and his son Kunaal live in Auckland and attend New Varshana regularly. For a time Nimainanda lived on the farm and was the head cook.

Some years ago the family started “Gopal,” a business that supplies yoghurt, ghee, paneer and other products to grocery stores and now to supermarkets all over New Zealand.

By Krishna’s mercy, it has become very successful.

Source: http://www.ramaiswami.com/devotee-prasadam-business/

Everyone wants to be healthy and wishes us a happy and healthy new year, every year, but how many of those who we wish healthy life remain healthy in real sense of the term? Not that we don’t wish them a good health, but more important than sending a formal wish is to also let them know how to get and stay healthy by consuming healthy food and living a healthy lifestyle.

Last year we saw how in a 11-country survey of older adults, Americans turn out to be sicker, and a few days back we read why obesity in US keeps rising despite so-called healthy diets. Mind you, this is after seeing an unprecedented attention given to health, and a considerably huge amount of money spent by the medical industry.

What is wrong? The reason is too simple to accept but it, nonetheless, remains the prime reason behind today’s alarmingly deteriorating health condition across the world. As with many other so-called unsolvable problems, here also the answer lies in the ancient books of India. Yes, I am talking about Ayurveda.

Unfortunately, Ayurveda has been systematically ignored or criticized by a certain class of people and the reasons are not difficult to understand.

“The global pharmaceuticals market is worth US$300 billion a year, a figure expected to rise to US$400 billion within three years. The 10 largest drugs companies control over one-third of this market, several with sales of more than US$10 billion a year and profit margins of about 30%. Six are based in the United States and four in Europe. It is predicted that North and South America, Europe and Japan will continue to account for a full 85% of the global pharmaceuticals market well into the 21st century. Companies currently spend one-third of all sales revenue on marketing their products – roughly twice what they spend on research and development.” (Source)

The obvious question is, where will the thriving pharmaceutical industry in these countries go if the simplicity with which ayurveda cures even today’s incurable and terminal diseases becomes known to more people?

The good news is, they are wise enough to turn to ayurveda and ancient ayurvedic treatments and home remedies that once seemed to be disappearing are now becoming buzzwords when it comes to health.

We thought of sharing with you the following10 ayurvedic resolutions for 2016, suggested by Madhavi Radhod, for having a healthy year ahead. Start with what you eat and how it is consumed.

1. Use a tongue cleaner. 

Did you know that each part of the tongue is connected to a bodily organ? Thus utilizing a tongue cleaner removes the toxins which have accumulated overnight and stimulates the organs in the morning, so that they function more optimally. Upon rising, brush your teeth and scrape your tongue,  before ingesting anything. A stainless steel tongue scraper is good for all threedoshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.  Kapha people can also use copper tongue cleaners.

2. Gargle with sesame oil or an Ayurvedic mouth oil.

To strengthen the teeth and gums, to help with TMJ, and deter from the appearance of wrinkles, swish some oil around in your mouth for 5-10 minutes. Do so after you brush your teeth and scrape your tongue. After swishing the oil around, you can spit it out.  Massaging your gums afterwards will be even more beneficial

3. Add turmeric to your diet.

Turmeric is one of the most healing spices in your pantry. It’s anti-bacterial, a blood purifier, as well as a great digestive, among many other qualities.  You can start the day (after brushing your teeth and scraping your tongue) by having a glass of warm water with ½ – 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder.  You can utilize turmeric when cooking your vegetables or lentils.  Turmeric is also available in tablet and tincture form.

4. Oil massage.

Are you plagued by constant dryness? Rather than looking for the best moisturizer on the market, address the cause internally.   The dryness is inside the body, and that is where it needs to be alleviated.   Doing an oil massage, or abhyanga, and then taking a warm shower allows the oil to penetrate into the skin and help relieve the dryness inside.  For oil massage, you the proper oil to suit your doshic imbalance, a warm Vata massage oil,a cooling Pitta massage oil, or an invigorating Kapha massage oil.  Make sure you use a bath mat, as the tub and shower get slippery with the oil.  An injury could really aggravate the doshas!

5. Pranayama.

Looking for more vitality? Are you a shallower breather? Do you get nasal congestion easily? Do you want to learn some simple methods to cool down or warm up? If the answer to any of the previous questions is yes, then add some pranayama or breathing exercises to your daily routine. There are various types of pranayama which have a multitude of health benefits. My Ayurvedic teacher, Dr. Vasant Lad, has a very informative dvd, which anyone can follow.  The appropriate use of each technique is also discussed.

6. Eat when hungry.

Ayurveda advises that we listen to our body and eat when we are hungry, and not just for the sake of social graces.  On the other end of the spectrum, Ayurveda also stresses that we should not suppress our natural urges, including the need for food.  Don’t get so caught up in your busy lifestyle that you forget or neglect to nourish your body!  If you aren’t feeling hungry, use a spice mix in your cooking to stimulate your agni, or digestive fire.

7. Avoid frozen foods and leftovers.

According to Ayurveda, anything over 24 hours old loses its prana  (life force).  Microwaving kills the prana immediately.  Ayurveda advocates eating freshly prepared food.  Resolve to start cooking more.  If  you are what you eat, then wouldn’t you rather be a nourishing warm meal than a cold leftover?  It’s a medical fact that anything below our body temperature constricts our capillaries.  Constricted capillaries make it more difficult for nutrients to proper flow through our body.  Thus, assimilation, absorption, and digestion is impaired. Cold increases Vata dosha. Resolve to start cooking more. Take Ayurvedic supplements to help facilitate your digestion. Vata suffers from gas and bloating. Pitta gets acidity and heartburn.Kapha is prone to slow digestion.

8.  Use Ayurvedic body and hair care products.

Our skin is our largest organ and it is exposed to countless toxins in our environment daily.  Use Ayurvedic soaps to clean your body.  Apply an Ayurvedic skin balm topically.  Use the proper Ayurvedic shampoo and conditioners for your doshic hair type.  Take Ayurvedic supplements which nourish your hair as well as your skin.

9. Follow a regular schedule.

A key Ayurvedic health tip to allow the body to live in harmony with nature is to create natural cycles within the body. This includes having the same times daily for rising, eating, sleeping, exercising, working, etc. The more that we honor the cycles of time and allow our body to acclimate to them, the more our body will be able to support us.  Keeping erratic schedules deranges Vata dosha.

10. Learn the best foods for your current constitutional balance, and eat accordingly.

One of the best Ayurvedic health tips is to eat right for your current constitutional type, or your vikruti.  If you eat what your body needs, rather than what your mind craves, you are on the road to more vitality and improved health. This simple free quiz is a good start.  A personalized Ayurvedic health consultation will provide you with additional guidance about how to best structure your diet, lifestyle, and daily routine. Then you can truly keep these top 10 Ayurvedic resolutions for 2016 and look forward to good health. (http://vedichealing.com/top-10-ayurvedic-resolutions-for-2016/)

Have healthy new year! Good health helps the mind stay focused and a focused mind can achieve better results than a mind which is all over. Yes, turn to Ayurveda, the medical science given personally by the creator of our bodies.

Source: http://mayapurvoice.com/svagatam/resolution-healthy-year-life-ahead-turn-ayurveda/

Hare Krishna Dear Friends and Well Wishers,

Please accept blessings from Sri Sri Radha Gopinathji!!!!!

Pushya Abhishek is a festival of flowers. Petals from more than one ton of flowers are showered upon Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Gopinathji on this occasion. People from different backgrounds, different countries with a devoted heart come together and pluck varieties of flowers starting at 8 am and continuing till late afternoon.

The essence of this festival is Simple offering of Devotion!!!!!

Lord Krishna explains: - BG 9.26

patram puspam phalam toyam 
yo me bhaktya prayacchati 
tad aham bhakty-upahrtam 
asnami prayatatmanah

“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.”

Lord Krsna is also known as Karuna Sindhu, He is so merciful that once a fruit vendor came to Krsna’s house in Vrindavan for selling fruit. Lord Krsna was a small child and He had often seen Mother Yashoda and Nanda Maharaja using barter system for exchanging goods or things.

So when Lord Krsna saw the fruit vendor, He ran inside the house and got handful of grains. While He was running, the grains were falling from His tiny little fingers and when He reached towards the fruit vendor He hardly had any grains left in His hands and He gave them all to the fruit vendor.

The fruit vendor was so captivated by little Krsna’s beauty and innocence that she gave away all the fruit from her basket. Lord Krsna smiled and went inside the house. When the fruit vendor saw her basket, it was filled with diamonds, pearls, gold, silver and many more precious things.

This is how Lord Krsna showers upon us His blessings. This festival gives us an opportunity to offer the love and devotion of our hearts to Their lordships in the form of simple flowers.

You may offer any one of the following services:

A basket of flower - Rs 1500/-

Flower Jewellery (for all deities) - Rs 5000/-

Garlands (for all deities) - Rs 11,000/-

Flower Dress (for all deities) - Rs 25,000/-

For detailed information, please contact,

Parth Seva Department
Landline - (022) 23665646/ 47/ 49
Emails - parth.seva@gmail.com

For making online donations:
http://donations.radhagopinath.com/

The third phase of the Sri Govind Gau Gram Prachar Yatra had covered the villages falling in the Telangana region and located quite near to the proposed Farm Community project of the Govardhan congregation and other like-minded devotees. After winding up the third phase on December 30, 2015, the bus moved on towards Chirala to continue the next phase.

Akkayapalem is a small village located just 4 kms away from the Bay of Bengal, consisting of about four hundred houses. It has been know for large scale cattle rearing, since population is dominated by “Yadava” caste, who are known for tending animals. Earlier there were hundreds of cows and a few buffalos & goats but now it is vice versa. Never the less there are still around 60 cows in the village. One very good feature of this village is that almost all the animals go grazing because of the facility of having huge acres of government forest land which is used as pasturing ground or gochar bhumi . Few village people are assigned the job to take the animals for grazing for some salary. Paddy, corn, groundnuts and pulses are the main crops cultivated here. There are thousands of tal trees and a few hundreds of coconut trees.

A devotee from ISKCON Chirala congregation has some land of around 30 cents (100 cents-1 acre) close to this village and has also offered that land for use. The ashram devotees performed a herculean task of clearing the land by removing 150 tal trees manually and the land is presently treated with cow dung and urine. A small house is built and a family is ready to move in to start some cultivation after Sankranthi festival this year. Very soon, once the family settles there, we are planning to bring in cows in the land as there is huge grazing land available.

While the work of felling trees was going on, villagers discouraged that manually it was an impossible task to accomplish. However, there was one villager, named Krishna who not just encouraged us but also assisted us in the task. Thus associating with devotees he started chanting Hare Krishna on beads and has gradually even taken to following all the four regulated principles now. Last year he joined us to Sridham Mayapur yatra; ever since he wears the Gaudiya vaishanava Tilak and chants every day. He has also offered to devotees to use his one and half acre land for cultivation or for growing fodder for cows.

On January 2, 2016, Sri Govind Gau Gram Prachar Yatra bus arrived to the village around 5 in the evening. Akkayapalem was the forty fourth village bead of the Yatra. As was the experience in other villages, here too scores of children gathered around and actively participated in the Harinam. The roads were all dusty as the cattle returned from grazing. Their hooves filled the air with dust, proving true the name of this hour- godhuli bela. Though there were repeated announcements, the elder villagers started trickling in after 7.30 pm. Later we came to know that almost everyone was busy milking their cattle. All the people who were around, listened attentively and after the program devotee volunteers interacted with many villagers who gave positive feedback about the program. Many farmers appreciated the idea of cow-based agriculture. Interestingly many young men and women purchasedBhagavad-gitas and japa malas. After the mahaarati, people very reverentially honored Jagannath’s prasadam.

As we were going back to ISKCON Chirala temple we heard the children chanting Jai Jagannath! Jai Prabhupada! When enquired, we realized that in the evening little before the beginning of the program it had so happened that several children had come near the altar and pointing towards Srila Prabhupada whispered amongst themselves saying, “Look sai baba”, so devotees near the altar corrected them telling that it is Srila Prabhupada and made them chant Jai Jagannath and Jai Prabhupada for number of times like japa. The children had thus caught this jingle and were now chanting it again much to the satisfaction and pleasure of devotees.

Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!

Sri Govind Gau Gram Prachar ki Jai!!

Source: http://www.iskconvarnasrama.com/home/yatra-reaches-the-coastal-villages/

By Iskcon Bangladesh

After six years of hard struggle, patient effort, determination, heartfelt prayers and steady devotional service for the devotees of ISKCON, Netrokona-the grand opening took place on the 2nd January,2016. This marked the beginning of a new chapter for the ISKCON devotees in Bangladesh and especially for those in the Mymensingh Division. Netrakona Pouroshabha (Town of Netrakona) is an old municipal town, established in 1887 and is located only 40 kms away from the Mymensingh city (the headquarters for this division).

ISKCON devotees started preaching in this town few years back and then in October, 2010 they started a small preaching center in a small rented place. In 2011 they did the first Jagannath Ratha Yatra in Netrokona town and it was a huge success. As the number of devotees in the community grew, the need for a permanent residence for Lord Jagannatha, Baladev, Subhadra and Sudarshan became increasingly evident. The devotees began looking for suitable land nearby and when H.H. Subhag Swami Maharaj went to Netrokona in 2012, he gave his blessings for one land adjacent to the preaching center. As Srila Prabhupada once mentioned, “Because if you come to the temple, you get so many facilities to make advance in spiritual life. This is our mission. We are opening, spending so much money for opening gorgeous temple. It is not new thing. This is very, very old, coming by parampara system. There are many thousands of temples in India, very old, five thousand, three thousand years old. Why? The acaryas wanted to give facility to the common man to enter into spiritual life. That is the idea.”(SB 7.9.5 Mayapur, February 12, 1976)

The local devotees headed by H.G. Joyram Prabhu, H.G. Anantadev Prabhu and H.G.Tulasi Prabhu worked very hard to collect the funds for buying this land. One year later in 2013, the devotees were able to purchase it. Then they began planning for a nice temple and an ashram for the devotees. Finally after the Ratha Yatra festival in August 2015, construction work was started in full swing and devotees were working round the clock to have the temple ready by the end of December.

The temple opening date was fixed on 2nd January, 2016. As the month of December was approaching, devotees were worried whether they would be able to finish the temple in time to welcome Their Lordships to Their new home. The devotees also started preparing for a 3-day festival for celebrating the temple inauguration, celebrating 50 years of ISKCON and 75th Vyasa Puja of H.H. Subhag Swami Maharaj from 2nd to 4th January, 2016.Invitations were being sent out to devotees all over Bangladesh and hectic last minute preparations were made to ensure the temple was ready for timely opening.

H.H. Subhag Swami Maharaj arrived with a group of devotees on 28th December to oversee the preparations for the temple opening. H.G. Caru Chandra, General Secretary of ISKCON Bangladesh, kindly agreed to preside over the 3-day festival. Devotees from across the country and abroad- namely Dhaka, Narayanganj, Barisal, Chittagong, Sylhet, Mehron, Trishal, Narsingdi, Pundarik Dham, Tangail, Coxes Bazar, Jhalokathi, Durgapur, Mymensingh, Kishorgonj, Sherpur, Jamalpur, Brahmanbariya, Mayapur and other places came for this festival.

The festival started with Mangal Arati on 2nd January at 4:30 am in the old temple. The darshan arati, Srila Prabhupada Guru Puja and the morning Srimad Bhagavatam class were held for the last time in the old place. Then H.G. Madhav Murari Prabhu, Vice-president of ISKCON Bangladesh and Head Pujari of ISKCON Dhaka, led the fire sacrifice (yajna)in the new temple premises. On the completion of yajna, devotees enthusiastically carried Their Lordships from the old temple hall to the new alter accompanied by a roaring harinaam sankirtan. In the midst of the sweet vibration of the chanting of the Holy Names, a colorful bathing (abhishek) ceremony was held for Sri Sri Jagannatha, Sri Sri Baladev, Srimati Subhadra Maharani and Sri Sri Sudarshan in the fully packed temple hall.

While the deities were being dressed, Subhag Swami gave a short lecture on the significance of having this new temple at Netrokona. Maharaj has been one of the pioneers of ISKCON preaching in Bangladesh since 1982. He shared his long cherished desire of a having a nice ISKCON temple around Netrokona and that was finally coming to fruition. While Their lordships were offered their rajbhoga (lunch), Maharaj led an enthusiastic kirtan and the devotees were wildly jumping around eager to have the first darshan of Lord Jagannath in the new alter. Soon the conch was blown and Subhag Swami offered the first Maha Arati to Sri Sri Jagannatha, Sri Sri Baladev, Srimati Subhadra Maharani and Sri Sri Sudarshan at Their new residence. Then Sri Sri Jagannatha Mahaprasad was profusely distributed to the assembled vaishnavas. Later in the evening, H.G. Madhav Murari Prabhu performed the adhivas ceremony for the 75th Vyasa Puja of H.H. Subhag Swami. This was followed by devotional cultural program.

On 3rd January, the celebrations started with a harinama procession by all the devotees through the main streets of Netrokona town in the early morning. Following the Guru Puja of Srila Prabhupada, Subhag Swami gave an enlightening Bhagavatam class explaining the real meaning of Vyasa Puja – one day in a year, on the birthday of the spiritual master, because he is representative of Vyasa, he is delivering the same knowledge which has come down by disciplic succession without any change, he is offered the respect. This is called Vyasa-püja. And the spiritual master receives all honor, all contribution, on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not for his own self.

Around noon, H.H. Subhag Maharaj offered arati to Srila Prabhupada and personally performed colorful maha-abhisheka of the Srila Prabhupada deity which was broadcasted live on mayapur.tv and another Bangladeshi channel called Gazi Tv. Then the assembled devotees offered flowers and arati to Maharaj. Then H.H. Subhag Swami was interviewed by the Gazi Tv and later he gave the Vyasa Puja address to assembled vaishnavas. A short glorification ceremony was held to glorify Srila Prabhupada and one of his dearest sons, Subhag Swami.

A senior Srila Prabhupada disciple, H.G. Tejiyas Prabhu sent his offering online. He wrote, “The aspect of Maharaj that impresses me the most is how very very personal, and very very kind he always is and how all of his actions always are of the purest of transcendental kind. Our Srila Prabhupada has given a simple two sided formula to use as a guideline for our spiritual life, by saying that Krishna consciousness is to always remember Krishna and never forget Him. I have experienced in Maharaja’s association that, even though I am such a dull person, somehow I am instantly inspired to remember Krishna and in his association I think it is impossible to ever forget Krishna even for a nimish” Some of the other devotees who spoke on this occasion included ISKCON Dhaka Temple president H.G Caru Chandra Bramhacari Prabhu; Sylhet temple president H.G. Navadwip Dvija Gauranga Prabhu; Coxes Bazar Temple President Radha Govinda Prabhu;Narsingdi Temple President Prahalad Prabhu. Subhag Swami concluded with a sweet kirtan and a nice feast was served to all. Then there was more glorification, drama and tribal dance in the evening. The next day the devotees went for a spiritual retreat nearby along the bank of a river for chanting, dancing, harikatha and feast at the end. We pray that Srila Prabhupada shower his profuse mercy on the devotees who worked so hard for making this festival a grand success. In the words of His Divine Grace, “I thank you so much for the new temples that are opening. Please conduct them nicely and enthuse the people to stick to the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra and follow the rules and regulations. Then they will be strong enough to manage things very nicely. Other things will be supplied by Krsna.” (SPL to Tamala Krsna, 18th October, 1969)

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18129

Why I love kirtan? I don’t know if I love kirtan but I am addicted to kirtan! Love is such a big word that I am afraid to use it, because love means really that Krsna is our all-in-all. I cannot say that but somehow or other, I have developed some attachment to kirtan. Of all the material elements, it is said that the ether is the most subtle and within the ether, there is only sound, whereas in other realms there are touch, taste, sound, smell… but in ether, there is only sound. Therefore it is said that sound is closest to the soul.

So I always liked music but when the holy name of Krsna was added to that, it became perfect because Krsna is non-different from his name. Therefore by chanting the name of Krsna, in beautiful melodies, we are getting the association of Krsna, and the melodies are bringing out different moods and rasas, so in that way it is easier to approach Krsna. That is why I like kirtan.

Source: https://www.kksblog.com/2016/01/why-i-love-kirtan/

Dear Donors and Friends of the TOVP Project in Sridham Mayapur,

2015 has been another banner year for the TOVP both for construction under the leadership of Sadbhuja prabhu, and fundraising under the leadership of Radha Jivan and Braja Vilas prabhus. Some of the construction highlights are as follows:

Milestones Achieved – 2015

1. Rainwater pipes – complete
2. Screening and waterproofing – phase 1 completion
3. Screening and waterproofing – phase 2 started
4. plastering 80%
5. Sandstone – phase 1 – started
6. GRC factory setup
   1. Kalash brackets
   2. Chatri ribs
   3. Utility floor column
   4. Kalash brackets
   5. Chatri ribs
   6. Chatri Kalash
7. Electrical works begun
8. Marble cladding begun
9. Lightning arrestor purchased
10. Blue tiles purchased
11. Aviation light purchased
12. Completion of all three domes superstructure
13. Dome concreting
14. Altar superstructure including festival altar
15. Completion of brick walls
16. Utility floor sand filling – 50%
17. Parikrama path brickwork complete
18. Kalash Sub Frame – started

Fundraising continued at a dedicated pace, with the North American Tour starting in March. Radha Jivan and Braj Vilas were joined by Jananivas prabhu, the Holy Padukas of Sri Nityananda prabhu, and the Sitari of Lord Narasimhadev, all of whom came from Sridham Mayapur to bless devotees from across the United States and Canada. Svaha and I were privileged to be able to join all of them for several stops. Here are some of the highlights of 2015:

1) February: Opened the Mayapur TOVP Seva office

2) North American Tour from March 15th to July 12th

Total program : 450 Programs
Temples visited : 45
Traveled : 51,000 miles
Distributed over 100,000 promotional materials
Total Donors : 2837
Total Pledges : 16 million dollars

3) September: TOVP presentation at the Vyasa Puja ceremony of H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami and Gopal Krsna Goswami.

Total Pledges: 4 million dollars

4) October: Visited Vrindavan, made presentations and collected from Chowpatty yatra with 5000 devotees

Total Pledges: 3 million dollars

5) November: Visited the UK for 2 weeks to address a patron dinner and several home programs

Total Pledges: 1 million pounds/$1,460,000

The entire TOVP team is looking forward to another inspiring year in 2016, the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON, as the project moves steadily towards completion. Here are some of the milestones to watch for:

Immediate Work

1. 3 kalash
2. Chakras
3. Inner column carvings – after kalash

Upcoming Works

1. Chatris and Blue tiling
2. White marble cladding inside and outside
3. Sandstone carving
4. Marble purchase
5. Electrical wiring
6. Plumbing Works
7. Earth filling and Utility Floor Slab
8. Wood Works
9. GRC Works
10. Coffered Ceiling
11. Altars

Please visit tovp.org regularly to keep up to date with the progress of this dearmost project of Srila Prabhupada.

Your aspiring servant,

Ambarisa das

Source: http://tovp.org/news/fundraising/2015-tovp-highlights-a-message-from-ambarisa-prabhu/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2015-tovp-highlights-a-message-from-ambarisa-prabhu

UK National Sankirtan Celebrations.
Saturday 9th Jan @ Bhaktivedanta Manor
7.00am – Deity Greetings & Extended Guru Puja
7.45am – Class by HH Sivarama Swami
9.00am-2.00pm – Videos, Stories, Scores, Presentations, Gifts and Awards
2.00pm – FEAST!
Please please come along for a wonderful celebration!

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18106

Appeal by the 50th Anniversary Global Office to mark the official start of worldwide celebrations

By ISKCON 50 Global Office

The 50th anniversary year of ISKCON starts from 1st January 2016, with many historical events scheduled all over the world. The Global Office for the 50th Anniversary has requested temples all over the world to participate enthusiastically by holding local and national events that can accelerate the preaching mission of Srila Prabhupada.

“The 50th Anniversary offers a once-in-a-life time opportunity that provides us a unique chance to get the public of every country in the world to recognise Prabhupada’s achievements and the growth and contribution of his society that changed the face of the planet,” said Anuttama Das, GBC Minister for Communications who is part of the International Executive Committee for the 50th Anniversary. “While celebrating this important milestone, we can also educate people about ISKCON and appreciate the contribution of devotees who have worked hard in the last 50 years to spread the Sankirtana movement.”

The Global Office has asked temples around the world to ‘50ise’ all their general festivals, and to arrange at least one major standalone event in 2016 to commemorate the 50th anniversary.

“It is the responsibility of every single ISKCON centre to celebrate and express true gratitude to Srila Prabhupada during the 50th anniversary of his remarkable journey to the West and his incorporation of ISKCON,” commented Gauri Das, who is also a member of the International Executive Committee for the 50th. “It is thus the incumbent responsibility of every leader in ISKCON to be a champion of ISKCON 50, inspiring every heart and every temple to do wonderful things to mark the occasion.”

After the success of the events to mark Prabhupada’s Jaladuta yatra in Kolkata, Colombo, Cochin and Boston, many exciting events have been planned around the world.

“Events include a big celebration in Mumbai in February, a mega-event at the Sydney Opera House, receptions at the European Parliament in Brussels and the House of Commons in the UK, an academic conference in Harvard, 50 Padayatras by the Padayatra Ministry, interfaith meetings, youth festivals and kirtan melas,” explained Pancharatna Das, a senior disciple of Prabhupada, who is also a member of the International Executive Committee for ISKCON 50. “The World Holy Name Week will move from October 2016 to August to mark the 50thanniversary of the very first public Harinama procession led by Prabhupada from the storefront of Matchless Gifts to Washington Square Park in New York in 1966. We expect many more events to be announced as we move into 2016.”

The Global Office will be releasing a series of posters, banners and other creatives in January. This will be followed by the release of the 50th anniversary magazine and a special film showcasing the achievements of ISKCON in the last 50 years. The Global Office is also creating a series of exhibition panels that can be used effectively during festival days to educate people about ISKCON.

“We urge every temple to visit our website to download our special posters,” said Romapada Das, International Coordinator for the 50th Anniversary. “Every temple should form a local Committee to plan their 50th events, and appoint a devotee who will manage local communication with the media and other stakeholders.   Please organise at least one major event in 2016 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary. Of course temples can organise more than one event if they have the resources.”

The Global Office has also requested all temples to ‘50ise’ their regular festivals such as Janmashtami, Ratha Yatra, Gaura Purnima and Rama Navami by:

1. Using the 50th anniversary logo on all invitations, press releases, literature and public messages
2. Showing the 50th anniversary film, the Joy of Devotion, at every regular festival (film under production)
3. Displaying the ISKCON 50 Exhibition (A0 panels that can be printed locally) in your temple premises during regular festivals
4. Distributing the ISKCON 50 special magazine during regular festivals
5. Staging special 50thanniversary plays such as ‘Swami at Sea’ the scripts for which can be downloaded from our website: www.iskcon50.org

“The 50th is the most important milestone in ISKCON that many of us may live to see,” concluded Romaapada Das. “Let’s make good use of this unique opportunity to glorify Prabhupada and to spread the Sankirtana movement. We should all start to ‘think 50 and act 50’!”

ISKCON centres can are requested to write to Romapada Das,  International Coordinator, 50th anniversary at romapada@iskcon50.org and provide details of events they have planned.

THINK 50! Act 50!

International Coordination Team

ISKCON 50th Anniversary Celebrations

Mobile:+91 (0) 997 993 3880

Email: info@iskcon50.org

Web: www.iskcon50.org