Krishna House in Gainesville, established in 1971 following Srila Prabhupada’s vision, has been a hub for prasadam distribution, kirtan, and spiritual education. The Bhakti Academy, launched in 2008, has trained over 500 students, with many committing to a lifelong spiritual path while excelling in academics and careers. Krishna Lunch and Krishna CARES serves thousands of meals annually to students and those in need. Now, with six Krishna Houses across North America, the movement continues to expand. However, financial struggles threaten its future, prompting its first in-person fundraiser to sustain Krishna Lunch and the Bhakti Academy’s mission.
Krishna House, Gainesville, and The Krishna House Movement
Srila Prabhupada spoke on June 29th, 1971, “So do something wonderful there in Gainesville. Wonderful means you simply chant loudly and distribute prasadam. That is not very difficult. It is very easy. Simply if you do it enthusiastically and sincerely, then success will be there.” The devotees had first arrived in Gainesville in 1970, and by 1971, students from the University of Florida had established the city’s first ISKCON center. Srila Prabhupada personally visited Gainesville in July of that year, further inspiring his students to distribute prasadam and perform kirtan at the university.
Since then, following Prabhupada’s desire, Krishna House has distributed low-cost prasadam to students every semester without a break, founded a wildly successful Bhakti Academy (Ashram Training Program) that has brought a surge of youth to Krishna Consciousness, developed weekly preaching programs bringing students to Bhakti, and started a movement of opening Krishna Houses across North America.
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