Devotees walk together at Rondebosch Common during the SP50 Morning Walk Tribute in Cape Town, listening to Srila Prabhupada lectures and conversations.
By Kala Das
As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Srila Prabhupada’s 1975 visit to South Africa (SP50), the ISKCON Cape Town temple hosted a series of events in May 2025. These included a Devotional Practices Workshop, a memorial morning walk, and a movie night to commemorate the 100-day countdown to Srila Prabhupada’s historic arrival. The programs engaged over 100 participants in devotional culture and reflection.
A workshop emphasising traditional devotional practices was held on May 17th in the Cape Town temple courtyard. The event featured tutorials on Sari and Dhoti wearing, and Prasadam cooking, all aimed at strengthening daily spiritual habits and fostering a deeper connection to the Vaishnava tradition. Notably, this workshop has inspired the Cape Town Yatra to begin work on a cookbook, intended to encourage devotional vegetarian cooking both at home and for the service of the resident deities, Sri Sri Ntai Mayapur Chandan, at the Cape Town temple.
A highlight of the session was a hands-on prasadam demonstration featuring roti, subji, and halava preparation. Facilitators emphasised consciousness and care during cooking as offerings to the Lord. Attendees learned the correct way to wear traditional devotional clothing.
Two weeks later, on May 31st, over 35 devotees gathered for a Srila Prabhupada Memorial Morning Walk at Rondebosch Common. Inspired by the founder-Acarya’s morning walks in South Africa during 1975, this 2.7-kilometre walk lasted approximately 50 minutes and featured archival audio recordings of Srila Prabhupada’s lectures and conversations.
Participants listened via headphones while walking in quiet remembrance. The event was led by Medhavi Das (74), an ISKCON initiating spiritual teacher and direct disciple of Srila Prabhupada, along with his wife, Lalita Devi Dasi. Their participation added authenticity and historical context to the walk. Devotees ranging from 10 to 74 years old took part.
Following their walk, participants enjoyed refreshments such as cupcakes and hot chicory. Medhavi Das then shared valuable insights on crafting heartfelt Vyasa Puja offerings for Srila Prabhupada. These offerings, due by June 1st, would be included in a special SP50 commemorative collection, coinciding with Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja in August 2025.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-cape-town-yatra-hosts-sp50-walks-and-workshops/
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