ISKCON’s Hare Krishna Centre in New Zealand to reopen after 2011.
Almost six years after suffering extensive damage in the 2011 earthquake, ISKCON Christchurch will be holding a three-day grand opening ceremony of its newly constructed Hare Krishna Centre between March 3 and 5 this year.
The event will feature the official opening of the new temple, fire yajnas, kirtans, aartis, guru pujas, and an initiation ceremony by Indradyumna Swami. Installation of the deities including that of Sri Sri Nitai Gaurachandra—a form of Krishna who appeared 500 years ago as Lord Caitanya (also Lord Chaitanya)—and his brother Lord Nityanand will also be a part of the ceremony.
History
The Hare Krishna movement was brought to Christchurch around 1972, with the first temple constructed in Waltham Road in 1973. Later, the temple was moved to a house in Worcester Street, Linwood, before moving to a larger property at 30 Latimer Square in 1979. Then in 1986, the present site at 83 Bealey Avenue became the Hare Krishna Centre’s permanent home.
Unfortunately, the centre suffered extensive damage during the September 4, 2010, earthquake, but engineering inspections determined that the building could be repaired. A double whammy struck before any work could commence, on February 22, 2011, as another earthquake struck, completely destroying the building and everything inside.
Since then, the Christchurch Hare Krishna devotees relocated their Sunday community gathering to a rented hall in Ferrymead, and this has continued since then. The organisation has also been running its Hare Krishna—Food for Life programme at Christchurch’s New Brighton Clocktower every Saturday for the past one-and-a-half year.
Mr Ramanuja, a prominent member of ISKCON Christchurch, while talking to Indian Weekender earlier had expressed hope that the new Hare Krishna Centre once completed and open would embark on true community service based on ISKCON’s philosophy of pure love and devotion.
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