On July 7th, ISKCON Kolkata celebrated its 53rd Rath Yatra, the second-largest Rath Yatra in the world after Puri. The presiding deities, Lord Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra, were mounted on beautifully decorated chariots, a sight to behold. These chariots were then pulled through the streets by many of the thousands who participated, creating a deeply devotional scene.
The Pahundi ceremony (taking Their Lordships towards the Rath cart) started around 8.30 am, followed by a cultural program
Tom, the mayor, came out to acknowledge our fest, as mentioned, the first. Also Tracy, the member of Parliament for the area, graced us with her presence. A modest-sized chariot was the attraction for the 1200 folks that came, lest we forget the beautiful deities as passengers within.
The efforts behind this event are the combination of Hari Kirtan from Kamloops and the relatively young members of the local Hindu society, mostly from the Punjabi community. Both groups worked hand in hand, appr
A special delegation spent a day at Bhaktivedanta Manor. They work as Counsellors of Agriculture and are advisors for their embassies, including the US, Germany, Ireland, Brazil and the Netherlands.
During their visit, they met Visakha Dasi and explored the beautiful grounds. Then Pradeep took them around the cow sanctuary to learn about the cow protection project. That was followed by a trek to Holland Farm where the temple grows herbs, vegetables and fruits with help from the ‘Worldwide Organ
Though faith in God is in decline, faith as an intrinsic human trait remains, only to be directed to an endless array of less worthy subjects.
Faith is not disappearing, just finding new destinations.
Not far from where I live outside London, there’s a strikingly beautiful solid-stone St. John the Baptist church, part of which was built in the thirteenth century, its tall steeple visible for miles around. The entire UK is heavily dotted with similar churches, for in former centuries it was nor
By Devananada Pandit Das
Sri Vakreshwar Pandit was present with Sriman Mahaprabhu during His pastimes in Navadwipa and after his acceptance of Sannyasa he also accompanied Him to Jagannath Puri. During the time of the Lord’s residence in Puri he continued to live with Him there as well. Sri Vakreshwar Pandit took birth in the village of Guptipara near Triveni. He was an especially proficient dancer and kirtaniya and could dance continuously for 72hours.
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began His pa
By Atma Tattva Das
Krsna-Dasa Perez, also known as “Slot One The Servant,” has an inspiring story of resilience and transformation that weaves together spirituality and hip-hop. His journey is particularly remarkable because it includes a significant period of incarceration, during which he underwent a metamorphosis, ultimately emerging as a symbol of hope and inspiration within the Krishna-conscious community.
Having spent 12 years in prison since the age of 18, Krsna-Dasa’s life could have ea
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
In response to increasing interest in Krishna consciousness and the challenges of accommodating newcomers, ISKCON’s New Raman Reti Temple in Alachua has established a dedicated residential program for men. The new eight-bedroom facility offers structured guidance, education, and a nurturing environment for spiritual growth.
Temple President Mukhya Devi Dasi said, “For years, we fielded calls from people who wanted to learn about Krishna consciousness by livin
The nights can be cool and days warm. When Prem and I met in the middle of the valley at Saranagati Village he said most candidly, "It is 6'celsius," I agreed. It is June-vary. With this cooler than average weather we embarked on our walk at the 6 am spot and decided to head for where the sun casted some rays. Perhaps cowardly we stayed within those merciful limits. After all mountains do throw shade.
The walk was completed and the temple program began, also in the middle of the valley, on the s
As a teenager coming of age in the 1960s, I was preoccupied with spirituality. I had become disinterested in the mainstream religion of my forbears, and I was passionately looking for a path that spoke directly to me as an individual.
I didn’t want some amorphous, otherworldly transcendence, either — this I knew for certain. Nor did I want mere political activism, which many in my day tied to spirituality in a rather tepid, tenuous way. Instead, I wanted something that truly nurtured my inner w
Devotees from around the UK, including the Hare Krishna Festival Team, Food for All and monks from Bhaktivedanta Manor joined forces to make most welcome presence during the famous Glastonbury Festival.
Devotees cooked and distributed 2500 plates of prasad (sanctified vegetarian for) a day, sang kirtan for 6 hours every day followed by a 2 hour hare Nama procession around the huge site. If that were not enough, over 1000 copies of Srila Prabhupada’s books were distributed to interested festival
Priya Gopinath Das, General Secretary for ISKCON Mayapur, has released the following urgent request to devotees: “I am writing to seek prayers from around the world for Myanmar. The country has been facing a severe crisis due to political and armed conflicts for over two years. This turmoil has displaced millions and has now been compounded by natural disasters, including the devastating flooding in Myitkyina, Kachin State. Many devotees from the ISKCON community have also become victims of t
By MAN-Tra Team
Mark your calendar, tell your friends, and prepare for a memorable weekend this September 20-22, 2024, for the Annual MAN-tra Men’s Retreat in New Vrindaban, West Virginia. The popular annual event promises to be a spiritually uplifting gathering for all devotee men. But don’t wait too long, as early bird registration ends on July 31st.
What can you expect at this year’s retreat? Special guest presentations and workshops by Sri Prahlada Das, Prasannatma Das, Yadunatha Das, and B
Well, it was my first time ever to take a swim in the Vancouver Island outdoors. It was a pleasure to get a relief from physical stress based on my irregular schedules, the flying and all that. Gadadhar, Manohorini and their wonderful pooch, Yogi, that headed for the Chemainus River at a spot ideal, humanless. It's waters come from the mountains and before they hit the ocean, we has our moment.
This is indeed downtime.
Where that waters of people came in for today was at the Unity Hall, now re
By Radha Mohan
On behalf of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Nila Madhava das officially presented “Bhagavad Gita As It Is” to the Speaker of the House of Commons Rt. Hon. Sir Linsey Hoyle MP and Mr Shailesh Vara on Friday 24th May 2024.
This copy of the Bhagavad-Gita, with translations and purports by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, can now be used in the House of Commons for when Hindu MPs swear in and take a Parliamentary Oath, following their election.
“…It is with grea
By Atma Tattva Das
ISKCON’s Ministry for Cow Protection and Agriculture will be holding its next “Taking Care of Krishna’s Cows” course beginning July 15th, 2024. Kalakantha Das, its global minister, emphasized the importance of this course, stating, “The goal is to standardize cow protection practices in ISKCON and provide guidance to our goshalas. This training will also serve as a valuable resource for new devotees interested in this activity.”
The course, which spans six weeks with bi-weekl
On June 26, 2024, ISKCON community members from all over the world gathered in Ujjain to honor the departure of His Holiness Rupa Raghunath Swami Maharaj, a disciple of Lokanath Swami and a revered ISKCON sannyasi who passed away on June 22, 2024, in Bhopal, India. The ceremony was filled with devotion and deep respect, reflecting Maharaj’s profound impact on his followers and the ISKCON movement.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/honoring-the-departure-of-rupa-raghunath-swami/
By Gopika Radhika Devi Dasi
The year was 2009. A fledgling library and research center were inaugurated on June 28th by Jayapataka Swami, Bhakti Charu Swami, Jananivas Dasa, and Hari Sauri Dasa. Fast forward to 2024, and it has expanded to three thriving centers in Kolkata, Pune, and Mumbai, as well as branches in Puri, Govardhana, and New York. Its sphere of activities has expanded exponentially, with various prestigious collaborations and several awards recognizing its contributions.
The res
I landed in Vancouver at 10:35 am. My boarding time for Nanaimo on the Island was for 10:35, hence the rush was on for a mere 10 minute flight. Gadhadar was there to greet me in style with a kurta top and green dhoti bottom with gold trim. Walking off through the Nanaimo terminal, the tinniest you could imagine, the two of us were a sight from another world.
A lunch appointment was set for the home of Tamalie and Walter. Walter we met at the beach at Departure Bay and, there, at a majestic
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
Art of Kirtan, launched in May 2024, is an online music school and heritage project. The initiative is headed by Bada Haridas, who has been leading and teaching kirtan for the past 50 years and is a professionally trained musician and composer. His wife, Kosarupa Dasi, manages the project, marketing, and fundraising, with assistance from their two adult children, Sri Gaura Mani and Nitai Sharana.
Bada Haridas and Visvambhar Sheth are the founding teachers of th
ISKCON of Harrisburg is gearing up to celebrate its 14th Annual Hare Krishna Festival of India on Saturday, July 20, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at City Island in Harrisburg. Harrisburg is only a short drive from most major cities on the East Coast – 3 hours from New York City and 2 hours from most towns and cities in New Jersey, Baltimore, and Washington D.C.
The festival will start at 11 a.m. with kirtan inaugurating the festival followed by a two-hour procession of beautifully decorated car
