Blog

By Atma Tattva Das, 

Swarupa-Sakti Devi Dasi’s journey in Krishna consciousness began long before temple life: kind teachers in Botswana, books and kirtan in Cape Town, and a life of ashram service, outreach, teaching, counseling, and community care.

Originally from Gaborone, Botswana, Swarupa-Sakti completed her matric at Abbots College before studying at the University of Cape Town. She moved to Australia in 2008, and has lived as an ashram devotee in Cape Town, Durban, and Melbourne. She curr

By Atma Tattva Das, 

The upcoming BhaktiFest 2k26 is poised to draw more than 200 young adults to a four-day residential spiritual retreat over the Easter weekend, from April 3-6, 2026. Hosted on a private island venue near Sydney, this event marks the continuation of what has quickly become a signature youth engagement initiative within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Australia and neighboring regions.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/task-create-a-headline-an

By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi,

ISKCON Australia’s Women’s Minister, Krishnarupa Devi Dasi (ACBSP), was recently invited to serve as a faith-based project advisor for the “Faith as a Strength: Prevention of Violence Against Women” initiative. The program, launched by Australia’s peak body for preventing violence against women, Our Watch, in collaboration with the Nossal Institute for Global Health at Melbourne University, brought together religious leaders from diverse traditions to develop

The ISKCON Law Department held its first Law Conference in the Asia Pacific region. The Conference, held in Sydney, Australia, brought together a diverse audience of more than 25 devotee attorneys, those in the provision of legal services, law students, temple leaders, National Council members, and SABHA members from eight jurisdictions. Their shared mission was to explore the role of law in serving and protecting ISKCON for future generations and expansion.

Led by ISKCON General Counsel Devak

Recently, Hare Krishna Valley in Victoria, Australia, joyfully celebrated their annual Boat Festival with around 400 guests, including special guest, Jahnavi Harrison. “The Deities of Radha and Krishna looked stunning as They glided across the spring in a beautifully decorated boat, accompanied by the heartfelt singing of devotees gathered along the banks, said Keshava Dasa, Krishna Valley’s manager, “After the boat ride, we continued in a lively procession up the hill, where everyone enjoyed

The community’s bridge is now cleared of debris from flooding. Photo courtesy of ISKCON New Govardhana.

ISKCON New Govardhana shared a post from Vaishnavi Devi Dasi reporting on the effects of Cyclone Alfred on the large 1,000-acre Hare Krishna Community in New South Wales, Australia.

The report describes the challenges of the power outage and damage, the safety and protection of the Deities, devotees, and guests, and the status of buildings and services in the community. You can read all the de

Bhakta Dasa, Communications and Interfaith Director for ISKCON Australia and Australasia recently had his reflection entitled, “How a schoolyard bully set me on my spiritual path” published in the opinion section of The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. The Herald is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia and considered to be the most widely read.  You can read his full article here. Please note, access to the article may be restricted or limited depending on your country.

Sour

ISKCON Melbourne released a video of Svayam Bhagavan Keshava Swami’s presentation to a select audience at the Parliament in Victoria on February 6, 2025.

The event was organized in cooperation with Nina Taylor, a member of the Australian Labor Party, and other members of Parliament. Taylor was elected to the Legislative Assembly in November 2022 and serves as the Parliamentary Secretary for Education.

During her brief remarks before SB Keshava Swami’s talk, she said, “This special event will hig

By Adi Purusa Krsna Dasa 

The construction of a new temple extension hall at ISKCON Adelaide, South Australia, was finally completed, and its doors opened to the public on Saturday, December 7, 2024. The occasion was celebrated with a grand inaugural ceremony, which was accompanied by mantra-chanting, ecstatic kirtans, and gaiety.

We faced many trials and tribulations during this arduous journey. Still, ultimately, by the mercy of the presiding deities, Sri Sri Radha Syamasundara, we prevailed.

By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi

The ISKCON New Gokula Farm in Australia’s Hunter Valley celebrated their 2024 Rath Yatra on July 7. The 550-acre property, renowned for its large organic vegetable gardens and orchards, is situated just two hours north of Sydney and the presiding Deities are Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda.

Srila Prabhupada, in his lecture in San Francisco on July 5, 1970, glorified the significance of Rath Yatra. He said, “Simply by seeing the Lord on the chariot, one makes advance

Gitanushilanam 2023 is the world’s biggest online Bhagavad Gita competition dedicated to ISKCON founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It is the annual flagship event of Learn Gita Live Gita to celebrate the Gita Jayanti of year 2023.

Learn Gita Live Gita is an initiative under the leadership of HG Lila Purushottam Prabhu (Director-IIT Mandi, Director- BGIS Vrindavan) to bring about success and happiness to every person in this world irrespective of their age, gen

On April 21-23rd, Gopal’s Glorious Gang (GGG), a children’s club in Brisbane, Australia, gathered over 100 children (ages 4-16) at Tyalgum Ridge Retreat Centre, New South Wales, for a Bhakti Boost Camp. Gauranga Darshan Das, a well-known educator and author of over 30 books, was a featured guest. Fifteen volunteers and parents helped to organize and execute the event.

GGG aims to help each child become a well-rounded human being through intellectual, personal, and spiritual growth. The children

By Subhangi devi dasi

Gold Coast Bhakti Centre in Queensland Australia held their annual Summer Rathyatra in the heart of tourist meccha Surfers Paradise in the peak of tourist season. Hundreds of locals, devotees and tourists witnessed Their Lordships Jaganath, Subhadra and Baladev being pulled through the beach precinct. During the parade an aeroplane flew up and down the coast line for several hours with a banner saying ‘CHANT HARE KRISHNA AND BE HAPPY’ for all to see. Special guests HH Jana

In the span of fifteen days, graffiti and vandalismhavebeen daubed on three Hindu temples in Melbourne, Australia.  The attacks have taken place at BAPS, Shri Shiva Vishnu, and ISKCON temples. The Hindu community feels devasted by such vandalism and frustrated with the authorities. The Australia Today’s Editor-in-chief Jitarth Jai Bharadwaj reporting live from ISKCON Temple in Melbourne.

Video source: The Australia Today   

Source: https://iskconnews.org/third-temple-vandalized-in-australia/

The Melbourne ISKCON devotees living in the western suburbs of Melbourne Australia have for years participated in the annual local Hindu Holi festival in which they have incorporated a mini Ratha Yatra parade.

Many hundreds of people from the culturally diverse community attended the festival and the devotees engaged them all in the festivities.

With the cooperation of the festival management, the devotees were able to distribute books and prasadam (sanctified food), and much more.

The highligh

By Madhava Smullen 

A brand new Crossways Hare Krishna Restaurant has opened in the heart of the busiest part of Melbourne, Australia, serving inexpensive all-you-can-eat vegetarian and vegan meals to the Melbourne community. 

The restaurant opened on Monday, December 6th, with Melbourne temple president Aniruddha Das cutting the ribbon in a low-key celebration. 

Crossways has a major fan base, and people lined up outside as the restaurant was about to open. 

The familiar face of Lord Jagannatha