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By Madhava Smullen 

Pilgrims wear masks and stand six feet apart while taking darshan of Sri Sri Radha Vrindabanchandra

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, ISKCON temples worldwide have been in lockdown, unable to connect with their communities or give spiritual knowledge to newcomers in person, and instead shifting these activities online. Without in-person outreach activities, the last few months have also seen temples struggling to maintain themselves, with centers in Italy, France, and South America asking for financial help via online campaigns.

In the U.S, hope has begun to appear – some temples have started reopening with locally mandated restrictions, while larger temples are getting financial assistance from the government via the PPP, or Paycheck Protection Program, which helps small businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus crisis.

New Vrindaban, West Virginia – ISKCON’s biggest place of pilgrimage in North America – was one of those faced with many challenges during the crisis. 

“Our whole temple is set up to receive guests from around the country, take care of them, enlighten them with Krishna consciousness, and if possible connect them to their local centers,” says president Jaya Krsna Das. “Therefore, we have a much bigger staff than any city temple – about 50 in the winter and 105 in the summer.”

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/new-vrindaban-reopens-to-pilgrims-with-precautions-in-place,7381/

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