This lecture continues the series on the divine pastimes of Radha and Krishna, focusing on Krishna’s playful and mischievous nature during the month of Kartik. The episode recounts a humorous and spiritually rich story where Krishna disguises himself as the son of an elder gopi, Pavati, to escape punishment for stealing butter. Through divine trickery and mystic power, Krishna not only avoids reprimand but also instills awe and reverence in the hearts of the villagers, reinforcing his transcend
ISKCON Almvik in Sweden hosted a vibrant joint celebration of Govardhana Puja and Diwali on October 19, welcoming His Excellency Mr. Anurag Bhushan, Ambassador of India to Sweden, as the guest of honor. The event brought together around 400 devotees and friends from across Sweden, uniting members of both the Indian and Swedish communities.
The festival, organized primarily by the ISKCON Almvik youth under the coordination of Shyamasundara, highlighted the enthusiasm and creativity of the next ge
By Madhavi Kirti devi dasi
Alachua Learning Academy (ALA), founded by members of the ISKCON Alachua community, has recently earned national and state honors recognizing its academic achievement and service to the community.
National and Statewide Recognition
U.S. News & World Report (October 2025) ranked ALA Elementary as the 15th best and ALA Middle School as the 17th best in Florida, out of over 2,300 schools. The honor was covered by the local Gainesville press. These accolades highlight AL
A Short Documentary
When the earth trembled in Bogo, Cebu, homes crumbled and thousands were left struggling to survive. Yet in the midst of devastation, the spirit of Bayanihan arose.
Inspired by the compassionate call to action of Governor Pamela Baricuatro, the devotees of ISKCON Cebu Philippines and ISKCON Food For Life Philippines joined hands with volunteers, local officials, and generous donors to respond swiftly to the needs of the people of Northern Cebu.
Through this collective effort,
DAY 5 GLOBAL PREACHING STRATEGIES & COMMEMORATIONS Morning Session: Praghosa Dasa led brainstorming on “Reflections on the Eve of ISKCON 60.” Focus: Reinventing outreach for the modern world, building stronger congregational engagement, and leveraging technology (e.g., podcasts, QR codes in books).
Suggestion: Every temple to follow up personally with book recipients and use media tools to strengthen local outreach networks
(Skip ahead to 40:05 to watch the presentation)
Source: https://www.dan
Written by: Bhaktimarga Swami
Directed by: Paul
Music by: Nityananda Das
Starring:
Nityananda Das
Alex
A heartfelt presentation crafted with devotion and creativity. This production brings together art, music, and storytelling inspired by spiritual themes.
A few years ago, the words “Bhadra Purnima” may not have meant anything to devotees at all. Now, after seven years of organized campaigns run by the BBT Marketing, Communications, and Innovations Team, those two words remind devotees of the Srimad Bhagavatam. Through this campaign, the distribution of Srimad Bhagavatam is being integrated slowly but surely into the fabric of the international society of Krishna Consciousness.
Devotees all around the world put pedal to the metal and “taxed their
The last 5 days of the month of Karttika are traditionally known as the Bhishma Panchaka or the Vishnu Panchaka. Grandfather Bhisma fasted for these five days, preparing to give up his life.
In the Hari Bhakti Vilasa, it is said that if one is capable, one should observe fasting from certain foodstuffs on the Bhishma-panchaka for the pleasure of the Lord. This is optional. “The fast should begin by remembering Bhismadeva on the Ekadasi day and should end on Purnima [the full moon].
The Padma Pur
The most adorable and transcendentally fragrant tulasi is endowed with transformative potency and has a special significance in the worship of Lord Krishna.
What kind of offerings please God? Gorgeous, expensive, elaborate…? Not necessarily! If one can afford, one may make magnificent offerings to God, but what the Supreme Lord is looking for behind any offering is love and devotion. In a nutshell, attitude behind an offering is greater than the magnitude of the offering.
Lord Krsna says in Bha
Paramahamsa Srila Gaura Kishore Das Babaji Maharaj was born into a vaishya family on the banks of the Padma River in Bagayan village in Faridpur district in what is now Bangladesh. His given name was Vamsi Das. He was born sometime in the middle of the nineteenth century. He is important to us because he was the diksha guru of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada. Vamsi Das’s parents had him married at an early age according to the custom of the time, but he always remained detache
By Giriraj Swami
Today is the disappearance day of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was a great devotee - a maha-bhagavata. He was a disciple of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and was very renounced. He had lived for many years in Vrindavan, roaming the twelve forests, chanting the holy names of Krishna, eating by begging alms, and sleeping under trees. Later, after Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura discovered Lord Chaitanya’s birthplace in Mayapur, Srila Jagannatha da
SRILA GAURA-KISORA DASA BABAJI
RENUNCIATION PERSONIFIED
Srila Gaura-Kisora dasa Babaji is the spiritual master of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. He was born in a vaisya family in a small village beside Padma River in Bangladesh. Following his father, he earned his livelihood by selling grains. He was devotionally inclined from childhood and spent many hours singing bhajans and hearing Krishna-katha. He was married very young but when his wife died in 1849, he immediately left home and went
A few months ago, a song from the sixties kept popping up in my mind.
From past experiences I felt that I might have to transform it into something Krishna conscious. Reflecting on the lyrics, I thought I thought it could be turned into a song to Prabhupāda.
I kept the first verse and parts of the second and third.
If my gratitude to him was as strong in 1977 as in these days, I would have written this after his departure.
Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=116355
There are signs that indicate we are growing. What I mean by that is we, as a society and culture, are expanding, at least in Canada and the southern-most part of the country, also in sections of the USA, India, Eastern Europe, and I’m sure there are other locations. This is glorious.
Nityananda drove me to North York to meet some businessmen from our community to make an offer for a larger building in the eastern section of Toronto-Scarborough. What we have currently for weekend functions
Dear Devotees,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
The Annual General Meeting of the ISKCON GBC Society will begin in February 2025. Following the ISKCON GBC Society’s Rules of Order, the GBC Secretariat requests proposals, duly sponsored by two GBC members, to be submitted by January 1, 2026. Note that no proposals will be entertained after this date.
Please follow the format for GBC Proposals, attached as a fillable PDF (https://www.dandavats.com/wp-content/upl
In Rome, a special event was held in the presence of Pope Leo XIV to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the landmark declaration of the Second Vatican Council that reshaped the Roman Catholic Church’s relationship with other religious traditions and underscored the importance of interreligious dialogue and mutual understanding.
The event took place in the prestigious Paul VI Hall in Vatican City, bringing together hundreds of representatives from different faiths, united by the d
By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi,
Bhakti Kids, an initiative of ISKCON Congregational Development Ministry, invites devotees worldwide to participate in the 2025 Bhisma Panchaka Challenge, a powerful five-day spiritual intensive that promises to multiply your devotional efforts one hundred times over.
Running from November 1st through 5th, this special observance coincides with the final five days of Kartik month, a period Krishna Himself describes in scripture as extraordinarily auspicious. “
Every year in the month of Damodhara, which is now, Amal, who represents the Bangla community, holds a memorable kirtan chanting session at his tiny home. In attendance there are no less than one hundred persons who relish the chants, the rituals, and the prasadam (sacred food). I must say, the Bengalis and the Bangladeshis churn out incredible food. Their veg prep called sukta is very tasty, and their version of shak (mixed greens) is out of this world. Then, there are the Bengali sweets s
Responding swiftly to Gajendra’s fervent plea, Lord Vishnu, mounted atop his Vahana Garuda, hastened to the scene. Witnessing the divine approach, Gajendra, in an act of profound devotion, raised a lotus with his trunk. Pleased by this heartfelt gesture, Lord Vishnu wielded his Sudarshana Chakra, severing the crocodile’s head and liberating Gajendra from mortal peril.
By Atma Tattva Das
Across continents and cultures, from Russia to Vietnam, Greece to India, crowds have stopped mid-stride to watch a river of color glide through their streets. Women in coordinated saris dance in rhythmic unity, cymbals shimmering as Krishna’s holy names rise through the air. This joyful vision, both elegant and devotional, is a model to many of how Harinam Sankirtan can be presented to the public.
At its center stands Nilachala Devi Dasi, sankirtan leader of Nitya Harinam, a co
