Interviews with many Western devotees glorifying Srila Prabhupada and our gratitude that Prahupada has so kindly given us this wonderful JAGANNATHA RATHYATRA FESTIVAL to celebrate.
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A grand celebration of the Jagannath Ratha Yatra was held in Chandai Kona, Sirajganj, under the guidance of His Holiness Subhaga Swami Gurumaharaj. The auspicious occasion of the Rathayatra festival brought together devotees to celebrate the divine presence of Lord Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra Maharani.
HG Haridev Prabhu, a disciple of HH Subhag Swami, wholeheartedly tried his best to bring together people from all walks of society to seek Jagannath’s mercy. This festival took place for th
One of the temples that Srila Prabhupada established is situated close to the US capital city, Washington DC. It is a place of worship where people from all backgrounds can go to learn about and practise bhakti-yoga.
I wanted to visit some of the temples where Srila Prabhupada stayed. He spent one week in Potomac in 1976 and it was important for me to see the property and make a film about what I experienced. I had a pleasant stay, meeting some of the devotees there.
Now, many years later, the
By Niranjana Swami
From a lecture at Towaco, New Jersey, on June 11, 2023:
We had a retreat in Ukraine recently. We could not call it a festival because people would wonder why we were having a festival during a war. It was called the Nitai Gauranga retreat, and 1,300 devotees attended. It was at a ski lodge in a beautiful place in the Carpathian Mountains in western Ukraine. The devotees were so happy to see each other, being so much separated by the war.
There is a lot of conflict going on in
By Atma Tattva Das
Jalangi Devi Dasi, a prominent figure in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in South Africa, is making waves as a female manager and advocate for women empowerment and youth mentorship. With a passion for education and a commitment to nurturing the next generation, Jalangi is paving the way for positive change in her community.
Jalangi’s journey in ISKCON spans over 25 years, during which she has actively participated in various roles and responsibil
By Ananda Tirtha Das
The 2023 GBC’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) was only partially completed during the February gathering
in Mayapur. The three resolutions linked below were passed at the February meetings, reviewed by the
SABHA, and are now being published. The titles of the three resolutions are: Amendment to Deputies Duties 2023, Informed Decision-making by GBC Members is a Solemn Duty, and Formation and Recognition of the North American Governing Body.
The AGM will continue online using
Our cast for the summer drama, Big Fish Little Fish, went over the script which we pulled off the shelf from the January 1st performance. We encountered some rough edges but concluded that we'll be okay.
This was followed by a zoom class on some verses on the Gita, chapter five. Krishna is saying here that we must be like a lotus – on the water, but not getting wet. It’s great to see some young folks coming on board with these discussions which are thoughtful.
Once our chat concluded, I asked C
By Thomas Haribol
Thursday, June 22–Anuttama Dasa, ISKCON’s Global Minister of Communications, participated in a White House gathering this morning of several thousand guests—mostly Indian-Americans—when US President Joseph Biden welcomed India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an official visit.
Prime Minister Modi and President Biden both offered remarks after witnessing marching bands and a 21-gun salute on the White House South Lawn. Both leaders stressed the values shared by their two cou
By Radha Mohan Das
Krishna Consciousness Society (KCSOC) is a youth project associated with ISKCON Pandava Sena, running societies to share Krishna Consciousness at universities across the UK. One such KCSOC is based at University College London (UCL), a leading multidisciplinary university ranked #8 in the world.
This year, during the annual Societies’ Awards 2023, UCL KCSOC was awarded the Bronze Society Development Award by Students’ Union. This was a result of their excellence in all of the
It is my love, like anyone else who likes to share higher consciousness in the bhakti tradition, to receive questions galore on the science of serving the Absolute. At a retreat on an inland lake, quite remote, was a group of thirty young leaders of the Bhakti Yoga Club, mostly from Alberta and Ontario. Some of them less familiar with the tradition sat down with friend Braja Bihari from D.C. With their great queries. One girl comes from a Muslim background. Another guy and girl have their exp
On the 12th June 2023 one devotee, Bhakta Max moved back into the ISKCON Kherson Temple. His mission is Biblical, he has to clean up over two tonnes of rubbish and restore the Temple to its former glory. Max is from Kherson and is in no illusion about the dangers of material existence — padam padam yad vipadam
Over a year ago the devotees had to leave their beloved Temple due to the war. Soldiers from the Russian Army occupied the Temple and used it as their base. The war has raged in Kherson s
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to Their Lordships Sri Sri Kisora-Kisori
My wife and I were living in Madison Wisconsin in the early 1970s. I had gone there to join an experimental theater group. In 1973 we decided to move to the Evanston temple. I arrived early, just a few days before the June installation of the Deities, Their Lordships Sri Sri Kisora-Kisori.
Actually my wife and I visited Chicago several times to see the devotees.
First in 1971 when Bahulasva and several brahmaca
Speaking about Ratha Yatra during a July 12, 1973 lecture in London, Srila Prabhupada said, “Organize this all over the world. They will be saved. They will understand Krsna.” For the last fifty years, devotees have taken up this instruction with great success, and this 2023 season has seen record numbers at events across the globe. New York City, in particular, saw a surprising number of participants at its peaceful procession down Fifth Avenue on June 10th. The event was even covered by a le
By Thomas Haribol
Astottara Sata Dasa, a native of Brunswick, Maine, USA, spent several years of his youth growing up at the ISKCON Gita Nagari Farm. Later, he graduated from Hampshire College and is currently a woodsman in the Maine woods. This week, he will be sharing online about his extraordinary service and experiences in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Astottara Sata is the founder and president of Working Village International, a non-profit organization founded in 2005 with the missio
Kishor Mani Is celebrating his 20th wedding anniversary with a kirtan fest at his home. He got happily involved by calling some of the more noted leaders of kirtan (musical mantra meditation), So I agreed to the initial contact. On the list of fine musicians was Bhakti Brngha Govinda Swami (BB Govinda), Akinchana, and the Bhakti Brothers, Ananda and Yogi. They came all the way over from Vrindavan, India, to grace us with their presence on this first of a six day event.
A part of the major fest
By Thomas Haribol
Recently, H.G. Deena Bandhu Das led around 50 devotees from across India (and a few who joined from Kenya) through the holy land of Kashmir for nearly two weeks, visiting the ISKCON temple in Srinagar and many ancient temples and locations mentioned in the Puranas.
This pilgrimage retreat was the fruit of an earlier visit to Kashmir. “Last year, after COVID-19, my health was diminishing, and all the tests we ran showed no problem. One doctor suggested I needed a change of atm
By Atma Tattva Das
In the heart of the ancient country of Bulgaria, a beacon of spiritual enlightenment has emerged in the form of the Gauranga Yoga Institute. Led by the dedicated and talented Vraja Krsna Das, this preaching center is making waves and attracting people from all walks of life. With its unique approach to spreading the teachings of Krishna consciousness, the institute has become a hub for individuals seeking inner peace and connection with their higher selves.
Vraja Krsna, a dev
I'm back from travels to the Atlantic provinces of which there are four – Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. It was a glorious travel, as usual, for me. We have some really good leadership there. Since a year ago when I visited, I witnessed increased participation in the various communities, not multitudes, but a slow and steady growth. And although there was a rather steady overcastness and coolness, it kept mosquitoes down, as well as fires. It is always good
From Back to Godhead
Which way does one go in moments of despair?
LORD KRSNA HAS TWO ENERGIES, material and spiritual, but they can be used interchangeably if one knows how. Just as the same electricity can be used to heat or cool a building, so Krsna’s energies can be used for different purposes according to the living entity’s desire.
That doesn’t mean that the living entity can control Krsna’s energies, only that he can use them. When a conditioned soul wishes to exploit the material nature
Kirtana is a simple and effective way to commune with God.
The word kirtana means “praise” or “glory” and is the name given to glorification of God in song, especially in call-and-response style. There are different categories of kirtana. For example, nama-kirtana refers to singing God’s sacred names, lila-kirtana celebrates the transcendental activities of God and His associates, sankirtana is group singing, and nagara-sankirtana is public chanting in the streets. There are numerous variations
