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It’s hard to imagine a more challenging year for Saranagati Village than 2024 which brought the devastating July wildfire that destroyed homes, outbuildings, machinery, and most of the forest surrounding the village. Without traditional insurance (because they are an off-grid community), the residents have depended chiefly on the largesse of devotees worldwide and the kindness and generosity of their local community.

Traditionally, they cook thousands of prasadam cookies to share with locals du

ISKCON Kurukshetra celebrated a significant milestone as 100 devotees successfully completed the Bhakti Shastri course and are now set to embark on the transformative journey of the Bhakti Vaibhav course. Additionally, 80 new students enrolled in the latest Bhakti Shastri batch, reflecting the growing enthusiasm for studying Srila Prabhupada’s teachings in depth.

The Course Coordinator, Mohan Gaurchandra Das, expressed his delight, stating, “It is heartwarming to see such an overwhelming interes

I first see him just after crossing the Bowery at Houston Street. As he passes before the iron-mesh fence of a playground, I distinctly glimpse the aura of saintliness. I watch him through the rushing traffic and stumbling derelicts.

He strolls almost jauntily down the sidewalk. He is an old man whom age has never touched. Aloof from the people and bustle about him, he walks proudly, independently, his hand in a cloth beadbag. He wears the saffron robes of a sannyasi, and on his feet are quaint

Today, when we are noticing an increasing number of terrorist attacks across the world, when lives are being taken mercilessly in the name of religion, when it is no more easy to trust and provide shelter to another, when intolerance and hate is brewing in the society like never before, it is time to introspect into the very values and principles that make us humane and civilized, distinct from the animals.

The oldest texts of the world, the Vedic literature, give us the much required insight i

Looking at the ruins of what we’ve been calling until recently Western civilization, I can say that the mankind is illogical and irrational. Led by misguided and selfish leaders, people themselves planned and led their existence to its end, such as we knew it. How come we got here? Couldn’t the ruination of our world be prevented? Couldn’t any of the world leaders remember the bitter lessons of the millenary bloody history of mankind? And why the progress of material science and modern technolo

On a recent pilgrimage to India, I was often asked to speak about Yamuna devi. Those who associated with her even briefly appreciated her warmth, compassion and devotion to Srila Prabhupada. Yamuna had an uncanny ability to make whoever she met feel as though they were valued and understood. She deeply felt it both a duty and honor to propagate what she had assimilated from Srila Prabhupada, and tried to emulate his standards of excellence in culinary arts, cleanliness, deity worship and in her

By several authors

Incorporating more reading of Srila Prabhupada’s books into your daily routine can be achieved through several practical strategies. Here are some effective methods to enhance your reading practice:

## Establish a Routine
– **Set a Fixed Time:** Dedicate specific time slots each day for reading. Aim for at least one or two hours daily, as Srila Prabhupada emphasized the importance of regular study.
– **Daily Page Goal:** Consider setting a target for the number of pages to rea

By Dandavats Staff Writer

In 2024, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) celebrated several significant achievements and developments:

**Lifetime Achievement Awards for Stephen Knapp**: Stephen Knapp, known as Sri Nandanandana Dasa, a dedicated disciple of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, received two prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards for his global contributions to spreading Krishna consciousness and Vedic culture.

**Launch of the 2024 ‘Live to Give’ Campaign**:

By Aseem Krishna Das

An event to glorify Srila Prabhupada, “Srila Prabhupada Smaran Utsav,” was organized in ISKCON Mayapur from December 21-23, 2024, on the occasion of the most sacred 85th Vyasa Puja ceremony of Subhag Swami. “Smaran Utsav” means a festival to remember, and thus, many esteemed disciples of Srila Prabhupada graciously attended the event. They shared treasures stored within their hearts gathered from their association with Prabhupada.

Subhag Swami inaugurated the grand festival

Devotees in Toronto, Canada, have been actively engaging in building relationships with government officials and faith-based organizations throughout 2024. Here are some of the events from the past year, shared by Vallabh Hari Das, who serves as Interfaith Coordinator for the ISKCON Toronto Temple, in addition being the Chair of Reimagining Rath Yatra, and Emcee for major ISKCON events across Canada.

Diwali and Bandi Chhor Celebration at Parliament Hill, Ottawa

Devotees were welcomed to a Diwali

In this YouTube Short, “4 ways to make the new year’s positivity LAST,” Chaitanya Charan Das uses “last” as a memorable acronym to offer practical advice for maintaining a positive mindset throughout the year. He emphasizes the importance of setting realistic goals, cultivating gratitude, surrounding oneself with positive influences, and engaging in regular self-reflection. These strategies aim to help individuals sustain the initial optimism that often accompanies the start of a new year. Click

December 30, 2024

The film version of a book by the same name, “Monkey on a Stick” was released for streaming on December 11, on AMC+ and Amazon Prime. The film was previously released on a limited basis in theaters in Canada and will likely be available in other countries in the future.

The film focuses on the abuse of power and crimes committed in the 1980s by four former ISKCON leaders who were removed from their positions forty years ago. The book and film are part of the “true crime” genre

Love is our innermost longing. Gita wisdom declares that our longing for love is best fulfilled when we learn to love Krishna. Let’s understand this central Gita teaching in five parts:

1. Loving Krishna enables our love to break free from all limitations,
2. Krishna is eminently lovable,
3. Krishna loves all of us impartially,
4. Krishna’s love for us is unconditional and
5. Krishna engages his omnipotence to help us when we choose to love him.

1. Loving Krishna enables our love to break free from all limi