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In 1986 I stopped in Singapore with a devotee for a few days before attending the 500th anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s advent in Sridham Mayapur.

We visited Govinda’s Boutique, a small shop that sold many items, including Srila Prabhupada’s books 📚 Walking around after visiting the boutique, we heard a big boom 💥 A multistory building had collapsed right around the corner.

Hundreds of people were in the building when it came down. The Singapore army was brought in. Piece by piece they

“The Governing Body Commission members will continue to pray for Trivikrama Swami and we ask ISKCON members to do the same. We are grateful for his many years of service and friendship. We hope that he will take to heart the severity of his mistakes, the need for guidance and purification, and the need to continue to humbly serve Srila Prabhupada within the ISKCON society.”

Read more: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=115964

 

In the early morning hours of June 27 and 28th, approximately 20 to 30 bullets were fired at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah. Bullet holes were found in the windows, temple hall walls, and intricately hand-carved arches. Twenty shell casings were recovered near the site. Earlier, on June 18th, smoke was seen rising from the radio station on temple grounds—later determined to be from a separate gunfire incident. Surveillance footage has ca

By Atma Tattva Das

On June 15th, the streets of Gaborone vibrated with rhythm, color, and spiritual energy as ISKCON Botswana held its 9th Annual Rathayatra, also known as the Festival of Chariots. What began nine years ago with a handful of determined devotees has grown into one of Botswana’s most anticipated spiritual gatherings, this year attracting over a thousand guests from across the country and neighboring South Africa.

Behind the scenes, weeks of preparation were unfolding. “This year’

By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi

A recent theatrical production titled The Promise, performed at ISKCON Chowpatty, has brought renewed focus to the Barsana Medical Camp and Hospital Project—an initiative dedicated to providing free medical services in Vrindavan. Presented as part of the temple’s annual festival, the drama highlighted the spirit of selfless service that defines the project, portraying the sincere dedication of both the volunteers and the local Vrajavasis.

Speaking about the mot

By Radhapriya

Over the past several months, ISKCON Toronto has actively participated in three meaningful interfaith engagements, strengthening connections with other faith communities through dialogue, collaboration, and compassionate service.

On April 26, 2025, ISKCON Toronto welcomed a delegation of Catholic leaders and scholars to the temple as part of a continuing Catholic-Hindu dialogue initiative. This gathering included guests such as Father Daniel, Father Joseph, Father Prakash, Brian, A

By Atma Tattva Das

This June, 22 and 29th, 2025, ISKCON Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar Mandir in Bambous, Mauritius, hosted a youth workshop that blended practical life skills with spiritual grounding. Designed in response to concerns from local parents, the two-day initiative was co-facilitated by Acyuta Pranapriya Devi Dasi, a disciple of Bhakti Carudesna Swami and long-time community leader.

“Parents were worried,” she explained. “They came to us saying their children were being influenced by unf

Leicester’s city center fell silent for one minute during the Rathayatra – Festival of Chariots on Sunday, 22nd June 2025, as a mark of respect for the lives lost in the plane crash, which has particularly affected Leicester, having lost 10 members of its community.

City and religious leaders, including Cllr Ravi Mahesh, the cousin of the sole survivor of the crash, attended the festival. The names of the deceased were read out by Temple President Pradyumna Das. “Though a joyous occasion, this y

atas tvam rsi-mukhyebhyo
yatha-silam yatha-ruci
atmajah paridehy adya
vistrnihi yaso bhuvi

TRANSLATION:

Therefore, today please give away your daughters to the foremost of the sages, with due regard for the girls’ temperaments and likings, and thereby spread your fame all over the universe.

PURPORT:

The nine principal rsis, or sages, are Marici, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrgu, Vasistha and Atharva. All these rsis are most important, and Brahma desired that the nine daughters alr

From Back to Godhead

For thirteen years at the Gorilla Foundation in Woodside, California, a developmental psychologist has been teaching sign language to Koko, a female gorilla. Although Koko shows remarkably human emotions and intelligence, her psychologist says she’s an average gorilla at best.

The Comfortable Hole

Koko’s psychologist first tried teaching her the same hand signs used by the deaf, but in time Koko began inventing her own sign language. For example, when she was shown a weddin

By Gandini Devi Dasi 

The Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies (BIHS) invites you to the Summer Discovery Series, a free online event hosted via Zoom, unfolding over three weekends—July 12–13, July 19–20, and July 26–27. This global gathering brings together 18 distinguished speakers to share insights on some of the most pressing and profound questions of our time. Designed to explore the deeper dimensions of science, consciousness, and human values, the series features a diverse group of

By Jaya Vamandeva Das

The ISKCON India Youth Council (North Wing) officially launched UDGAAR 2025, a major youth empowerment initiative aimed at addressing some of the most pressing challenges faced by India’s young generation. The event in ISKCON Delhi was graced by senior ISKCON leaders, also serving as Advisory Committee Members for UDGAAR: Devakinandan Das (Zonal Secretary, ISKCON), Vrajendra Nandan Das (Communication Director, ISKCON India), Mohan Rupa Das (President, ISKCON Delhi), and Su

On July 26 and 27th, recent efforts of the BBT Youth For Book Distribution, an Initiative of the BBT MCI Team, will come to fruition in Global Youth Book Distribution Day. This project is being spearheaded by youth, for youth, in order to fulfill the deep desire of Srila Prabhupada that everyone regularly participate in book distribution. On those days, youth (loosely people ages 12-25, but anyone who identifies as “youth” is welcome) will go out with community support to distribute books and ge

I was invited to give a talk on the highest yoga principles at the new Bhakti Yoga Studio near downtown Seattle. It is a nicely set up facility and especially meant for young people who are searching for the meaning of life.

When I arrived there was already a blissful kirtan happening that lasted more than an hour. At the end everyone was so ecstatic that they spontaneously got up and danced with arms in the air.

The young devotees organizing the program told me that they took the lead from simi

SANKIRTAN YAGNA KI JAYA !!!

Part one: THE OPULENT ANSWER

Many devotees ask how we are to understand the Ulta, or Bahudha return Ratha-yatra in Jagannath Puri? If (as Gaudiya Vaishnavas state) we consider the Gundica-yatra, or Ratha-yatra to respresent the ecstatic emotions of the residents of Vrindavan taking Krishna home from Kuruksetra. How do we then understand the return Ratha-yatra?

Is it a festival celebrating taking Krishna away from Vrindavan?

There are two sides, two answers, that can be offered to this question.

By Sri Nandanandana dasa (Stephen Knapp)

These days fewer people are interested in taking up anything that they cannot immediately apply to their lives. The common question is: “What is this going to do for me?” Or “What am I going to get out of this?” So if we cannot relate the purpose of Vedic culture or its spirituality to people today, especially to the youth, then it is not likely they will take an interest. Yet, everyone is interested in gaining more out of life, or reaching their higher

For the past 80 years, Back to Godhead magazine has served as a powerful medium for spreading Krishna consciousness around the world. First launched by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the magazine has become a cornerstone of devotional literature, offering timeless wisdom, inspiring stories, and updates on spiritual initiatives across our Society.

However, in recent years, annual subscriptions have declined. In order to continue publishing, Back to Godhead urgently needs 5,

By Atma Tattva Das

Mr. Champak Soni, an early and courageous supporter of the Hare Krishna movement in South Africa, passed away on June 25, 2025. He played a vital role in the establishment of Srila Prabhupada’s mission in the country, standing alongside ISKCON’s first pioneering preachers during a time of political division and legal risk.

In 1972, when Ksudhi Das, a disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, arrived in South Africa, Champak Soni offered him shelter at h

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun a five-nation tour, during which he will attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil. Modi will visit Argentina, Ghana, Namibia, Brazil, and Trinidad and Tobago. Today, as he arrived in Ghana, he was greeted by Hare Krishna devotees singing the Maha Mantra. Recently, he also visited Croatia in June, a first for the European country.

Read more: https://iskconnews.org/pm-modi-greeted-by-iskcon-devotees-in-croatia-and-ghana/