By Antardwipa das

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of their deities, the dynamic London devotees are hosting special guests Yamuna, Shyamasundar, Gurudas and Malati prabhus for a week beginning on Sunday 15th November, until Sunday the 22nd November. Throughout the week many other devotees whose lives have revolved around Sri Sri Radha-Londonishvara like Ranchor prabhu and Mahavisnu Swami will also participate. Here is the schedule in brief, the full one is on the websites listed at the bottom of the article.

On the 14th, an unscheduled tour of London in an open-topped bus will take place with kirtan going around Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge etc, from 3:00 pm. Live on the internet of course, like all of the week’s activities.

On 15th Nov (Sun) the Adivas ceremony takes place and from the 16th to the 20th, our VIP guests and members of the UK yatra will give presentations on “Early days in UK”, “Establishing the temple”, “Meeting with Sriman George Harrison”, “Rathayatra”, “Prabhupada in London”, “Deity history” and “40 years in London”.

On 21st (Sat) we have Radha Krishna temple 40th anniversary Gala Dinner, This showcase event will be a cultural evening at the historic Troxy Theatre in London on 21st November 2009 with the Gauri-vani kirtan band and many visiting sannyasis like Radhanath Maharaj and Maha-Visnu Swami.

The 22nd Nov (Sun) as per the lunar calendar is the actual appearance day of Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara and we have full day of festivities which include Pushya abhisek, ecstatic Harinam & Kirtans with As Kindred Spirits. Everything will be broadcast live on the internet.

Other highlights include Harinama to historical places visited by Srila Prabhupada, offerings to Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara from Their long term servants, and lots of talks and interviews.

It has been forty years since ISKCON made its first mark on the streets of London. The unmistakable sounds of cymbals, saffron and shaven heads charmed and startled Oxford Street in London’s West End, reaching the Evening Standard with the headline “Hare Krishna Startles London”. Nowadays ISKCON is woven to the fabric of London life yet still parades of devotees sharing the Holy Names with shoppers, revelers, business people and international tourists is very common.

Shyamsundar Das, who was one of the first Krishna devotees in London and a friend of George Harrison, said: “To many, the Hare Krishnas represented the psychedelic spirit of the sixties. Although their philosophy is one of actual abstinence, of non-violence and pure vegetarianism.” 1969 was the year that the late George Harrison of the Beatles produced the chart-topping “Hare Krishna Mantra” single, and the Hare Krishnas made their first appearance on British television, singing live on Top of the Pops.

Govindas was one of the first vegetarian restaurants in central London which is still going strong. The first ever Radha Krishna deities in ISKCON were in London and Srila Prabhupada installed them in Bury Place, the first ISKCON temple in the UK near the British Museum. In 1979 the Temple moved to Soho Street, just off Oxford Street which is Europe’s busiest shopping street.

Many London dignataries will attend the Saturday night Troxy event. Mark Field MP remarks, “As the Member of Parliament for the Cities of London and Westminster I am looking forward to take part in the celebrations marking the 40th Anniversary of ISKCON in London. The chanting processions of the orange-garbed devotees in Oxford Street have become a welcome and indeed exotic part of the city’s multi-cultural landscape. The help that members of the Hare Krishna movement have given to the homeless has been much appreciated and I hope that they will continue their good work for many years to come.”

So don’t miss this life-time opportunity to see their Lordships alongside the associates They choose to assist Srila Prabhupada with Their appearance 40 years ago.

You can view this all online on the player above or on http://www.iskcon-london.org/home/live-camera.html or www.mayapur.tv

Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara Ki? Jay !!!

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