Doing service together in co-operation with other devotees and friends towards a common goal is truly the key to surcharging both the atmosphere and our own souls with spiritual bliss. That was the scene on the days before Janmastami 2014. As people worked together, the air was surcharged with inspiration and creativity for the Lord.

Every student from Year 1 to Year 12 wrote a Vyasa puja offering and selected children read their heartfelt homages to Srila Prabhupada, some of these were in the form of poems and songs. There were bhajans, songs and a dance by different students as well as rememberances of Srila Prabhupada by his disciples. This was followed by an abhisek organised by the ashram boys and a large feast which the students helped prepare.

On Sunday, August 17, 2014, ISKCON Baroda organized a grand observance of the annual festival of Sri Krishna Janmastami. On this day Lord Krishna advented himself five thousand years ago at Mathura, in North India. Estimates of the huge numbers of local residents who came to have "darshan" -- to see - the Deities of Sri Sri Radhashyamsundar, Sri Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadradevi, and Sri Sri Gaur Nitai in the temple here range from one hundred thousand (one lakh) to two hundred thousand (two lakhs).

Bhaktivedanta Manor's serene and peaceful grounds were transformed into a magnificent festival, brought to life with the sound of music, dancing, stage shows, face paintings, stalls selling books, fresh organic produce, jewellery, musical instruments, and CDs. One of the major highlights of the festival held yesterday at Watford, northwest of central London, was the recreation of the beautiful forests of Vrindavan in India where Lord Krishna played when he was growing up.

Devotees along with Lord Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra arrived from Hare Krishna Centre, Medan, a day ahead of the festival at Binjai to make the necessary arrangements. The festival was arranged at the Mariaman (Mother Durga) Temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples at the heart of Binjai City. The stage had been prepared; the chariot was going through final adjustments; the devotees, around fifteen to twenty, were eagerly making arrangements for prasadam, bhoga offerings and decorations. So many fruits were placed on the chariot for deco...

Indore, the economic capitol and largest city in Madhya Pradesh, is going to become the home of a major ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Govinda temple. On the auspicious day of Baladev Purnima, the full moon day in the Hindu month of Shraavan, observed by Gaudiya Vaishnavas as the appearance day of Lord Balaram, the elder brother of Lord Krishna, a "bhumi puja" - "worship of the earth" ceremony was performed to initiate the construction activity there.

Then, a historical moment occurred - after 10 years, our Czech Padayatra was visited by His Holiness Lokanath Swami, the minister for Padayatra! His holy presence was so transcendental and sweet, that we were immediately transferred directly to the spiritual world! He also participated in two evening programs for public, where he addressed people with a talk and he lead lively kirtan. Altogether, we held 121st Czech Padayatra completed! Again it was such a blissful and unforgettable event!