By Srutidharma Das
Dear devotees and friends of Lord Krishna,
This year we are celebrating 40 years of service and devotion at Bhaktivedanta Manor. In 1973, with the kind help of George Harrison, Srila Prabhupada and a handful of dedicated disciples transformed this historic Mock Tudor mansion into a beautiful temple. They were humble beginnings. Four decades later, the Manor is thriving and has become a sacred place of pilgrimage for thousands of people every year.
The contribution of Bhaktivedanta Manor grows with every calendar year: from free food distribution to theological courses, from cruelty-free milk to state funded schools, from elaborate Deity worship to cultural arts and drama. The Manor school and preschool have excelled over 35 years of dedication. The list is endless.
The Annual review beloe will give you a glimpse into the wonderful service that is rendered here on a daily basis. As we look to expand the activities of the Manor we have some good news to share with you. In December 2012, Hertsmere Council in their own planning brief approved the construction of a multi- purpose cultural hall, the Haveli, at Bhaktivedanta Manor. This wonderful development will help us serve the many visitors we receive on a weekly basis.
The Manor has come a long way. We give thanks to all of you who have been our friends and supporters, and those of you who have prayed and sacrificed for the success of Srila Prabhupada’s home and mission here in the UK. I hope and pray that we can enter the next 40 years together, as a united community in the spirit of cooperation and harmony.
Srila Prabhupada famously remarked: “The Manor is wonderful and when the sun shines there is no place better.” Let us pray that the sun will always shine here at Bhaktivedanta Manor, so that even when the weather is overcast, damp or snowy, the shining beacon of pure devotion will brilliantly illuminate the Home of Lord Krishna.
I remain yours in the service of Lord Krishna and Srila Prabhupada.
Srutidharma Das