Lord Jagannath leaving ISKCON Leicester ready to ascend the Rath chariot at the Pahandi ceremony
Hare Krishna!
Welcome to the August edition of the ISKCON UK newsletter.
Temples across the UK are gearing up for the official 50th anniversary of ISKCON, with events to mark Srila Prabhupada’s departure from India to the West to spread Krishna Consciousness – ISKCON Leicester will host the very first UK national convention to celebrate the 50th anniversary; ISKCON London will be holding three one-day festivals to commemorate Srila Prahupada’s departure from India, his arrival in Boston and New York; ISKCON Birmingham will hold a special 8hr kirtan programme; Bhaktivedanta Manor will host a series of special classes every Sunday with a special guest speaker sharing Srila Prabhupada Memories, and ISKCON Coventry will release a special CD to commemorate this milestone celebration.
Preparations are also underway for Sri Krishna Janmashtami, the biggest festival in the annual ISKCON calendar. Lord Krishna’s birthday will be celebrated on 5 September.
Please continue to send your news, pictures and press releases to mina@krishnatemple.com so we can showcase the wonderful work that is taking place across ISKCON centres UK wide.
Your servant
Mina Sharma
ISKCON UK National Head of Media and Communications
News and highlights
Celebrating Lord Jagannath’s Rathyatra in the Midlands
Their Lordships at Birmingham Rathyatra
Rain did not stop the devotees from celebrating Rathyatra in Birmingham!
Thousands of devotees and members of the public turned out for Leicester Rathyatra
Coventry celebrates its very first mini Rathyatra in the city
Lord Jagannath’s Rathyatra festival was celebrated in spectacular style throughout the Midlands, in Coventry, Birmingham and Leicester.
On Saturday 18 July, ISKCON Coventry held its first mini Rathyatra festival in the city centre, which featured the new Temple deities of Sri Jagannath, Sri Baladev and Sri Subhadra taken out on a mini Rath cart through the city. It was a huge success, with many devotees and attendees present and the sounds of kirtan throughout.
Thousands of devotees attended the grand processions of Lord Jagannath’s chariot through the city centres of Birmingham and Leicester. On Sunday 26 July, the chariot departed Victoria Square in Birmingham and made its way to the city centre and back again. The procession was followed by a festival in Victoria Square with traditional dance, music and drama, meditation area, market stalls and a free vegetarian feast. This was the 15th Birmingham Rathyatra to take place.
In Leicester, Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladev and Lady Subhadra ascended their chariot on Sunday 2 August outside ISKCON Leicester on Granby Street to the sounds of gongs in a vibrant and tumultous Pahandi Vijaya ceremony, which is only ever seen in Jagannath Puri. This was the second year the Pahandi ceremony twas performed in Leicester, although Rathyatra has been celebrated in the city for 17 years. The procession was followed by a festival in Cossington Park, which featured stalls, performances, vegetarian prasad and interactive displays.
ISKCON Manchester hosts first 6hr kirtan event
Kirtan has been the main focus of attention this summer for ISKCON Manchester. On 4th July, the community was excited to welcome HG Madhava Prabhu and his wife HG Radhika Mataji, who visited Manchester for the first time to take part in the 6hr kirtan event. Everyone was encouraged to take part, and throughout the whole afternoon attendees absorbed themselves in transcendental sound. By the end of the evening everyone was on their feet, dancing and chanting.
This joyful event helped to bridge communities in Manchester together, not just the congregation, but the wider community too. Following the success of the event, Manchester devotees have been invited participate in extra Kirtans in August, details of which are included below.
New Jagannath deities installed at ISKCON Coventry
New deities of Sri Jagannath, Sri Baladev and Sri Subhadra have been installed at ISKCON Coventry. The deities took part in the first ever mini Rathyatra celebration in Coventry on 18 July, which was a huge success. In addition, the Temple, altar and kitchen were repainted, walls washed down and cleaned. New marble will also be bought for a new altar for the deities.
Bhaktivedanta Manor hosts successful open day
On Saturday 1st August, the grounds of Bhaktivedanta Manor were buzzing with the sounds of summer fun, as the Temple hosted it’s annual family open day.
Over 700 people attended and had the opportunity to tour the Manor grounds on carts pulled by bulls, to try on sarees, as well as learn about mediation and yoga. For the kids there was a bouncy castle, face painting and farm visits, as well as a free lunch.
Srutidharma Das, Temple President, said: “It was an amazing day and first and foremost the weather held out. The open day is a great initiative – it opens the doors to the local community so that they can come and explore what we do here. Many families spent the whole day here and had a lot of fun.”
News and media update
Bhaktivedanta Manor featured on BBC Two yoga documentary
As part of the BBC’s work to commemorate the first International Yoga Day – an initiative led by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi – a special programme was broadcast on BBC Two exploring the popularity of yoga and its spiritual roots, which featured the morning programme at Bhaktivedanta Manor and an interview with Sri Radha Raman Prabhu and family.
The programme, called Bend it Like Britain, was hosted by the BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty, who attended the morning programme at the Manor. She had the opportunity to see morning japa, deity greeting, guru puja, Bhagvatam class and to try prasad.
Bhaktivedanta Manor was approached to work closely with the BBC on the documentary, and provided a detailed briefing to the producers about the relationship between bhakti yoga and the exercise form.
ISKCON Leicester Rathyatra on BBC East Midlands Today
ISKCON Leicester’s Rathyatra was featured on BBC East Midlands Today, featuring an interview with Nimai Devi Dasi. The piece highlighted how this is the 17th Rathyatra in the city, and the festival brings the deities out of the Temple on their chariot.
There was further coverage in the Leicester Mercury, which featured a photo gallery of the celebration. Priyadarshan Das from ISKCON Leicester took part in a radio interview with the BBC Religion and Ethics show about Rathyatra – you can here the full interview on BBC iPlayer (listen from 2hrs 41 mins).
Bhaktivedanta Manor’s open day in the Watford Observer
The Watford Observer ran a piece on Bhaktivedanta Manor’s family open day, with a photo gallery of the event. The piece described the various activities on offer, and featured a quote from HG Srutidharma Das.
Upcoming events – August 2015
Srila Prabhupada Memories classes
Every Sunday, 2nd – 30th August
In honour of the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s departure to the west, Bhaktivedanta Manor will be running a series of special classes every Sunday in August from 5pm – 6pm, delivered by different speakers:
9th August: Kishore das
16th August: Shambunath das
23rd August: Mother Kulangana
30th August: Smarahari das
Manchester Kirtan – Oldham and Stockport
Sat 8th and Sat 29th August
Following the success of ISKCON Manchester’s 6hr kirtan event with HG Madahva Prabhu (pictured) two more kirtan events will take place in August.
Saturday 8th August: 6hr kirtan at the Radha KrishnaTemple in Oldham
Saturday 29th August: 12hr kirtan at the Jain Community Centre in Stockport.
ISKCON50 Festival of Srila Prabhupada’s Departure for the USA
Thursday 13th August
On 13th August 1965, Srila Prabhupada left Calcutta aboard the steamship, the Jaladuta, for the USA. Fifty years on, ISKCON London will be commemorating this milestone with a range of festivities – click the link for the full festival programme.
Birmingham 8hr Kirtan
Sunday 16th August
Celebrate 50 years of ISKCON with a special 8hr kirtan event hosted by ISKCON Birmingham and Birmingham P Sena!
ISKCON50 UK National Convention Saturday 22nd August
In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON, ISKCON Leicester are holding the first ever UK National Convention. The event is aimed at promoting unity, cooperation, trust and positive communication.
Jhulan Yatra is a festival to celebrate Radha Krsna’s pastime of swinging on a golden swing everyday until Balarama Jayanti. Lord Krsna and Radha Rani, along with the gopis and gopas swing in the monsoon season in Vrindavan with music and dance. Festival at Bhaktivedanta Manor and ISKCON London.
Balaram Jayanti
Saturday 29th August
Celebrating the appearance day of Lord Balaram, Krishna’s elder brother.
Festivals take place in Temples all over the UK – ISKCON Leicester will be hosting a special morning celebration at Krishna Avanti Primary School with HG Malati Devi Dasi. For more details, visit ISKCON Leicester
Srila Prabhupada’s departure to USA with HG Malati Devi Dasi
Sunday 30th August
ISKCON Leicester will be hosting a special event to commemorate Srila Prabhupada’s departure to USA with HG Malati Devi Dasi.
Upcoming dates for your diary
Monday 10th August – Kamika Ekadasi (complete fast 05:38 – 10:36)
Wednesday 26th August – Pavitropana Ekadasi (complete fast 06:04 – 10:42)
Saturday 29th August – Appearance day of Lord Balarama
