Shrila Prabhupad started his journey on August 13, 1965 to preach the message of Lord Krishna to the English-speaking world
The journey that gave the world International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISCKON) will be completing 50 years on Thursday. Celebrations will take place in all the major ISKCON temples in the city and 400 temples across the world.
‘Journey to West’, as it was called by the founder Acharya Bhaktivedanta Swami Shrila Prabhupad, started on August 13, 1965 to preach the message of Lord Krishna (Krishna Consciousness) to the English-speaking world.
“Though the journey was from West Bengal, celebrations will be held in all the major temples. Four temples in Mumbai will be telling people about Shrila Prabhupada’s journey, his life and how the ISKCON became a world movement,” said Lucky Kulkarni, public relations person of the ISKCON temples.
She added, “ISKCON will unveil an intricately carved sculpture of Shrila Prabhupada measuring 2.05 metres made of brass with a granite pedestal at Kidderpor Dock, Kolkata from where he began his Journey to West 50 years ago. Since Bengal was the place from where he left, the main programme will be happening there.”
Temples will also have numerous programmes on Lord Krishna and his followers. Giving a brief on how the movement started, Kulkarni added, “In 1965, at the age of 69, Prabhupada left Vrindavan, India, to spread Krishna’s message in the West on the order of his spiritual master. He arrived in Boston by freight ship, carrying $7 in change and a trunk of books about Krishna. For the first year he struggled alone, speaking at yoga studios, YMCAs, and bohemian artists’ lofts, while living in the homes of people. Among his first disciples were hippies. He met people who sympathised with his cause and would give him temporary residence.”
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-journey-that-gave-isckon-to-the-world-completes-50-years-2113858