Darshan of Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara on the Jaladutta celebration day at ISKCON London
Hare Krishna!
Welcome to the September edition of the ISKCON UK newsletter.
Exciting events marking the start of the celebrations for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary took place throughout the month of August, including the UK National Convention, ISKCON London’s landmark Jaladutta event and ISKCON Birmingham’s 8hr kirtan event.
Temples across the country are now gearing up for the biggest celebration in the calendar, Sri Krishna Janmashtami, which promises to be a fantastic day of celebration across the UK. The 50th events also continue at ISKCON London, marking Prabhupada’s arrival in the USA.
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
UK Temples come together for first ISKCON National Convention
(L-R) HG Kripamoya Das, HH Bhakti Prabhava Swami, HG Anuttama Das, HH Bhakti Charu Swami and HG Praghosa Das
Devotees from across the UK came together on 22 August in Leicester for the first ever ISKCON UK National Convention, organised as part of the celebrations for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary.
Taking place in ISKCON Leicester’s magnificent Grade II listed building in the city centre, hundreds of devotees took part in a day of collaboration and learning, and celebrated the successes and new developments taking place in the UK today. This was the first time in the history of ISKCON UK that a maha sanga was organised on this scale.
Inspiring presentations were delivered by many senior devotees, including HH Bhakti Charu Swami, who spoke about unity in diversity in ISKCON. In addition, devotees heard from GBC HG Praghosa Das, who spoke about HDG Srila Prabhupada and celebrating the successes of ISKCON UK, and from GBC Minister for Communications HG Anuttama Das, who delivered a talk on ISKCON being 50 years young and roaring on.
There were also a number of exciting workshops delivered by devotees from across the UK; HG Jahnavi Harrison discussed kirtan yoga, HG Visnu Murti Das ran a deity worship workshop, HG Visvambhara Das spoke about the art and science of book distribution and HG Sutapa Das discussed sankirtan and outreach.
It was an inspiring day that really fostered a sense of unity and positive communication, and celebrated the wonderful achievements made by ISKCON temples from across the UK.
ISKCON London launch 50th anniversary celebrations
On Thursday 13th August, ISKCON London officially launched their celebrations to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON by holding a festival to mark 50 years since Srila Prabhupada departed from India to the US aboard the Jaladuta.
The festival started with an Adivasa Ceremony led by Head Pujari, HG Murli Manohara dasa, and included themed classes from senior Srila Prabhupada disciples, HH Janananda Gosvami and HG Adi Karta dasa. Attendees also took part in an ecstatic maha-harinama, and in the evening the Temple Room was filled with devotees singing Yadi Prabhupada Na Hoite – a bhajan composed by HH Jayapataka Swami.
Attendees were treated to a special Vyasasana display showing Srila Prabhupada boarding the Jaladuta. The Temple altar also provided a nice meditation, displaying Srila Prabhupada’s Prayers to Lord Krishna that he wrote on the Jaladuta.
Devaki devi dasi, ISKCON London’s Coordinator for the 50th Anniversary Celebrations, said “There was a wonderful team of devotees involved in organising the festival in various capacities. The event was well-attended and showed excitement in the community about ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary Year.”
ISKCON Birmimgham host special 8hr kirtan event
Celebrations for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary kicked off to a musical start in Birmingham, where devotees held a special eight-hour kirtan event at the Shri Pashupatinath Mandir of the UK.
Taking place just days after the formal inauguration of ISKCON’s 50th anniversary celebrations in Kolkata, the eight hour kirtan event brought together top kirtaneers from all over country, which really embodied the spirit of a whole UK yatra. HH Prabodhananda Saraswati Goswami Maharaj from Sri Vrindavan Dham also participated in the programme as a special guest.
Organised by Birmingham Pandava Sena, hundreds of devotees from all over the UK attended the event.
New marble altar installed at ISKCON Coventry
ISKCON Coventry unveiled a brand new beautiful marble altar for Their Lordships Sri Sri Sacinandana Nitaicand, and Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra.
The new altar forms part of the Temple’s celebrations for ISKCON’S 50TH anniversary.
Vision 2020 event at Bhaktivedanta Manor
On the 20th August, Queens School auditorium was transformed with colourful displays, transcendental music, and the arrival of devotees from the Bhaktivedanta Manor community. Everyone was gathered to hear and participate in discussions about the Manor’s future aspirations.
Following prayers of welcome by Sruti Dharma Das, the evening got off to a great start with a lively series of three minute elevator pitches by team leaders responsible for implementing the vision.
After the presentations came the breakout sessions in which all those attending could sit and take time to share their thoughts and ideas with each team leader. The atmosphere was open and comfortable, some said the Manor should do this more often; that is, no matter what the reason, it’s just nice to be spending quality time together focused on Srila Prabhupada.
Returning to a plenary session the team leaders took a minute to share what they had learned from the breakout groups. To end the evening everyone gathered round Rupa Vilasa Prabhu, to hear the wonderful pastimes of Srila Prabhupada. Everyone was enthralled by his stories of the early days with Srila Prabhupada.
News and media update
BBC Radio 2 discussion about Janmashtami
Visnu Murti Das will take part in a radio interview with Fern Britton about Janmashtami on Sunday 30th August on BBC Radio 2.
He will discuss the Janmashtami festival to be held at the Manor next weekend, the preparations for the event, who are the Hare Krishnas and what do they believe and how are those different from what’s known as more “traditional” Hindu beliefs, as well as the Beatles connection.
You can listen live on Sunday from 7.40am on BBC Radio 2
On this auspicious day devotees celebrate the appearance in this world of Lord Krishna’s pure devotee – his Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. This day is known as Vyasa-Puja, meaning the appearance day of the spiritual master. On Vyasa Puja, the disciples and followers of Srila Prabhupada recite heartfelt readings of their homage’s to him, and share fond memories of his association.
ISKCON50 Festival of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in Boston
ISKCON London, Thursday 17th September
On 17th September 1965, Srila Prabhupada reached Boston’s Commonwealth Pier in hopes of fulfilling the order of his spiritual master. The ship was to stop briefly in Boston before proceeding to New York City. Fifty years on, on 17th September 2015, ISKCON-London will be commemorating this milestone at with a range of festivities. Read more here
ISKCON50 Festival of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival n New York
ISKCON London, Saturday 19th August
On 19th September 1965, the Jaladuta sailed into New York Harbor and docked at a Brooklyn pier, at Seventeenth Street. Fifty years on, on 19th September 2015, ISKCON London will be commemorating this milestone with a range of festivities. Read more here
Sri Radhastami
Sunday 20th September / Monday 21st September
Radhastami is the divine appearance day of Srimati Radharani, the eternal consort of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Srimati Radharani is the purest devotee, and dearest servant of Lord Krishna. Radhastami is a very special day for all the Gaudiya Vaishnavas, as by obtaining the mercy of Srimati Radharani one can easily achieve Krishna-prema.
Festivals at Bhaktivedanta Manor, ISKCON Leicester, ISKCON London.
ISKCON Leicester Kirtan Fest
Sat 26th – Sun 27th September
ISKCON Leicester are hosting their annual Kirtan Fest—Music, Mantra, and Meditation in the City of Leicester. The event will feature 24 hours of mantra, music, and meditation, featuring renowned kirtaneers from across the UK.
For more details, please click here
Upcoming dates for your diary
Saturday 5th September – Sri Krishna Janmashtami
Sunday 6th September – Appearance day of Srila Prabhupada
Tuesday 8th September – Annada Ekadasi (not suitable for fasting)
Wednesday 9th September – Paksa Vardhini Mahadvadasi (complete fast 06:26 – 10:46)
Saturday 21st September – Appearance day of Srimati Radharani
Saturday 24th September – Parsva Ekadasi(complete fast 06:50 – 10:51)
