By Carsani devi dasi
The New Govardhana community has come a long way since it was established almost forty years ago. Here’s a snapshot of some of New Govardhana’s major projects today:
RADHA KRISHNA TEMPLE
The heart of New Govardhana is our temple, which is open seven days a week from 4.30am until 9pm. It’s a lovely place to visit, and many guests enjoy the opportunity to pray, meditate or read spiritual books during their visit.
SUNDAY FEAST
It is one of New Govardhana’s most popular public events. Beginning at 3.30pm until 9pm, the Sunday Feast program consists of kirtana (devotional singing), a discussion on Bhagavad-gita (one of India’s ancient yogic texts) and lots of delicious vegetarian food. The program is a great opportunity for those who are new to bhakti-yoga, or curious about meditation to learn more. Many guests also enjoy visiting the Temple Gift Shop where a wide variety of devotional items are available.
DAIRY
The protection of cows is of great importance in the Hare Krishna way of life and here at New Govardhana we tend to a sizeable herd of these gentle creatures.
SCHOOL
New Govardhana farm is also home to one of Australia’s most unique independent schools. Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula caters to children from pre-K up to Year 10, with a current enrolment of 90 students, and in 2017 Year 11 and in 2018, Year 12 will be opening. In addition to offering high quality tuition in the major learning areas, the school places a strong emphasis on spiritual values and character building.
CATERING
Srila Prabhupada sometimes described his spiritual movement as ‘the kitchen religion’, due to its emphasis on the widespread distribution of sanctified vegetarian food, prasadam. New Govardhana’s catering program with its hardworking crew, led by Krishna Gana dasa travel up and down the east coast and beyond in their iconic Govinda’s Catering vans. They successfully cater for music festivals, community fairs and other large public programs.
GOVINDAS RESTAURANT
If you have a soft spot for Hare Krishna food, make sure you visit Govindas vegetarian restaurant, which is affiliated with and managed by New Govardhana. Situated at 20 James Street in Burleigh Heads, Govindas has developed a great reputation for some of the most delicious vegetarian fare on the Gold Coast. Visit: http://govindas.net.au/
CHANTING GOD’S HOLY NAME
One of the things that Hare Krishna’s are best known for is chanting and dancing on the streets. This ancient Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition has been practised in India for thousands of years. To celebrate ISKCON’s 50th anniversary teams go out daily from New Govardhana chanting and dancing all around northern NSW and southern Qld.
KRISHNA VILLAGE ECO YOGA COMMUNITY
Over recent years there has been a growing interest in holistic lifestyle practices within the wider community – a need that Krishna Village, New Govardhana’s Eco Yoga Community is addressing through its retreat packages, workshops and other programs.
ACCOMMODATION
Overlooking some of the farm’s most picturesque countryside, eight new cabins provide comfortable accommodation consisting of a double bed, two single beds, a small kitchenette and en-suite bathroom. Two meals a day are also included in the price – breakfast and dinner.
In addition, there are nine rooms available for visitors in the current Guesthouse Retreat located on the hill facing the temple. These are of various sizes, and are suitable for singles, couples and family groups. Other features of the guesthouse include a charming communal living room with space for yoga or meditation and shady verandas with spectacular views.
If you have a special yoga event you want to host, it is available for hire. For more information about New Govardhana accommodation: http://www.krishnafarm.net/ accommodation/