Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Staying Awake.
A friend returning from India and dealing with jetlag added a small line in an email to me – my goal today: to stay awake.

Kartik Navadvip Mandal Parikrama 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Vedic civilization is very strict. Because the whole aim was how to go back to home, back to Godhead, not sense gratification, eat, drink, be merry, enjoy. That is not the aim of human life. So everything was planned with that aim. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.3 – London, August 4, 1973
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ISKCON Moscow Lights Up Devotees’ Hearts at Diwali (Album with photos)
One thousand Russian devotees, friends of Krishna and Indian community members gathered to celebrate Diwali in spectacular style in Moscow on Saturday, October 29th.

The crowd packed out a rented auditorium in ISKCON Moscow’s Kuusinena Street building, just ten minutes’ drive from the Kremlin.

Radharani’s Palace (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Varsana and the hills surrounding the home of Srimati Radharani are most dear to devotees of the Lord. Our parikrama party spent an entire day exploring that transcendental abode.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/hF1SCi

Radha Kunda Seva: October 2016 Photos and Updates (Album with photos)
We pray that this update finds you all experiencing a very propitious and auspicious Kartika, dear friends. We began the month of October with a painting marathon in anticipation of the *millions* of pilgrims who would soon be inundating Radha Kunda to honor Srimati Radharani’s special Kartika month also known as the month of Damodara. As we hoped, construction on the kitchen has begun! Despite half the building crew coming down with chikungunya (similar to dengue fever only worse), they managed to start the work with several deliveries of earth in order to raise the ground at the kitchen site. This is a very important first step since otherwise, the low-lying area would be flood prone during the rainy season. We are so grateful to you, our family of supporters – those of you have newly joined our efforts and those who have so generously increased your donations – for stepping forward to sponsor our widows’ daily meals! We are up to 78 sponsored out the 80 we are presently feeding! We are feeling optimistic that with your help we will be able to reach even more ladies in need. The enthusiasm of the visiting pilgrims and sadhus inspired and enlivened our crew this month. So many festivals! So much color and celebration! Yes, the cleaning work quadruples, but joy is in the air and it’s an honor to serve the Vaishnavas in this way – cleaning and serving prasadam. Jai Sri Radhe! Shyam! Thank you for being part of the team! Please browse our latest photos and join our efforts by visiting www.radharani.com. Your servants, Campakalata Devi dasi, Padma Gopi Devi dasi, Urmila Devi Dasi, and Mayapurcandra dasa.
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Archives of historic Leicestershire architect Joseph Goddard to be gifted to ISKCON.
Goddard family to present archives of Leicestershire architect Joseph Goddard to ISKCONRead More…

Kamyavan Karttika 2016 (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: On the 29th, we visited the western petal of Braja, Kamyavan, where all our spiritual desires are fulfilled! We first saw Phisilini Shila, Krishna and Balaram’s slide. Then we visited Vyomasura’s Gupha, Cave, where Vyomasura hid all the cowherd boys! Paying our respects to Lord Balaram’s Footprint, we walked to Bhojan Sthali, where Krishna and the cowherd boys took their lunch and the rocks made thalis and katoras for them to eat. After visiting Vimal Kunda, we completed our journey at Kamesvara Mahadeva Mandir! Pics thanks to Vittalrukmini Das!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/3BmBPV

BBT Far East / Middle East (Album with photos)
Latest blissful photos of Arabic book distribution to university students from Saudi Arabia. Two of them insisted on also getting the English Gita – to learn English from something they suddenly find captivating – after being amazed to receive books in their own language!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/V3uIoV

Distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books (Album with photos)
Mohanasini Devi Dasi (ACBSP): Ok, I admit it…. I’m hooked! Nothing gives me more pleasure, more satisfaction, more happiness, etc. than distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books! I meet fortunate souls every day who are eager to learn about this transcendental knowledge and I am so grateful to be an instrument in their spiritual journey! For a real treat….click on the pics to see what they think!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/eynweN

Rod Smith’s visit to New Raman Reti (Album with photos)
Krsna Katha Dasi: Rod Smith, running for State Senate here in Florida, came to the New Raman Reti temple yesterday for the first time. These photos are of a discussion with concerned parents and teachers regarding continuation of Step Up scholarships for the families whose children attend the Bhaktivedanta Academy.

Gopastami celebration at ISKCON Ujjain (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krsna says in the fourteenth verse, Seventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gita: “It is very difficult to surmount the problems offered by the laws of material nature, but one who surrenders unto Me, he overcomes.” Therefore we are teaching this Krsna consciousness to solve the problems of life. It is not sentiment or fanaticism or any sectarian religion. It is a fact that if you want to solve the problems of life, you have to become Krsna conscious. There is no other alternative. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 7.14 – September 8, 1969, Hamburg
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Initiation of new disciples in Vrindavana (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In order to change this materialistic society and prevent them from gliding to hell, first thing is to educate them. All decent men want to give service to humanity, only thing is they do not have information really what is that service. Hospitals, feeding the poor, Red Cross, these are service to the bodies only, not to the man. Service to humanity means jnana. By giving people knowledge, jnana, that is the highest service to humanity. So we are performing the actual welfare work of society by informing everyone through our literatures who is God, who they are, and what is the relationship. In this way everyone who hears our message gets the opportunity to fulfill his actual position as human entity and become delivered from the clutches of maya. So you may understand it that by disseminating our Krsna consciousness propaganda anywhere and everywhere, by selling books, by making publicity, newspapers, television, so many ways there are to spread Krsna consciousness information, you may know it that by utilizing our energy in this way to give everyone access to the Absolute Truth, that is the real understanding of desire to serve humanity. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Ramesvara – India 9 January, 1973
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Election Day Blues and the Leadership Vacuum by Sankirtana Das
Election day is upon us. The battle lines are drawn. Many voters are entrenched on one side or the other. Many more are yet undecided and perplexed by the choice of candidates.
Read More…

Pontifical Council For Interreligious Dialogue.
Message To Hindus For The Feast Of Deepavali 2016
On behalf of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, we offer our best wishes as you celebrate Deepavali on 30 October 2016. May your celebr…

Govardhan puja festival just for children in Iskcon Barnaul, Altai Krai, Russia 11/06/16 (Album with photos)

Wonderful holiday for children was held today at the temple. Thanks to the enthusiasm of our wonderful moms Vaishnavas such holidays have become part of the community that I am personally very happy, because childhood – this is exactly the time when the jiva mind sufficiently pure to accept with all my heart the beauty, purity, the beauty of the spiritual life, Krishna’s service, the time when the form is very bright impressions that will be the foundation of our future life in this strange world. And it is very cool when you do not rob childhood in children, and give the full love, attention and care. On the big holidays “for adults”, they often feel unwanted, neglected and always serious nuisance for adults 👨, but here they were full-fledged masters!

Moments of bhakti and momentum in bhakti – Weekday bhakti and weekend bhakti.
Chaitanya Charan Das: Each Sunday feast program would have on an average an audience of several hundred with the number ranging from hundred to four hundred.
Typically, the audience comprised both Indians and Westerners of various levels of spiritual understanding and seriousness. The challenge would be to connect with all of them and give everyone something that they could carry home. This challenge is like that of a teacher, who usually teaches students at a particular grade, being asked to speak to the school general assembly that contains students from all grades. The strategy that I found works best is to start with a level that even new people can connect with, rise step-by-step to a level where even regular practitioners feel that they are getting something substantial and then conclude with a call for action that resonates with everyone, whatever their level. The Sunday feast program is meant to be a moment of bhakti that will give participants momentum in their bhakti for the rest of the week till they can renew themselves at the next week’s Sunday program.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/pxoZH8

“Importance Of Reading Srila Prabhupada Books”
His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami gave a wonderful class on Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 6th, Chapter 17th on verse 36 at ISKCON Vrindavan temple on 6th November 2016. Maharaj initially described the whole pastime of King Chitraketu from Canto 6th of Srimad Bhagavatam and then he proceeded by emphasizing the importance of studying Srila Prabhupada books. Please hear and watch the video of the whole class here: https://goo.gl/9rfZrJ

Saubhari Muni’s Asrama (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The other day our parikrama party visited the ancient asrama of Saubhari Muni in a small village on the banks of the Yamuna River. Bada Haridas prabhu gave an enlightening talk and Madhava prabhu melted our hearts with his bhajan. Once again, Ananta Vrindavan das captured the special day in photos.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/wRwKST

Devotees bring a Jaladuta boat model with them in a Saturday evening Harinama in London (slide show with musical background)
The London Saturday Night Harinama Sankirtan Party’s ranks also were boosted this weekend as many Srila Prabhupada disciples came along to celebrate Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day, which had fallen earlier in the week.

Govardhana Puja celebration in Iskcon New Govardhana, Australia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Don’t try to see Krsna. You cannot see Krsna with your material eyes. Neither you can hear about Him with your material ears. Neither you can touch. But if you engage your tongue in the service of the Lord, then He’ll reveal Himself to you: “Here I am.” That is wanted. So feel separation of Krsna just like Radharani, as Lord Caitanya teaches us, and engage your tongue in the service of the Lord; then, one day, when you are mature, you’ll see Krsna eye to eye. Srila Prabhupada, speaking on Radhastami, Srimati Radharani’s Appearance Day – London, August 29, 1971
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Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day observed in Vrindavana’s Iskcon Krishna Balaram Mandir.
Many disciples of His Divine Grace attended and each one of them offered his homage and realizations for the glorification of Srila Prabhupada. Many concluded that although Srila Prabhupada was no longer physically present on the earth he is still very much present in this world in the form of his books and his instructions given to his followers.
Many programs were held at the Krishna Balaram temple in his honor like an Abhisek, performed to his deity, arati and pushpanjali at his Samadhi.
A huge cake weighing 150 kg was cut on this occasion by Iskcon’s GBC member and senior Vaishnava HH Gopal Krishna Goswami.

The beautiful Iskcon Farm Simhacalam in Germany (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: …article on the subject of “Krsna, the supreme scientist,” and let us publish it. That article is very nice. If he writes such articles, the conclusion, if Krsna, the supreme scientist, Krsna, the supreme economist, Krsna, the supreme philosopher, Krsna, the supreme chemist, Krsna -everything, the conclusion is Supreme, Krsna – then his activity is fulfilled. He becomes successful. The conclusion should be Krsna. That’s it. Whatever he may be. He may be a musician, he may be artist, he may be physicist, he may be chemist, he may be scientist – whatever he may be, if he writes article on the subject matter and concludes that Krsna is the Supreme, then preach, then he is successful. That’s all. Just like you are theologian. You write theology and prove, “Krsna is the Supreme Lord.” Then your attempt is successful. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk – December 15, 1973, Los Angeles
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The Purifying Waters of Door-To-Door Book Distribution.
After our taking a swim in the river along the gorge between Otaki and Napier in NZ, Ameyatma bathed me in the purifying waters of his door-to-door book distribution mission just before the sun went down. We knocked on about twenty doors and took turns doing the presentation of Srila Prabhupada’s books.
It is a bit inconceivable how sweet and gracious the people of Napier were. One lady, whose name is Storm, raced to beat us to the door and had it open before we got there. She was eager to chat with us and told us she already has all of the books we had in our hands. We then remembered Devamrita Swami’s new book, Hiding in Unnatural Happiness, and “returned fire” with “You don’t have this one! It was just published.”
She and her husband very happily gave a donation and took another book to add to her collection. They’re the couple in the attached picture. She even gave us a bag for “your ladies” that came from India, she said. Robert (in the photo with the copy of Beyond Birth and Death) was disconnected and unwilling to take a book, but Ameyatma and I just kept standing there trying to come up with new things to say.
We watched his heart completely soften while we stood there chatting with him, until he found a few coins and happily took the “Beyond Birth and Death”. Jeff, holding the Chant and Be Happy, at first said he wasn’t interested but we threw out our last chance: “You like music though?” and handed him a “Chant and Be Happy”. We told him about the Beatles and George Harrison. He immediately went through a soft-heart metamorphosis before our eyes and clutched the book, exclaiming, “I will read this.” Then he gave a generous donation.
A few Gitas also went out before I started to take photos, including one to a nice couple with a brand new baby crying the whole time we presented the Gita. –ys, Nitai-cand Dasa

Interrupt Anxiety with Gratitude.
As we were driving through West Bengal, I spotted a newly built house, with two words painted in large black letters across the entry portico – God Gift (written as spelled :). I imagined how every day the family would get this message as they arrived home and could not help but smile.

Lord Jagannath Ratha Yatra, 05-11-2016 ISKCON-Delhi (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: So this process of hari-kirtana is very simple: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Actually there are only three words: Hare, Krsna, and Rama. But they are very nicely arranged for chanting so that everyone can take the mantra and chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Since we have started this movement in the Western countries, Europeans, Americans, Africans, Egyptians, and Japanese are all chanting. There is no difficulty. They are chanting very gladly, and they are getting the results. What is the difficulty? We are distributing this chanting free of charge, and it is very simple. Simply by chanting, one can have self-realization, God realization, and when there is God realization, then nature realization is included also. For example, if one learns one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, and zero, then he has studied the entirety of mathematics, because mathematics means simply changing the places of these ten figures. That’s all. Similarly, if one simply studies Krsna, then all his knowledge is perfect. And Krsna is easily understood simply by chanting this mantra, Hare Krsna. So why not take this opportunity? >>> Ref. VedaBase => SSR 5b: The Appearance of Lord Caitanya
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Govardhan Puja celebration in Kiev, Ukraine (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: So Krsna understanding is also very difficult. Krsna is personally explaining Himself, His devotees are presenting Krsna consciousness movement, and right manner. But people are unfortunate. It will take some… But it is our duty to canvass. That is our business. Either they may accept or not accept, it is our duty. Bg Lecture, June 13, 1968 Montreal.
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Govardhan Puja, New Varshana in Auckland, New Zealand, 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Whereas an impersonalist tries to avoid good eatables, a devotee knows that Krsna is the supreme enjoyer and that He eats all that is offered to Him in devotion. So, after offering good eatables to the Lord, the devotee takes the remnants, called prasadam. Thus everything becomes spiritualized, and there is no danger of a downfall. The devotee takes prasadam in Krsna consciousness, whereas the nondevotee rejects it as material. The impersonalist, therefore, cannot enjoy life, due to his artificial renunciation; and for this reason, a slight agitation of the mind pulls him down again into the pool of material existence. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bg 2.63
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Harinama in Titicaca Lake (in the border between Peru and Bolivia) (Album with photos)
Harikesa: Syamasundara told me that he wanted to make millions of dollars for you so that he could…
Srila Prabhupada: Yes. [chuckles] And I am thinking when making millions of dollars, he may not be lost. …millions of dollars, what shall I do with? I have got money. I want one soul saved. That is more than millions of dollars. Morning Walk – December 14, 1975, New Delhi
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Bhaktimarga Swami wants to …brainwash you 🙂 (3 min video)
So especially you must encourage the students to read our books throughout the day as much as possible, and give them all good advice how to understand the books, and inspire them to study the things from every point of view. Better to boil the milk very vigorously and make it thick and sweet–that is the best progress. So let us concentrate on training our devotees very thoroughly in the knowledge of Krsna consciousness from our books, from tapes, by discussing always, and in so many ways instruct them in the right propositions. (From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Hamsaduta, June 22, 1972)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/jsZRea

Two Drunks and a Book Distributor…..
One evening a drunk came to our stall and picked up a Gita and told me that it is an incomplete Bhagavat-gita. He said that by reading the first page, he understood that it is not complete.
Instead of arguing, I was trying to avoid him & looking for an interested person. But the drunk stayed at our stall arguing with me.
Suddenly another drunkard showed up and told the first drunk, ”You cannot take the Bhagavad-gita, because you are not a Hindu.“
The first drunk said, “No, I am Hindu.”
The second drunk then challenged him: “If you’re a Hindu, then take a copy.”
So the first drunk took a copy. Then I showed him the Krishna book, and the second drunk said to the first, “If you are Hindu, take this book also.”
To my surprise, he immediately bought that book, too.
Then the first drunk told the second drunkard, “What about you? You also buy a copy.”
Then the second drunk also bought a Gita. They shook hands and put their arms over each other’s shoulders and proceeded to another destination.
Bhakta Chetan

Prabhupada Disappearance Tribute (38 min video)
Oral histories from those disciples who were with Srila Prabhupada during his …Read More…

Devotion is …
There is no easy translation into English of the Sanskrit word, bhakti. It’s a bit of an anomaly. Bhakti is love, specifically divine love, but even the word love itself is a poor attempt to describe this most cherished of all emotions.

Govindaji (5 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Govindaji is the beloved deity of Srila Rupa Goswami, who discovered the Lord 500 ye…Read More…

HG Hari-sauri Prabhu’s health update.
Dear Maharaja’s and Prabhu’s,
Pamho, agtsp.
Many of you have been kind enough to enquire about my current health status so I provide here a brief summery of my one month trip to Denver, Colorado in Sep-Oct 2016.
Before Denver my condition was as follows.
1. Restlessness – I was unable to sit still for more than a few minutes, was constantly pacing up and down, couldn’t lie down or relax.
2. Interrupted sleep – due to the restlessness I could only sleep one to two hours at a time and my sleep was constantly interrupted with only a few hours of rest in the night.
3. Shaking and Tremors – this is getting progressively worse, with shaking on the whole right side and recently the left arm; some mild cramping in the muscles and loss of utility of the right hand by about 60%.
There are other symptoms but these are the prominent ones.
TREATMENT IN DENVER:
The treatment consisted of trying in small doses different strains of canabis oil. This was done under supervision with Mitravinda Mataji and in the first two weeks we tried 7 or 8 different strains.
After two weeks Pranaballabha Prabhu found a local company that makes their oil from hemp rather than canabis. We switched to this company and tried several strains.
RESULTS AFTER DENVER:
I’m very happy to report some significant improvement in reducing the restlessness by about 90%, and consequently relieving me of the sleeplessness. We found one or two strains that were effective and which enable me to lie down and relax and sleep at least 4 to 6 hours at a stretch. We got this result from the canabis oil and fortunately were able to sustain it when we moved to the hemp products.
Unfortunately as of writing we have not found anything to reduce the tremors and shaking, so this we have to work on.
The advantage of using the hemp products is that they are all legal and can be exported from Denver to India or other parts of the world.
SUMMERY:
The one month visit was well worth the effort and expense and yielded significant result. We also got a much better insight into the production and application of the CBD/THC oils.
I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the many devotees who stepped forward with financial assistance, without which, the trip would not have been possible.
I particularly want to thank Mitravinda and Pranaballabha Prabhu’s for their selfless assistance. I also want to thank Tusta Krsna Prabhu, the Denver temple president, for providing one months accommodation and many other small facilities for an anxiety free visit.
My sincere thanks to all the other devotees who have helped.
I will keep this brief, if anybody has any further questions I’ll be happy to provide whatever information I can.
Always in your debt, I remain,
Your humble servant
Hari-sauri das

ISKCON-Delhi – HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Disappearance: 04-11-2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna’s plan becomes very easy for us when we follow Krishna’s orders, otherwise, we are following Maya’s plan and become frustrated at every step. Following Krishna’s orders means chanting daily 16 rounds, following the four rules and regulations, rising early, associating with devotees, like that. Unless these principles are followed, we cannot expect Krishna’s protection. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Jayadeva — Paris 23 July, 1972
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Z4Wf3V

Iskcon San Diego’s Govardhana Puja 2016 Festival (Album with 68 photos)
Indian lady: How does one contact the spiritual master? Through a book can you contact the spiritual master?
Prabhupada: No, you have to associate.
Syamasundara: “Can you associate through a book?” she asked. Prabhupada: Yes, through books, and also personal. Because when you make a spiritual master you have got personal touch. Not that in air you make a spiritual master. You make a spiritual master concrete.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => His Divine Grace Srila Sac-cid-ananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Appearance Day, Lecture – London, September 3, 1971
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Photos from the Manor’s Annakuta, Go Puja and Govardhan Puja 2016 (Album with photos)
Please find below photos from Annakuta, Go Puja and Govardhan Puja 2016 at Bhaktivedanta Manor.
Slideshow (please turn on sound): http://davidc.zenfolio.com/govardhan_annakuta_gopuja_2016/slideshow
Gallery:
http://davidc.zenfolio.com/govardhan_annakuta_gopuja_2016
With best wishes, Hare Krishna, David.

Go Puja & Govardhana Puja in Brasil (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The duty of a brahmana is to culture the quality of forgiveness, which is illuminating like the sun. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is pleased with those who are forgiving.
PURPORT: Different personalities become beautiful by possessing different qualities. Canakya Pandita says that the cuckoo bird, although very black, is beautiful because of its sweet voice. Similarly, a woman becomes beautiful by her chastity and faithfulness to her husband, and an ugly person becomes beautiful when he becomes a learned scholar. In the same way, brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras become beautiful by their qualities. Brahmanas are beautiful when they are forgiving, ksatriyas when they are heroic and never retreat from fighting, vaisyas when they enrich cultural activities and protect cows, and sudras when they are faithful in the discharge of duties pleasing to their masters. Thus everyone becomes beautiful by his special qualities. And the special quality of the brahmana, as described here, is forgiveness. SB 9.15.40
Find them here: https://goo.gl/gi1Cg7

Photos from Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day 2016 at the Manor.
Bhakta David: Please find below a few phone snaps of the Vyasana and bhoga offerings from Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day 2016 at Bhaktivedanta Manor.
A small murti of Srila Prabhupada was given abhishek earlier in the day, pushpanjali was performed after the 12:30 arati, and many devotees read out heart-felt offerings.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/obkvXD
If you are in the UK and can come to London please join our maha harinama sankirtan party THIS SATURDAY EVENING (5th November). It will leave the ISKCON-London Soho Street temple after Gaura Arati please also come for that and offer a candle to Sri Damodara for Kartik.

750+ Ahmedabad youngsters participated in youth fest ‘UMANG’ – ISKCON Youth Forum Ahmedabad.
Umang, festival of Joy, was an enlivening experience for all the 750+ participants whose level of enthusiasm soared as the festival changed gears, bringing new twists and turns for the young blood.