Author Archives: New Vrndavan, USA

Nitaicandra Das has always sought the simple life. It was while living in the forests of Trinidad, remarkably enough, that he received a copy of Srila Prabhupada’s “Science of Self-Realization.” “Living off the forest wasn’t working out for me,” he says. “And once I read Prabhupada’s book I realized, ‘This is it, it’s all here […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 10/11/2015 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Chaitanya Mangala (chair), Kripamaya, Madhava Gosh and Ranaka Participating Advisors: Jaya Krsna, Sri Tulasi Manjari and Radha-Krishna Participating Managers: Nitaicandra Recording secretary: Jamuna Jivani 1. Mukunda’s […]

By Madhava Smullen New Vrindaban’s autumn 24 Hour Kirtan – held during the sacred month of Kartik — is rapidly catching up to its summer cousin in popularity. Up from 100 attendees in 2011, this year’s festival is expected to attract over 400, looking for the authentic Vrindavan Kartik experience without having to travel seven-and-a-half […]

By Madhava Smullen Since it was introduced in 2012, ISKCON New Vrindaban’s Festival of Colors has dramatically improved public perception of the West Virginia farm community, mended lost relationships with locals and built new ones. The spiritual rejuvination festival is advertised with thousands of flyers and posters in local shops, restaurants, and universities, billboards in […]

By Madhava Smullen The 45th annual Janmastami festival at New Vrindaban in the USA this Labor Day Weekend saw more exciting progress made in revealing Lord Krishna’s holy dhama (abode) of Vrindavan there. The West Virginia village was established in 1968 by ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada, who described it as “non-different from the original Vrindavan” […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 09/13/2015 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes Simple Living, Cow Protection, Engaging Oxen, Local Agriculture, and above all, Loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Anuttama, Bhima, Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Madhava Gosh and Ranaka Participating Advisors: Sri Tulasi Manjari Participating Managers: Mukunda, Nitaicandra Recording secretary: Jamuna Jivani 1. Appreciation Gifts for […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 8/16/2015 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes Simple Living, Cow Protection, Engaging Oxen, Local Agriculture, and above all, Loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Anuttama, Bhima, Chaitanya Mangala, Madhava Gosh and Ranaka Participating Advisors: Sri Tulasi Manjari, Radha-Krishna, Jaya Krsna Participating Managers: Mukunda Recording secretary: Jamuna Jivani 1. Village Council […]

By Madhava Smullen Lord Krishna’s eternal consort Srimati Radharani is known as the Queen of Vrindavan. So what better place in the Western World to celebrate Her appearance day, Radhastami, than New Vrindaban? Described by Srila Prabhupada as “non-different” from Vrindavan in India, New Vrindaban’s Radhastami festival on September 21st 2015 drew many devotees from […]

  Gopal’s Garden Preschool, headed by New Vrindaban residents Sundari Devi Dasi and Mercy Mack, has been filled with action packed projects and fun this summer. Starting in March of this year, the preschool began with Sundari Devi Dasi and Mercy teaming up to build a healthy and interactive place to bring their children during […]

New Vrindaban’s autumn 24 Hour Kirtan – held during the sacred month of Kartik — is rapidly catching up to its summer cousin in popularity. Up from 100 attendees in 2011, this year’s festival is expected to attract over 400, looking for the authentic Vrindavan Kartik experience without having to travel seven-and-a-half thousand miles. “Many […]

By Madhava Smullen As ISKCON’s 50th anniversary quickly approaches in 2016, and New Vrindaban’s 50th in 2018, long time members and residents are working to make sure that accurate histories of the past half century are available for future generations. Since the 1980s, some devotees in New Vrindaban have mistakenly claimed that Prabhupada’s Palace is […]

By Madhava Smullen Govinda’s Groceries, recently opened next to Govinda’s Restaurant at the Palace Lodge and run by longtime residents Nityodita and his wife Radha Dasi, is the newest store to contribute to New Vrindaban’s growth as a village. It joins four others, each with their own specialties: The Palace Gift Shop near the entrance […]

By: Madhava Smullen Over the years, New Vrindaban has been famous for a long list of mouthwatering prasadam dishes – Hladini’s cinnamon rolls; Radhanath Swami’s sandesh; Madri, Dharmakala and Kutila’s cheesecake; Dharmakala’s baked goods and milk sweets; Taru and Amburish’s sweet rice; Vani’s dokla and idli, and many more. But first, no story about New […]

By Madhava Smullen   This year’s Janmastami festival at New Vrindaban, West Virginia on September 5th is expected to be packed with inspiring spiritual activities and sweet exchanges between residents and guests alike. “Under the steady leadership of our community president Jaya Krishna Prabhu, the quality of the festival has been improving every year,” says […]

By Madhava Smullen After Festival of Colors (Holi) drew 5,000 people last September, tri-state area locals are invited to come and participate in another one of India’s most ancient and popular celebrations, Festival of Chariots (Ratha-Yatra), in Moundsville on Saturday July 18th. In the holy city of Puri in Orissa, India where it originated, the […]

By Madhava Smullen On Monday June 29th, New Vrindaban children waited excitedly while an inaugural puja was offered to open their brand new fully-equipped playground next to the Palace Lodge, before running into it to play with blissful abandon. The playground is an endeavor by ISKCON New Vrindaban to serve and accommodate both the children […]

  Written by Madhava Smullen. Archival Research by Chaitanya Mangala. June 21st, 1976 was a normal day at the Pittsburgh International airport until a group of Krishna devotees from New Vrindaban, dressed in an odd combination of dhotis or saris with large rubber farm boots, appeared. Commuters stared open-mouthed as the fifty-strong crew exploded into […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 06/14/2015 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes Simple Living, Cow Protection, Engaging Oxen, Local Agriculture, and above all, Loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Board Members: Anuttama, Bhima, Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Madhava Gosh (partial attendance), and Ranaka. Participating Advisors: Sri Tulasi Manjari, Radha-Krishna Participating Managers: […]

By Madhava Smullen Mukunda Das — ECO-V’s brand new co-manager along with Ranaka Das — moved to New Vrindaban on May 17th from Alachua, Florida with his wife Bhakti-lata Dasi, and has enthusiastically started serving in the community. Born Marc Gauthier in Montreal, Canada, he was always an outdoorsman and interested in the deeper questions […]

By Madhava Smullen The community parikrama on the second morning of this spring’s ISKCON New Vrindaban and ECO-V Joint Board Meetings revealed a host of exciting renovations, showing that the efforts of recent years are beginning to bring a new sheen to a once crumbling infrastructure. The March 15th tour began at 10:00am with a […]

Five years ago I became a vegetarian for health and compassion reason. “I want to hug them, not eat them.” is how I feel. But before I go any further, I’m not here to try and convince you to become on or to judge/alienate any carnivore readers out there. (I live with one!) While in […]

By Madhava Smullen The ninth annual 24 Hour Kirtan festival in New Vrindaban, West Virginia is set to give North American participants the experience of the 24 Hour Kirtan that ns 365 days a year in the original Vrindavana Dhama, India without having to travel thousands of miles. Around 600 devotees from all over the […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 05/16/2015 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes Simple Living, Cow Protection, Engaging Oxen, Local Agriculture, and above all, Loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Bhima, Chaitanya Mangala, Madhava Gosh, and Ranaka. Participating Advisors: Sri Tulasi Manjari, Radha-Krishna (partial attendance) Participating Managers: Mukunda Recording Secretary: Jordanna 1. Review Staff Commitments/Work Loads […]

By Madhava Smullen Six hundred devotees from all over North America may have attended the 15th anniversary of the Festival of Inspiration at New Vrindaban, West Virginia over the May Mother’s Day Weekend. But every single one this reporter spoke to described it as having an intimate, comfortable family mood. “We were just like good […]

By Madhava Smullen On March 14th, ISKCON New Vrindaban and Eco-Vrindaban board members as well as community residents wrapped up a busy first day of spring board meetings by spending time with the person whose vision lights the way ahead for them – Srila Prabhupada. Having bonded and inspired New Vrindaban residents for the past […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 4/19/2015 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes Simple Living, Cow Protection, Engaging Oxen, Local Agriculture, and above all, Loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Directors: Anuttama, Bhima, Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, and Ranaka. Participating Advisors: Sri Tulasi Manjari Participating Managers: Mukunda Recording secretary: Jordanna 1. Ox Program Manager and Garden Manager Search […]

By Madhava Smullen ISKCON New Vrindaban and Eco-Vrindaban’s latest Department Head reports, on March 14th, showed that devotees were continuing to cooperate together with encouraging progress towards crystallizing Srila Prabhupada’s vision. Co-GBC and MC for the day Anuttama Das introduced the event, explaining that since 2011, INV and ECO-V’s Boards of Directors and their managers […]

By Madhava Smullen Two unique opportunities have arisen in New Vrindaban, West Virginia, USA. ECO-Vrindaban, a non-profit organization that promotes Prabhupada’s ideals of simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, is searching for managers for its ox care and garden programs. Protection of cows and bulls, Prabhupada said, “should […]

All devotees, including leaders, are invited to attend the upcoming ISKCON Communications Training Course in New Vrindaban Sat. & Sun. May 16 & 17, 2015. Anuttama das will be the very entertaining and experienced facilitator. You will learn such valuable things as: mastering key skills including listening, speaking & understanding the needs of others  improving […]

Everyone is invited to the special festival held in New Vrindaban on Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Appearance Day Sat. May 2, 2015.  Don’t miss the evening 7:00 PM Aroti, which will be followed by some exciting Nrsimhadeva nectar! New Vrindaban’s Lord Nrsimhadeva Deity is unique.  He was made in New Vrindaban and installed in July 1986, the […]

May 8th – 10th, 2015 The countdown has begun! New Vrindaban’s Festival of Inspiration is only two weeks away, and it’s a big one — the 15th anniversary! Get ready for exciting and inspiring presentations by ISKCON’s best speakers; top-quality entertainment from dramas to stand-up comedy; rip-roaring kirtans; and mouth-watering prasadam, and much more! So […]

Strengthening The Vision:  Prabhupada’s Third Visit to New Vrindaban  Written by Madhava Smullen. Archival Research by Chaitanya Mangala.  From July 18th to 23rd 1974, Srila Prabhupada visited New Vrindaban for the third time, to further establish his vision for it as a sacred place known worldwide for five primary things: cow protection, simple-living, holy pilgrimage, […]

Opportunity: ECO-Vrindaban is a non-profit organization serving in the New Vrindaban community, located near Wheeling West Virginia, USA. ECO-V promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. We seek an individual with experience in engaging oxen, who can […]

Gopisa’s India Journal, continued….. Please see the first few installments of Gopisa Prabhu’s timeless and  intriguing India journal on this Brijabasi Spirit at Gopisa’s India Journey Begins <<<>>> Vrindavan Day 3 Dearest family, The trips to the temples and Loi Bazaar have been via bicycle rickshaw. I’d gladly trade some of my girth to the […]

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 03/29/2015 Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes Simple Living, Cow Protection, Engaging Oxen, Local Agriculture, and above all, Loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. Participating Members of the ECO-V Board of Directors: Anuttama (partial attendance), Bhima, Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Madhava Gosh and Ranaka. Participating Advisors: Sri Tulasi Manjari (partial attendance) Participating Managers: […]

Dear Residents and Well-Wishers of New Vrindaban, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. We are writing to inform you that Jaya Krsna prabhu is on a leave of absence from his role as ISKCON New Vrindaban President. As many of you know, Jaya Krsna became ill after his trip to India […]

Opportunity: ECO-Vrindaban is a non-profit organization serving in the New Vrindaban community, located near Wheeling, West Virginia, USA. ECO-V promotes simple living, cow protection, engaging oxen, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban. We seek an individual with a strong knowledge of gardening, a […]