Author Archives: Thomas Haribol

Recently, I was in New York for the 50th annual Rathayatra down the city’s grand 5th Avenue, while on our TOVP fundraising tour. During my visit, I also attended the welcome ceremony of Srila Prabhupada’s life-sized murti to the first temple in New Yor…

The Sri Jagannatha Rathayatra began today, welcoming millions of devotees to the ancient and historic event in Puri. ISKCON devotees—supported by industrialist Gautam Adani and the Adani Foundation—are providing prasadam and fruit juice daily to over 2…

Statement from the Executive Committee of the Governing Body Commission Regarding Trivikrama Swami 27 June 2025 Dear ISKCON Devotees, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. In addition to the 24 June 2025 resolution of th…

The School of Bhakti at Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK, recently organized a “Journey to America” retreat – 24th May to 1st June 2025. Jai Nitai Dasa and Bhava Bhakti Dasi were the guides for this unique retreat organized by Bhakta Mayank an…

For over 30 years, ISKCON Youth Ministry volunteers have led the Krishna Culture Festival Tours—popularly known as the Youth Bus Tours—across North America to inspire the next generation in Krishna consciousness. During their recent stop in New York Ci…

In a beautiful display of interfaith harmony and community service, devotees from ISKCON of Bergen County extended a heartfelt gesture to the Lutheran Church in New Jersey, where they regularly host their Sunday and festival programs. Recently, the ISK…

Deputy Commissioner Dilip Chauhan presents the citation to Radhanath Swami. Photos courtesy of @ghazals.gallery. On June 21, 2025, Radhanath Swami was honored with a prestigious citation from the New York City Mayor’s Office, presented by Deputy Commis…

On June 12th, an Air India flight carrying 242 passengers tragically crashed just minutes after takeoff, striking a medical college hostel in a residential neighborhood. Only one passenger survived, and nearly 30 people on the ground also lost their li…

Perception. One simple word, but if everyone in the world understood how perception is 100% subjective while in these material bodies, this world would change drastically for the better! Then again, Kali-yuga (the current age cycle) would not be acting…

ISKCON Columbus celebrated their first Jagannath Rathayatra at the ISKCON Greater Columbus new temple land on the 14th of June, with around 4,000 attending the joyous occasion. Everyone was immersed in the music, chanting and dancing. The celebration c…

The One Book a Day initiative (OBAD) has been inspiring devotees around the world to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books for over 16 months now. Originating in New Zealand, OBAD aims to encourage everyone from working grihastas to new devotees to engag…

Mahatma Das has announced the second level of its acclaimed online retreat, Small Is Powerful: Exploring the Power of Humility and Self-Honesty. Building on the transformative experience of Level 1, this new session promises a deeper exploration of hum…

In an era characterized by rapid information consumption and abbreviated learning formats, the Sanskrit Reading Room, an initiative led by Nityananda Das, offers a unique approach to the study of Sanskrit. Far from being a conventional course, it serve…

On Sunday, June 1st, at ISKCON Hari Nama Desh – a temple community located about 25 km northwest of Wiesbaden – around 40 devotees gathered to express their heartfelt appreciation for Dina Sharana Devi Dasi, the former GBC for the German-speaking yatra…

In a major step to broaden its global impact, the award-winning documentary HARE KRISHNA! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All is now available for free on YouTube in ten major languages: English, Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi,…

Tribhuvannath Das (in the center) with pharmacy students following a presentation on the mind. Tribhuvannatha Das, currently based at the Krishna Balaram Mandir in Vrindavan, is actively engaged in outreach programs that support individuals recovering …

Hema Malini and Gauranga Das speaking to donors at the fundraising gala.  ISKCON Naperville successfully hosted a grand fundraising gala on May 18, 2025, at the DoubleTree by Hilton, bringing together over 500 community members, spiritual leaders, and …

In the aftermath of the devastating Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad, rescue workers and locals combing through the wreckage made a remarkable discovery: a partially burned but largely intact copy of Bhagavad-gita As It Is by Srila Prabhupada. I…

Over 30 enthusiastic devotees gathered on May 31–June 1, 2025, at ISKCON Bhopal for a powerful 2-day Bhakti Vriksha Leadership Training Course, aimed at strengthening congregational preaching across the city. Hosted on an expansive 8-acre campus, ISKCO…

Sri Nandanandana Dasa with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Padma Shri event in May. The Vedic Friends Association (VFA) proudly extends heartfelt congratulations to American author and renowned Vedic scholar Stephen Knapp (Sri Nandana…

In a significant milestone for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), the Uttar Pradesh government has issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) for the establishment of Bhaktivedanta University near Vrindavan. This state-backed endorsemen…

Radhanath Swami, the visionary for the project, speaks at the grand-opening event. A sacred piece of history was revived this week as ISKCON’s first-ever temple, located at 26 2nd Avenue in the Bowery, celebrated its Grand Opening following an extensiv…

(Left to Right): Sushant Bharti; Padmanabha Goswami; Dr. Sumanta Rudra, Academic Dean, BRC; Sundar Gopal Das. In another significant project aimed at preserving Gaudiya Vaisnava literary heritage, the Bhaktivedanta Research Center (BRC) has completed t…

Photo courtesy of the India Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). ISKCON’s Communications Office in India released a statement today regarding the tragic Air India accident in Ahmedabad. The plane was carrying 242 souls, and it appears there …

When the algorithm shifts and your content’s on the cart, download before it disappears! When devotees around the world go live on Facebook, streaming temple kirtans, festivals, harinams, seminars, and Sunday Love Feast classes, it’s with the hope that…

Sri Mayapur Community Hospital has reached a significant milestone in its commitment to serving the devotee community and the wider population of Nadia District. This week, Dr. Juhi Dhanawat, OB/GYN, announced the successful commencement of gynaecologi…

Joyful procession at a 2025 wedding ceremony held at New Mayapur.  As the morning mist lifts from the verdant Loire Valley, the sacred sounds of kirtan emanate from New Mayapur’s temple room, where devotees gather before Their Lordships Sri Sri K…

Ganesh Ramakrishnan (Gaura Hari Das). Photo courtesy of Forbes India. This week in Bengaluru, Forbes India and Accel revealed their inaugural list of Top 30 Indian Minds in Artificial Intelligence ( AI). The announcement was part of a first-of-its-kind…

Some of the religious leaders from various traditions who participated in the G20 Interfaith Harmony Week 2025. As the African Union (AU) assumes a permanent seat at the G20 table, faith leaders are stepping into a more prominent role in shaping global…

Marking a significant milestone on the auspicious occasion of Nirjala Ekadashi, Hare Krsna TV-ISKCON Desire Tree has launched Hare Krsna Radio, a 24/7 devotional radio channel. The new initiative offers listeners a continuous stream of transcendental s…

OmniLight Films Production, a Mayapur-based film production company, recently released “Three Nights,” a short film based on the story of Srila Haridas Thakur and the prostitute who was sent to defame him. Directed by Yadava Jivana Das (ali…

Devotees walk together at Rondebosch Common during the SP50 Morning Walk Tribute in Cape Town, listening to Srila Prabhupada lectures and conversations. As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Srila Prabhupada’s 1975 visit to South Africa (SP50…