Author Archives: Thomas Haribol

Karuna Chandra Dasa and Karuna Rasa Devi Dasi, a couple based in Mayapur, have introduced KrishnaToys, an initiative aimed to provide children with play materials connected to Krishna consciousness. The inspiration and heart of the project come from th…

Of all the judgments we make of others—race, religion, nationality, political affiliations, social standing, etc.—perhaps the most excoriating is moral judgment. We can become highly condemnatory when we deem others to have committed a gross moral tran…

The International Gita Scholarship Test (IGST), organized by ISKCON Navi Mumbai, is scheduled to be conducted in May 2026 as a global online examination designed to engage youth and adults in a structured study of sacred texts. With differentiated ques…

The Bhaktivedanta Research Centre (BRC), in collaboration with Dev Publishers, will release the South Asian edition of A Living Theology of Krishna Bhakti: Essential Teachings of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda by His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswam…

His Grace Vasuttama Dasa, a devoted disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, departed from this world on March 8, 2026, at ISKCON Radhadesh. Earlier that day, after attending the joyful Holi feast at the temple community, he went to rest in hi…

The North America Vaishnavi Ministry is participating in the United Nations (UN) Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), from March 9–20 at UN Headquarters in New York City.  In-person participants include Govind Priya Devi Dasi, Syama Mohini Devi D…

Students of the UK Hare Krishna Primary School, located near Bhaktivedanta Manor, on 2025 World Cleanup Day. The ISKCON Environmental Initiative (IEI) is encouraging devotees and communities worldwide to deepen their commitment to sustainable living by…

As the global ISKCON community prepares to celebrate the appearance day of its Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, devotees around the world are invited to submit written homages for inclusion in the 2026 Srila Prabhu…

A major artistic project is underway for the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) in Mayapur, featuring a series of large-scale devotional paintings depicting the pastimes of Lord Nrsimhadeva. The video highlights an ambitious effort to produce 16 de…

Jayapataka Swami has become the first devotee in ISKCON history to receive the Bhakti Sarvabhauma degree, the highest academic qualification of the ISKCON Board of Examinations, earning an A+ grade from the Mayapur Institute. A Vision Rooted in Srila P…

Devotees across several Middle Eastern countries have faced a week of uncertainty amid rising regional tensions. In a report sent from Abu Dhabi, Tapana Misra Dasa, GBC for the region, shared that devotees in Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Leba…

Ranjit Dasa was born on August 31, 1945, in Pretoria, South Africa. He moved to England after graduating from college and later went to a farm near Vancouver, Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. He was initiated there in 1974 and saw Srila Prabhupada fou…

The ISKCON Congregational Development Ministry (CDM) has released its annual report highlighting the growth and ongoing initiatives supporting devotee communities worldwide. The presentation outlines the ministry’s efforts to strengthen congregational …

The University of Florida has suspended the long-running Krishna Lunch program from serving on campus until further notice following a recent traffic accident involving a Krishna Lunch vehicle.  According to local media reports, a Krishna Lunch box tru…

In a significant step toward formalizing its commitment to prasādam purity, ISKCON Śrīdhām Māyāpur has successfully completed a comprehensive Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) program for its mega kitchens, culminating in an official cert…

Photo credit: Daily Bruin A recent article in the student newspaper at UCLA, the Daily Bruin, has highlighted Krishna Lunch So Cal, a vegetarian food truck operated by Hare Krishna devotees that has become a familiar and welcome presence in Westwood. F…

In his 2026 Gaura Purnima message, Madhusevita Dasa, serving as the new GBC Chairman, offered condolences and spiritual resolve at what he describes as a “difficult and sad time,” noting the recent departures of three of his senior godbrothers dear to …

The first Gaura Purnima Festival at ISKCON Mayapur was celebrated on Srila Prabhupada’s order in 1972. Though not widely attended by International devotees, it set the standard for an annual festival that has since become the backbone of annual Vaishna…

Although his teachings are fundamental to Gaudiya Vaishnavism, the divine incarnation, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, left only a single eight-verse poem. Known as the Śrī Śikṣāṣṭakam, these verses reveal the essence of his mission and teachings, centred on the…

Sixth Grader Earns Gold Medal for Memorizing Bhagavad-gita Srinidhi Senthil Kumar, a sixth-grade student at Boyce Middle School in Pennsylvania, has recently been awarded a gold medal for memorizing all 700 verses of the Bhagavad-gita, reciting it with…

On February 26th, the GBC Executive Committee released the following statement on the departure of His Holiness Badrinarayan Swami: His Holiness Badrinarayan Swami Departs from this World in the Sacred Land of Sri Vrindavan Dham 26 February 2026 Dear D…

We are saddened to share that His Holiness Badrinarayan Swami departed this world in Vṛndāvana, India, on February 26, 2026. His body is presently being prepared for placement at the Vṛndāvana Hospice. More information will be forthcoming as arrangemen…

The Bhakti Yoga Conference 2026 will convene next week as a free, global online gathering bringing together over 30 scholars, spiritual teachers, and practitioners from around the world to explore one central theme: “Sacred Community: Devotion Practice…

Over 35 vibrant leaders from ISKCON Noida are leading various projects.  Under the flagship of ISKCON’s Congregational Development Ministry, a two-day Bhakti Vriksha Leadership Training Course was held on February 21–22, 2026 at ISKCON Noida (Govind Dh…

In 2025, ISKCON Cyprus continued to solidify its identity as a committed, congregationally driven community, enhancing regular programs and improving cooperation across the island. Although the community is relatively small, with approximately 36 devot…

Shri Amit Shah offering worship to Sri Sri Radha Madhava and Ashtasakhi at ISKCON Mayapur. India’s Union Home and Cooperation Minister of India Shri Amit Shah visited ISKCON’s spiritual world headquarters at Mayapur (West Bengal) on February 18, 2026, …

What kept an ancient civilization alive despite centuries of brutal invasion and subjugation? What gave its people the strength to remain chaste and faithful to their traditions even in a hostile and volatile political environment? And from the other s…

Bhakta Kelly Caleb during the oath of office ceremony. On a humid February afternoon at the County Assembly of Mombasa, amid polished wood interiors and the procedural solemnity of civic ritual, a quietly historic moment unfolded. As members of the Mom…

The 21-Day Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Reading Challenge is an online scripture study initiative associated with Vedavarsity, an educational platform functioning under In Service of Srimad Bhagavatam (INSS). The program is structured as a three-week reading expe…

The Karuna Care Association is pleased to announce an upcoming online course designed especially for ISKCON leaders and those serving in community roles: Trauma Informed Leadership. This six-week program offers practical insight and spiritual context f…

Jananivāsa Das with Dr. Sumanta Rudra, Nirmal Nitai Das (the brahmacari in extreme left), and Vasanta Ranjani Devi Dasi. In a milestone for ISKCON’s archival and research efforts, the Bhaktivedanta Research Center (BRC) has successfully complete…

Book distribution in Türkiye often occurs through programs, book fairs, and personal connections with colleagues, friends, and neighbors. For the devotees of ISKCON Türkiye, the year 2025 was not about rushing to expand. Instead, it was a time for sett…

Children learning in Krishna’s creation. Located in the Appalachian hills at the ISKCON New Vrindaban community, Gopal’s Garden School continues a 40-year legacy of devotional education, offering children pre-kindergarten through 10th grade…