Harinama Sankirtana Tour Continues To Visit Many Baltic and European Cities This Summer
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Brahmacharis from the Monastery of the Holy Name in Lithuania continue their summer Harinama Sankirtana Tour to many Baltic and European cities.   The tour, which has happened annually since 2009, has already shared the Holy Names in Warsaw, Wrocław, Lodz, Prague, Brno, Vienna, Ljubljana, Verona, and Milan.   There are many countries and cities ahead. To join […]

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Preaching Expands in Tucson with the Opening of a New Home Temple Community called Mantra Oasis
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Devotees in Arizona have recently opened a home temple and community outreach center called Mantra Oasis on the east side of Tucson. The 3-bedroom house is located in a nice eastside neighborhood that has a very large family room which makes a perfect temple room/gathering hall for guests. The new Mantra Oasis project was spearheaded by […]

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Radhadesh strengthens sustainability initiatives with beehives and electric car charger 
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Photo courtesy of Pixabay. The Radhadesh community has restarted its community beehive project and has installed a new electric car charger to encourage sustainable transportation. These two projects are part of its overall environmental initiatives, a pillar of the community’s key vision. In particular, beekeeping is part of its plan to enhance biodiversity on the […]

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Its About Progress, Not Perfection
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The Hare Krishna Movement is arguably among the world’s most misunderstood spiritual paths, externally appearing biased along sectarian lines but with an inclusive and non-sectarian core philosophy. Srila Prabhupada faced the monumental task of delivering this fully inclusive message of Sanatan Dharma (the eternal position of all souls) while presenting it with all the cultural […]

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Sri Lankan High Commissioner Visits Akshaya Patra Leaders and Tours Bangalore Kitchen
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Sri Madhu Pandit Dasa presents a gift to High Commissioner Milinda Moragoda, joined by Sri Chanchalapathi Dasa. In May, Milinda Moragoda, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner Designate to India, visited ISKCON’s Akshaya Patra Foundation‘s world-famous Rajajinagar kitchen in Bangalore to learn about their comprehensive mid-day meal program for school children. The visit aimed to consider the […]

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Nigerian Devotee Speaks to 100+ Students at Local University
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On May 31st, ISKCON devotees in Jos, Nigeria, spoke to over 100 university students in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Jos. The 2.5-hour presentation, “Krishna Consciousness: An Aspect of Hinduism,” offered by Salika Das, was interactive, intense, and educational. Jos is a city located in the central part of Nigeria with […]

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Nrsimhananda Das: Inspiring Krishna Conscious Education in ISKCON South Africa
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Class by His Holiness Bhakti Brhat Bhagavata Swami, Founder of The Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture. Nrsimhananda Das, a dedicated and influential devotee within ISKCON South Africa, has embarked on a remarkable journey of spiritual growth and service since 1985. His passion for studying and teaching Srila Prabhupada’s books led him to participate in […]

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WSN April 2023 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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By Vijaya Das

Vaisesika Prabhu and his jolly team of book distributors at ISKCON of Silicon Valley (ISV) are doing humongous book distribution through motels. For those of you who don't know, it's called Motel Gita; they've done it for years. Some devotees attend the annual convention of motel owners, and they sign-up especially the Indian motel owners, who put the books in the rooms for guests. In April, the ISV devotees put 19,300 Gitas in motels around the USA and was the No. 1 temple America, with 27,759 book points. Over the years, Motel Gita has distributed 850,000 Bhagavad Gitas this way, along with 90,000 other books like SSR, POY, Chant and be Happy, Higher Taste and Krsna Book. In other countries (New Zealand, India, and Canada), 10,000 Bhagavad Gitas have been distribute to motels. Individual scores: Hemagiri Prabhu, in Mumbai, a long-time top book distributor, was No. 1 in April, with 4,008 book points. Another amazing individual, whom we're just hearing about recently, is Bhakta Avatar in Austin, Texas. He was the No. 1 distributor worldwide of Arabic books, with 624 book points. Along with other books, he did a total of 2,321 book points. Continue reading "WSN April 2023 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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Panihati Chida Dahi Utsava
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When Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared to propagate the Sankirtana Movement, Panihati became a major centre of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas. The residential quarters of Sri Raghava Pandita (one of the associates of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu) still exists in Panihati.

Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was a devotee of the highest order. He displayed a spirit of renunciation and detachment from the material world at a very early age. He wanted to leave home and join Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in His mission. But Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked him not to do so and assured that Krishna would deliver him soon from the clutches of maya.

Two years later, Nityananda Prabhu came to Panihati and stayed there. Raghunatha dasa, who was staying in the nearby village of Sri Krishnapura took permission from his father Govardhan Mazumdar and went to Panihati to meet Nityananda Prabhu.

At Panihati, he saw Nityananda Prabhu sitting on a rock under a banyan tree on the banks of the River Ganges. He was surrounded by many devotees. Raghunatha dasa was hesitant to approach the Lord and paid obeisances from a distance. But some of the devotees noticed him and informed Nityananda Prabhu.

Nityananda Prabhu called Raghunatha dasa and said “Raghunatha dasa! You are hiding like a thief. Now I have caught hold of you. Come here. I shall punish you today.’’ Then Lord Nityananda forcibly caught him and put His lotus feet on Raghunatha’s head. He ordered Raghunatha to celebrate a big festival and serve all the devotees – with yogurt and chipped rice.

Raghunatha dasa immediately sent his men to the nearby villages to purchase all kinds of eatables. They brought chipped rice (chida), milk, yogurt, sweetmeats, bananas, sugar and other eatables. The chipped rice was soaked in milk. Half of that was then mixed with yogurt, sugar and bananas. The remaining half was mixed with condensed milk and flavored with clarified butter and camphor.

All the devotees received two earthen pots, one with chipped rice mixed with yogurt and another with chipped rice mixed with condensed milk. China Dahi is a delicious combination of curd and chipped rice (poha/avalaki) mixed with varieties of fruits, dry fruits, etc.

In the scorching heat of summer this makes a very soothing offering to the Lord. With this preparation Lord Nityananda celebrated the festival of Panihati. The offering included special flavors like Strawberry, Fig, Gulkand, Chandan, Black Grapes, Raspberry, etc.

The Chida-dahi Mahotsava is celebrated every year in commemoration of this wonderful pastime. This festival is also known as Danda Mahotsava (the Festival of Punishment). It is celebrated on the thirteenth day of the bright moon in the month of Jyeshta (May-June). To this day, pilgrims visit Panihati to celebrate the Chida-dahi festival.

Record Numbers Gathered for Dallas Sadhu Sanga: Get All the Details
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Photo by Vrindavan Priya.  All other photos are courtesy of Indradyumna Swami. May 26-29, 2023, was the 10th anniversary of the Sadhu Sanga Kirtan Retreat held this year at the Marriott Dallas Allen Hotel and Convention Center in Texas. The sold-out gathering welcomed 3,000 devotees from 42 US states and 14 countries, including places as […]

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