Planet ISKCON

Miatta Fahnbulleh (center) with faith leaders at the IWD event. Photo source.  Women representing several faith traditions gathered at Westminster on March 10 to mark International Women’s Day (IWD) in a meeting hosted by Miatta Fahnbulleh, the UK Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities.* The event brought together women from Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Hindu, […]

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Devotees compete in a spirited tug-of-war challenge. Devotees from across Gauteng, South Africa, gathered at the grounds of ISKCON Midrand for the first Devotee Care South Africa (DCSA) event of the year, a regional Family Fun Day designed to strengthen relationships and promote practical support within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness community. The in-person […]

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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 the Vaishnava tradition and the sacred mood of Vrindavan, where Lord Krishna revealed His eternal childhood pastimes. […]

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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 transgression. Of late, we have often seen banner-waving groups loudly denouncing those whose activities have not met their standards […]

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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 question formats for participants aged 15 and below and 16 and above, and preceded by an […]

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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 Goswami, edited with Introduction and Conclusion by Dr. Graham M. Schweig (Garuda Das), PhD. This publication will mark a […]

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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 his room and peacefully left his body. Devotees remember him as a gentle […]

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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 Dasi, and Ila Hatwal.  In addition to attending the international gathering, the representatives will also speak […]

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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 sharing new resources focused on children and community well-being. Rooted in the teachings of Srila Prabhupada, the initiative promotes […]

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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 Prabhupada Vyasa-puja Book. Organizers have announced that submissions are due by May 1, 2026, noting that the deadline […]

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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 detailed paintings that narrate the dramatic story of the Lord’s appearance and the deliverance of His great […]

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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 Prabhupada’s Instructions The degree system that Jayapataka Swami has now completed at the highest level was […]

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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, Lebanon, and even Saudi Arabia have experienced disruptions in recent days, while devotees in Pakistan […]

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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 four or five times, including in San Francisco, Vrindavan, India, Dallas, and England.His […]

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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 life through education, training, and outreach programs, each designed to help devotees practice and share Krishna consciousness within their local communities. According to the report, […]

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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 truck struck a female student on February 23. The student was taken to the hospital and is reported […]

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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 certificate distribution ceremony. The training was conducted during a visit by government food safety officers from the Food Safety and Standards […]

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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. Founded by Govinda Datta Dasa, the initiative offers wholesome vegetarian meals for just $5, […]

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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 Srila Prabhupada: Badrinarayan Swami (GBC), Ekanatha Dasa, and Ranjit Dasa. He encouraged devotees to […]

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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 Vaishnava sanga and celebrations in Mayapur and Vrindaban, attracting hundreds of thousands of devotees from around […]

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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 chanting of Krishna’s holy names. The third verse, in particular, focuses on the key qualities one must cultivate […]

The post Book Review – “A Necklace of Splendorous Gems: A Commentary on the Third Verse of Śrī Śikṣāṣṭakam” appeared first on ISKCON News.

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 exceptional clarity and precise Sanskrit pronunciation. She achieved this milestone during a global simultaneous recital held in […]

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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 Devotees, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. We wish to inform the […]

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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 arrangements are finalized. Until the very end, Badrinarayan Swami remained actively engaged in preaching and service. He […]

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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 Practiced Together.” The conference will be framed by opening and closing events hosted at Harvard Divinity School and the […]

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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 Dham), Delhi-NCR. More than 35 devotees from the local community gathered with enthusiasm and determination to deepen their leadership […]

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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 devotees, around 15 of whom are initiated practitioners, it has demonstrated steady growth through consistency, shared responsibility, and a clear focus on […]

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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, as part of the yearlong celebrations commemorating the 152nd Jayanti of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. The […]

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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 side—how would their deep spiritual fervour appear to an invader from a foreign faith, curious yet […]

The post Book Review – The Forest of Love: A Journey of Awakening appeared first on ISKCON News.

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 Mombasa Youth Assembly stood witness, Kelly Caleb, a young legislator representing Changamwe Constituency in Mombasa […]

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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 experience centered on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam beginning on March 18, 2026 and continuing for 21 consecutive days until April 7, 2026. The initiative is […]

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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 for understanding trauma and its impact on individuals, relationships, and temple communities. As awareness grows around the effects of trauma […]

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