Whilst at Manchester Rathayatra I was told about a wonderful event that was to happen the following day, made even special as it involved some great devotees who have enhanced and brought great joy to my life due to their smiling lotus face and enthusiasm for Krishna Consciousness.
Sadly I found out a little too late to change plans and attend in person however I feel the need to share this wonderful news as HH Mahavishnu Swami accepts 4 amazing devotees as disciples and welcome them to the greatest family in the world that of the devotee’s:
Robert Mavers was given the name Mantra Chaitanya Das
Lee Keen an amazing devotee who always greets me with a smile and no matter how busy always stops for a chat was given the name Lila Jaggannatha Rather Yatra Das, given his great association with Rathayatra
My dear friend Bhaktin Shireen who is just by her presence and smile an inspiration and who’s welcome will always bring you running back for more is now Sri Radha Devi Dasi
And finally Hari Dasi whom I met briefly at Manchester Rathaytra and who’s family is an inspiration as to how all devotee families should be and who’s name encapsulates her completely is Hema Mukhi Devi Dasi
It is a special day that will change their lives forever and so I wish to pass on my blessing’s to them all and pray that Krishna’s love increases in their hearts each day and in this lifetime they return back home.
A notation also is the news that another two lovely devotee friends got initiated Matty was given the name Bhima Das and his wife Lainey was given the name Jai Sri Radha Devi Dasi and I extended the same heart felt blessings
The new Mayor of Harrow officially opened the Summer Fayre at the Krishna Avanti School on Camrose Avenue. The fair was all about raising funds for a new minibus for the school and a great time was had by all.
(pictured)
The children of Krishna Avanti school along with the Head of the Parents Association, Mr Shah, the Headteacher of the School, Usha Sahani and the Harrow Mayor's chaplain, Srutidharma das of the Hare Krishna temple. Read more › 
I’d like to inform you that our family (_______ prabhu, myself and our daughter ______) had to to move to Krasnodar (Russia). Before the war started we had lived in the downtown of Lugansk and planned to stay at the downtown and perform service in the yatra of Alchevsk. When the military operations intensified, our home turned out to be on the front line but till the last moment I had hoped that the war would be over soon. With great disappointment I can tell you that I am still quite strongly attached to everyday material conditions of life. It was difficult for me to leave everything: my friends, yatra, job, career, relatives - and go to some unknown situation. We left the very day when Lugansk was attacked by mortars and the next street became the battlefield. My brother followed me and found himself under air bombardment. We failed to evacuate my father. By Krishna’s mercy all of us survived. I was really scared to cross the border, which was fired on by snipers. _______ turned on the Narasimha kirtan in the car and we thought that if we are shot we might hear the Holy Name at the last moment. For the month we had lived in the area of military operations we had prayed to the Lord for help many times but perhaps our material attachments were stronger than intelligence, which insisted on moving to some safe place. 
On 20 th July few days ago ISKCON in Jogjakarta held Ratha Yatra for the 1st time in Jogjakarta. It was in Bantul one of Jogjakarta's region. Actually we got invitation for 183 Anniversary of Bantul City. After we attained the Anniversary ceremony than we did the Ratha Yatra parade. The Ratha Yatra end in Mayor's office of Bantul city.
At the Anniversary ceremony of Bantul city, Sultan of Jogjakarta Sultanate and also a governor of Jogjakarta was there to lead the ceremony. And HH Subhaga Swami Maharaj had chance to gave one copy of Bhagavad-gita As It Is (Bahasa) to the Sultan. Not only that Maharaj also gave the Bhagavad-gita to the Mayor of Bantul City, Hj. Sri Surya Widati.
Ratha Yatra started late so we can distribute the prasadam in the time of the people break their Ramadhan's fast. Many people took our cookies with simle in their face. They also took picture especially our Krishna. Janaspriya prabhu colored his body with Blue paint and dance as Krishna with the gopis.
Many devotees come from many part of Indonesia to join the festival Ratha Yatra in Jogjakarta. More than 200 devotees chanting and dancing ecstatically in the street of Bantul. Local people also dance with them. Srila Prabhupada and Lord Jagannath so mercyful that the Ratha yatra came to Jogjakarta.
Next Ratha Yatra will be in Binjai, North of Sumatra (August 10th, 2014) than Prabhupada Festival and Ratha Yatra in Denpasar, Bali (23-24 August 2014). 
"In this age of Kali, there is no alternative, there is no alternative, there is no alternative for spiritual progress other than the Holy Name, the Holy Name, the Holy Name of the Lord."
The usage of repetition in the above verse as a means of emphasis is rare in Vedic literature, and should be taken to indicate, without a doubt, the paramount position of importance this method of attaining self-realization holds in this era, the Kali-yuga ("the age of quarrel"). The Holy Name of Sri Krishna and Sri Krishna Himself are inseparable, and therefore wherever the Holy Name is, so is Krishna. 
ISKCON (Hong Kong) participates in the HK International Book Fair, as usual, we have 2 booths selling books. over 1.200,000 visits were recorded last year, and this year the organizer is expecting another record. 
This week was spent with HH Kadamba Kanana Swami. The students learnt all about the history and tradition of kirtan and how music is an integral part of the spiritual world. The students also learnt about the prominent/pioneer kirtaniyas in ISKCON from Yamuna devi and Acyutananda to Vishnujana Swami and Govinda Maharaja to Aindra prabhu and Madhava
Maharaja also shared with the students his realisations from being an expert kirtaniya. The importance of listening and being attentive to the mood of the congregation is paramount. The essence is to include everyone, bring people in; there must be not only the communication and relationship with Krishna but also with the devotees present
Then the students got a unique opportunity to compose their own melody to the maha mantra with Maharaja which they then sang in the temple room for Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha the following evening. 
Remembrance of the Lord is the most effective penance; the Vedas always recommend imperiled brahmanas to meditate upon the lotus feet of Lord Visnu for protection. Remembering the Lord's name is the same as meditating upon His lotus feet. The holy name can disperse all previous offenses, for it acts as the devotee's best friend. The Lord is an ocean of mercy and forgiveness. Like a dear friend, he forgives one for previous mistakes. 
