Ring in the New Year Hare Krishna Style on Dec 31st!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

The following is your detailed guide to ringing in the New Year "Hare Krishna Style"! As we do every year, devotees gather at the temple on New Year's Eve and then head over to City Hall to join the tens of thousands of revelers, ushering in the new year. However, we come armed with our drums, karatalas (cymbals) and voices as well!

Here's all that you need to know about this evening:
8:00pm - Kirtan will begin at the temple.
10:00pm - The kirtan will really pickup by this time!
10:30pm (approx) - Bundle up and off to Rosedale station.
11:30pm - We will start chanting in front of Old City Hall (NE corner of Bay & Queen)
12:00am - the kirtan will reach it's peak as fireworks set the sky ablaze!
1:30am (approx) - We'll get back on the subway and make our way back to the temple for hot ginger tea and snacks!


Some tips to keep in mind for this evening:
  • Come early to the temple - enjoy the kirtan and association of devotees before we head out to City Hall.
  • Dress warmly - it will be chilly, so dress in layers!
  • Don't worry about weather - whether it be snow, rain, hail or sleet, we will usher in the new year with kirtan!
  • Bring your voices - don't forget to chant with all of your hearts!
To get a glimpse into what it's like to party with us, "Hare Krishna Style" on New Year's Eve, check out this video footage from our 2008-09 New Year's Eve kirtan!  We really hope to see you there!

The Relationship Between Sound And Form
→ Japa Group

"The relationship between sound and form is particularly relevant to chanting Japa. Just as material sound vibrations produce visible forms, similarly, the transcendental vibration of Krishna’s name produces the visible form of Krishna in the heart of a devotee. When chanting the holy name of Krishna, one will eventually see the form of Krishna. This is because the sound of Krishna’s name carries within it the trancendental form of Krishna as well as His abode, associates and pastimes."

From The Art of chanting Hare Krishna
by Mahanidhi Swami

Obituary: His Grace Bhimasena Das
→ Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir, Hare Krishna Temple. ISKCON Brooklyn New York

541886_10202086477074232_409679466_nHis Grace Bhimasena das (Mr. Roberto Fucaloro) passed away on October 9th, 2013 in New York City. He su  A dedicated disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Bhimasena prabhu lived in New York City for practically his whole life.  He became a full time member of ISKCON in 1975, and his primary service as a devotee was acting in dramas with the famed New York ‘Vaikuntha Players’, with many legendary devotee actors including Lohitaksa Das and Rasajna Devi Dasi.

In 1999, he took up the service as the Director of the New York temple drama troupe, and till his last days was always eager to present dramatic performances at the temple for festivals, or on the big stage at the annual New York Ratha Yatra festival.

We miss his association very much and pray that Lord Nityananda Rama and Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu bless Bhimasena das Prabhu with engagement in Their causeless devotional service forever.

If There’s Something You’d Like to Try
→ Load Film in Subdued Light

Camera: Polaroid EE100BSL | Film: Fuji FP-100C

Camera: Polaroid EE100BSL | Film: Fuji FP-100C

At the risk of brazen redundancy, I wanted to share a negative scan of a photo taken with the EE100BSL (Polaroid EE100 with a Big Swinger single element, plastic meniscus lens).

Above is the negative scan, and below is the original photo peeled off of it.

Camera: Polaroid EE100 (with Big Swinger 3000 lens) | Film: Fuji FP100C

Camera: Polaroid EE100 (with Big Swinger 3000 lens) | Film: Fuji FP100C

These are two very different images. The negative is grainy and has lots of contrast, while the photo is much softer. The feel of the Big Swinger lens comes through in the photo much more than in the negative. In the photo, you’ve got an obvious soft focus, while all you notice in the negative is the grain.

Normally, I give the photos away and scan the negatives, but maybe with the EE100BSL, I’ll scan the photos.


New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day Programs at New Vrindaban
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

The following New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Programs will be held in the temple at New Vrindaban.  Everyone is invited!

Bring in the New Year with Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra

Bring in the New Year with Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra

Tuesday December 31th 2013

5:00 am    Mangala Aratika
5:45 am    Japa session

7:00 am    Milking the cows at the Goshala

7:30 am    Sringar Darshan

7:40 am    Guru Puja
8:00 am    Srimad Bhagavatam Class

12:30 pm  Rajbhog Aratika

12:30 pm  Gopi dots face painting and more for kids with Gopi Priya devi Dasi

4:30 pm    Dhupa Aratika

5-6 pm     Sacred Stories told by resident story teller H. G. Sankirtan Prabhu

6 pm        Go Puja in the Goshalla (Venkat Prabhu)

7:00 pm    Gaura Artika

7:45 pm    Prasadam

8:30 pm    Shayan Darshan

9:00 pm    Fire Jagja to invoke auspiciousness for a Good New Year (Venkat Prabhu)

10:00 pm Bhajan (Lilasuka Mataji)

Wednesday January 1st 2014

5:00 am    Mangala Aratika
5:45 am     Japa session

7:00 am    Milking the cows at the Goshala

7:30 am    Sringar Darshan

7:40 am    Guru Puja
8:00 am   Srimad Bhagavatam Class

12:30 pm  Rajbhog Aratika

1:30 pm    Prasadam

4:30 pm    Dhupa Aratika

7:00 pm    Gaura Artika

8:30 pm    Shayan Darshan

New Year’s Eve Program
→ New Vrindaban

Temple Program for Tuesday December 31th 2013
5:00 am       Mangala Aratika
5:45 am       Japa session
7:00 am       Milking the cows at the Goshala
7:30 am       Sringar Darshan
7:40 am       Guru Puja
8:00 am       Srimad Bhagavatam Class
12:30 pm     Rajbhog Aratika
12:30 pm     Gopi dots face painting and more for kids (Gopi Priya devi Dasi)
4:30 pm       Dhupa Aratika
5-6 pm         Sacred Stories told by resident story teller H. G. Sankirtan Prabhu
6 pm           Go Puja in the Goshalla (Venkat Prabhu)
7:00 pm       Gaura Artika
7:45 pm       Prasadam
8:30 pm       Shayan Darshan
9:00 pm       Fire Jagja to invoke auspiciousness for a Good New Year (Venkat Prabhu)
10:00 pm     Bhajan (Lilasuka Mataji)

Temple Program for Wednesday January 1st 2014
5:00 am       Mangala Aratika
5:45 am       Japa session
7:00 am       Milking the cows at the Goshala
7:30 am       Sringar Darshan
7:40 am       Guru Puja
8:00 am       Srimad Bhagavatam Class
12:30 pm     Rajbhog Aratika
13:30 pm     Prasadam
4:30 pm       Dhupa Aratika
7:00 pm       Gaura Artika
8:30 pm       Shayan Darshan

What was the best life investment ever for John Vis?
→ Dandavats.com

When the realities of The Gita, Krishna’s message, were told to me, my world had turned around. That was back in December of ’72, right at Christmas time. It was the present I ever received. I am grateful to those five monks that did the delivery. Their names I have not forgotten – Visvakarma, Ayodhya Pati, Satyahit, Drupada, and Dustadhura. They had peculiar names (in Sanskrit) and like the early pages of The Gita where names of warriors are identified, I found the names of my new friends to be odd, yet exotic. -- Read more ›

2013 Bhakti Shastri – English (Album 140 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

The Bhakti-sastri course is a systematic study of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Srila Prabhupada wanted all of us to deeply study his books, so that we could be better preachers, teachers and, very importantly, achieve a clear understanding and application of the beautiful science of devotional service. Sri Vrindavan Dham mercifully provides a unique environment to enhance one’s taste and appreciation of the treasures of direct bhakti. -- Read more ›

New Vrindaban Daily Darsan @ December 30, 2013
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Please see the link for all photos ….

https://plus.google.com/u/0/114809389518597520995/photos

The materialists, who are strongly attached to the objects of sense gratification, the ascetics, who cannot tolerate even a glimpse of sense happiness, the earnestly endeavoring yogis, the impersonalists, whose minds are merged in Brahman happiness, and the devotees whose minds have entered the lotus flower of Lord Govinda’s feet, are all enchanted by the transcendental qualities of Sri Vrindavana.
[ Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrndavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-21 Translation ] 05

2013-14 VIHE Govardhan Retreat – November 29 – December 5 (Album 64 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Every year at the end of month Kartik VIHE holds the annual Govardhan Retreat. Devotees from all around the world come to participate in a wonderful week of Krsna-katha, ecstatic kirtans and many breathtaking darsanas of Giriraja Govardhana. The sublime atmosphere of the sacred Govardhana Hill enables those who live and preach outside of the Holy Dhama to immerse themselves in the magical world of Krsnas pastimes -- Read more ›