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A special ceremony to celebrate Diwali celebration at Sri Lanka’s President’s House.
ISKCON Sri Lanka Temple President Sriman Mahakarta Das along with Srimathi Nandarani Devi the Principal of Gokulam Bhaktivedanta Children’s Home, participated in the Diwali Celebrations held on the Diwali day at the President’s House. Pictures show Miss. Krishna Priya presenting a copy of ‘Bhagavad Gita As it is’ to the President of Sri Lanka on behalf of the Devotees of the Temple.

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Justin Trudeau’s, Prime Minister Of Canada, wishes for Diwali (1 min video)
Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau joined Obama in sending his wishes on the auspicious day of the festival.
The United Nations too decked up its New York office in beautiful lights for the auspicious festival.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ySGLM3

Short meditation at kirtan program in Panama city, Panama

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​Congregation program at Los Angeles, USA

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By Theresa May

"I am delighted to send my very best wishes to everyone celebrating Diwali, a festival which holds such significance for so many people. Indeed, right across the world, lights decorate the streets, flowers adorn homes, treats are served and presents exchanged – all marking the triumph of light over darkness. But the festival of lights isn’t just relevant for Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists. It is relevant to all of us, those of all faiths and none. We can all learn from the example set by Lord Rama, whose return from exile is marked by these 5 holy days. That epic story teaches us about building strong families and communities, shunning wrongdoing and evil, and choosing the right path. It promotes the values of service, responsibility, unity and tolerance. We need those values more than ever as we build a country that works for everyone – a country where no matter what your faith, your beliefs or your background, you can reach your full potential. In Britain’s Indian communities, we can see the good that can be done when people’s talents are unleashed. I think of all those running their own businesses, taking risks and working hard so that they can provide for their families and take on staff. I think of all those public servants whose hard work and dedication makes our hospitals, schools, police forces and armed forces what they are today. I think of the volunteers who give up their own time to look after elderly neighbours or help provide food for families who are less well off. These people are the backbone of our communities. And I will be so proud to highlight the achievements of British Indians next month when I make my first official visit to India as Prime Minister at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, celebrating the relations between our countries and our shared ambitions for the future. As we start the Hindu New Year, it is an occasion for people to reflect on the 12 months that have passed and look to the opportunities ahead. So as friends and families come together, in reflection and celebration, let me wish you all a Shubh Deepawali, and send my good wishes to Sikhs celebrating Bandi Chhor Diwas too." Continue reading "Diwali message from UK Prime Minister
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Holy cow: calf’s Krishna care a miracle!
Alina Rylko for Tweed daily news: REJECTED by her mother at birth and with deformities in her legs, Madhuri Adi Lila had more than a shaky start to life. It was a cold rainy night in August when Radhika - a hand-raised cow herself - gave birth to the calf at the Hare Krishna farm, Eungella. Farm hand Urvasi Devi Dasi said the calf was sadly rejected and left to die. Radhi was not at all interested in anything to do with the shivering little bundle, yet it was imperative the newborn get nutrient-rich colostrum within the first 12 hours of life, Ms Dasi said. "The little one eagerly drank from the bottle as we sent photographs of the deformed front feet to the vet via mobile phone. "The tendons in the front legs are too short and she is not able to extend the first joint. She can walk around in a limited fashion on her knuckles. Last week the calf was recovering well from surgery on her tendons at the Murwillumbah Vet Clinic. She gets physio three times a day, with the Hare community worldwide praying for the animal to recover and walk normally. Cows are considered sacred animals in the Hare Krishna faith. Source: https://goo.gl/zNDfLa

WWOOFers & ISKCON
Bhaktine Jane: You may ask what is the purpose of including WWOOFers (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) in ISKCON?
The Krishna Village wwoofing system or volunteer work provides people of all ages many opportunities to experience bhakti-yoga, which most are not familiar with.
My first real contact with ISKCON or devotees was experienced through the Krishna Village by being one of these WWOOFers. In my case the choice to live in a temple environment run by ISKCON was conscious.
The opportunity to experience bhakti-yoga by encouragement and free choice took away my anxiety of not knowing enough and of being too curious. These are emotions that almost everyone goes through who decides to be a volunteer worker at Krishna Village. Those initial experiences someone has with the devotees is something that they will remember throughout their whole spiritual journey.
However, it can be a double-edged sword – It can either encourage or discourage a person to keep associating with devotees and grow spiritually. Even if most of the volunteers don’t become devotees, the most precious nectar is given to them. Through the holy names of Krishna and service to Him, the taste of bhakti-yoga will remain throughout their lives.
It is our duty to offer to others what was given to us by Srila Prabhupada: an international community, a home where we can engage in devotional service and a place where we can grow spiritually.

Hillary Clinton said that if elected, she’d continue to celebrate Diwali in the White House.
Hillary Clinton Monday greeted the Indian American community on Diwali and said that if elected, she’d continue to celebrate Diwali in the White House.
By: FE Online | Published: October 31, 2016 3:34 PM
“To those of you celebrating this joyous occasion, I wish you and your loved ones a Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak,” (Reuters) “To those of you celebrating this joyous occasion, I wish you and your loved ones a Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak,” (Reuters)
Hillary Clinton Monday greeted the Indian American community on Diwali and said that if elected, she’d continue to celebrate Diwali in the White House. Echoing PM Narendra Modi’s thoughts which he shared with the people on radio program, ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Clinton talked about the significance of celebrating Diwali. Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign said that about a billion people of different faiths – Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists around the world and two million Americans in addition will celebrate Diwali. Underlined the importance of the festival for the people of these faiths she said “For members of these faiths, lighting the lamp (the diya) is a reminder that light prevails over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil”.
Modi on Sunday had said that the festival of Diwali will bring the world closer to enlightenment. PM Modi on his program had also shown gratitude towards the US postal service for launching Diwali postal stamps on the occasion.
“The United States and India share deep cultural ties. So there’s a large and active Indian-American population here in the United States. It contributes greatly to the success and vibrancy of our country, our economy and our democracy,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told PTI. “US Postal Services is viewed by Indian-Americans as an affirmation of the key role played by them in the US, the White House said today, as it hailed the community’s contribution to the country.” he added.
Hillary Clinton said “Here in the United States, it is a tribute to the Indian American community that Diwali is celebrated with such beauty and joy.” Talking about the importance of diversity for the county, Clinton said that it is one of the “greatest strengths” of America as a nation. The statement further adds that if elected, she will be committed to build an administration that will reflect this diversity. In the end, she wished the people and said, “To those of you celebrating this joyous occasion, I wish you and your loved ones a Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak,”
Source: https://goo.gl/Fp8OVT

By Indian express

A Diwali stamp was launched here by the US postal service, capping seven-year-long efforts by Indian-Americans and influential American lawmakers to commemorate the festival of lights. The stamp was unveiled at the Indian Consulate at an elaborate “first-day-of-issue” dedication ceremony on Wednesday. The US Postal Service (USPS) commemorated the Hindu festival of Diwali by dedicating the Diwali Forever stamp. The stamp shows a photo of a traditional ‘diya’ lit against a sparkling gold background and the words ‘Forever USA 2016’ written below. The ceremony was attended by Consul General Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Diwali Stamp Project Chair Ranju Batra, USPS Vice President for Mail Entry and Payment Technology Pritha Mehra, India’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri and eminent Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra. Continue reading "Diwali Forever stamp released by US Postal Service
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By Barack Obama

To all who are celebrating the festival of lights across America and around the world, happy Diwali. As Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists light the diya, share in prayers, decorate their homes, and open their doors to host and feast with loved ones, we recognize that this holiday rejoices in the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. It also speaks to a broader truth about our shared American experience. It's a reminder of what's possible when we see beyond the differences that too often divide us. It's a reflection of the hopes and dreams that bind us together. And it's a time to renew our collective obligation to deepen those bonds, to stand in each other's shoes and see the world through each other's eyes, and to embrace each other as brothers and sisters - and as fellow Americans. Continue reading "US President Obama Celebrates Diwali By Lighting Ritual Lamp
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Govardhana puja celebration at ISKCON Salem, Tamil Nadu (Album with 66 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Because we are in ignorance, maya, at any time we may forget Krsna. Therefore we must always engage in Krsna consciousness so that we shall not forget Him. That is indicated by Kuntidevi by the words sravana-smaranarhani. The word sravana means “hearing,” smarana means “remembering,” and arhana means “worshiping the Deity of Krsna.” One should always engage oneself in hearing about, remembering, and worshiping Krsna. All the centers of the Krsna consciousness movement are opened only for this purpose – to facilitate chanting, dancing, and worshiping so that we shall not forget Krsna. Sada tad-bhava-bhavitah: [Bg. 8.6] if we always think of Krsna, there is a chance that we shall remember Krsna at the end of life (ante narayana-smrtih [SB 2.1.6]). >>> Ref. VedaBase => TQK 18: Liberation from Ignorance and Suffering
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By Daksina Devi Dasi

As an offering to Srila Prabhupada for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary, Bhaktivedanta Manor, the Global Headquarters for ISKCON Child Protection, hosted a child protection training seminar for more than 20 leaders, GBC members, temple presidents and ISKCON charity trustees from across the UK. The training was delivered by Paul and Derek from RWA Child Protection Services and the Manor Child Protection Team. Ray Wyre Child Protection Services are an independent child protection specialist organization that, for the last eight years, have been assisting the UK Regional Director, Daksina devi dasi, in an advisory capacity. This intensive one-day training was the first of its kind in the UK, where leaders gathered to learn about all aspects of child protection, including what child abuse is, the mindset of offenders, how to prevent child abuse and how child abuse is dealt with within ISKCON. Continue reading "ISKCON UK Child Protection
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The entire TOVP Team wishes to publicly take this opportunity to recognize and thank the managers and devotees of the worldwide BBT/BBTI for their cooperation and service to the TOVP project since its beginnings in 2009. To date over $1.7 million has been given by the BBT/BBTI to the project, a most significant amount.

Many devotees are unaware of the financial commitment made by the BBT/BBTI to fund the construction of the TOVP. This is in accordance with Srila Prabhupada’s instructions that the BBT utilize the profits from the sales of his books to fund temple construction and other projects throughout the world. It is most laudable that this directive of Srila Prabhupada has been maintained and such a large financial commitment has been directed to the TOVP year after year. We could not have come to the point of our current construction without these funds. And based on future financial projections we feel we will realize our common goal to together celebrate the Grand Opening of the TOVP during Gaur Purnima 2022.

But none of this would have been possible without the blood, sweat and tears of the dedicated book distributors worldwide who made these funds possible in the first place by the distribution of millions of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Without their sacrifices there would be no lakshmi to disburse. Their service is most glorious and integral to the purpose of the TOVP. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts.

It is this mood of cooperation and unity to serve Srila Prabhupada which is pleasing to him and which strengthens our purpose and resolve as an Institution and also gives us each individually a taste of the nectar for which we are always anxious. Let us all continue to increasingly move forward in this single-minded fashion and become instruments for the glory of Sridhama Mayapur and the TOVP and the subsequent re-spiritualization of humanity, liberating one and all in the glorious sankirtan movement.

“You must allow Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to rise more and more so that this sun, moonshine, may be distributed all over the world. That is wanted. Therefore this temple is situated. Of course, we shall try to construct a very nice temple for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This morning we were thinking of this. So from this place, this moon, Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, will distribute. Sreyah-kairava-candrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam. The Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Hare Krsna movement… Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam. This is spoken by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself.

Srila Prabhupada – Lecture on Sri CC Adi 1.6 — March 30, 1975, Mayapur

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Another Sunday Evening with Swamiji

https://flic.kr/s/aHskKDRmdg

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 September 2016, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.9.25)

Continued from, “Lessons in life,” Bhismadev’s list of challenges for society at large to improve their quality of life…

With regards to these moral principles given by Bhismadev here in the purport, the principle of, “Not to lie,” may be exempt in exceptional circumstances. When devotees are hiding in the basement and a soldier comes looking for them then we can say, “Devotees, I don’t know, I’ve never seen them!” One must not take these principles in a fundamentalist way, they must be applied with intelligence. Fundamentalism is a form of reductionism where we try to eliminate the complexities of life and try to get a few slogans which are applied at all times, all places, all circumstances and which cannot be possibly adjusted in any situation. This creates fanaticism and can create many problems.

Prabhupada also gave the example of the father who has to lie to a child to give the child medicine and tells them that it is sweet. For a higher purpose! Once there was a debate about book distribution because some book distributors were at times not so moral and not so honest in the way they were distributing books. There was another group who was into honesty and it became a big issue. This matter was taken to Prabhupada. Prabhupada said that not to lie and to be honest is very important. He wrote this in a letter to Bhurijana and said that he upheld the importance of moral behaviour and honesty and then Prabhupada asked, “What about those who are so moral, are they distributing books?” The answer was, “Not so many as the other group…” and Prabhupada asked what was the point of morality, books have to somehow or other go out! So sometimes, we have transcendental morality that for the sake of Krsna things may be different…

Also Yudhisthir Maharaj’s example can be applied. At the end of his life, Yudhisthir went to hell, well not himself but he saw that all his brothers had gone to hell and Yudhisthir asked how was that possible – there was Arjuna who gave his life to Krsna’s service, Bhima who had no evil in his heart, Nakul and Sahadev – how could they go to hell!? But this was the punishment that Yudhisthir had to go through for hesitating to lie when Krsna requested it. However, this does not justify that in the name of transcendence, to lie left and right. We cannot take these stories and say that for Krsna and for the sake of sankirtan it is perfectly alright to tell endless lies. 

Even though we have principles, we are not being relieved from using our brain. We have to, in a refined way, take these principles and say that this is dharma and dharma is to be followed and then, there is apad-dharma, religious principles which is followed in case of emergency and sometimes one may deviate from the principle i.e. not to lie, not to get angry…

Now what if we have to apply this to the four regulative principles. Let’s say there was a plane crash and the only survivors were in a jungle and there were no vegetables that one could eat but there were these fat birds which moved very slow, so what are you going to do!? Fast for the first couple days and then what to do… apad-dharma?? I will leave that up to the individual, to their intelligence but personally, I will tell you that I would fast… and if I die that is okay, it is all still in Krsna hands wherever we go! That part does not warrant apad-dharma. As far as the four regulative principles go, I think it is very important to keep those very fixed.

Hare Krishna

https://youtu.be/7hsJH8LpBrc

Virtual Mantra Choir video, Giri Govardhan (11 min video)
A unique offering was presented to the sacred hill Giri Govardhana. R...

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