ISKCON Nepal successfully organized the largest Vaisnava festival, Gaura Purnima, to celebrate the 537th birth anniversary of Lord Chaitanya. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself who appeared in this age of Kali as a Golden Yuga avatar to teach the principle of devotional services The event was held at Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu Temple, and was attended by over 5000 devotees. More than 6000 participants received free prasadam meal on this day.

Devotees from across the UK descended on Liverpool, the city of George’s birthplace for a series of special events aptly titled ‘The Spiritual Beatle’, celebrating his spiritual journey. Gurudas, one of the ISKCON UK’s pioneers, who first met George Harrison in 1968 came especially for the celebration.

Like a surprise pot of chipped-rice and yogurt won at a panihati festival auction, Mahimamrita Dashakam, a song released to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the installation of Shri Shri Radha-Vallabha at ISKCON Melbourne, is packed with many delectable flavours.  The song begins by describing ISKCON Melbourne as “śrī-prabhupāda tīrthaṁ” where ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada performed relentless preaching and writing pastimes, and by his potency transformed a mundane land into a holy tirtha, a sacred place of pilgrimage. The poet then uses Srila Prabhupada’s own words to describe this temple as “non-different from Vrindavana…” Describing the Lord’s inner reasons to come to Melbourne, Victoria, it sings of Their compassion for suffering humanity, especially for the residents of Melbourne. 

Bhaktivedanta Manor’s annual George Harrison tribute evening at the end of November received the highest ever attendance, many being first-time visitors to the Temple. Having been treated to a generous helping of delicious prasadam, the assembled crowd’s expectation levels were set high. The evening opened smoothly with sacred mantras delivered in silken melody form by a group of seasoned kirtaneers. George Harrison’s best Beatles and solo compositions are safe as ever in the hands of well-honed tribute band The Inner Light, whose accomplished delivery of classics such as Here comes the Sun, Something and My Sweet Lord will soon reverberate robustly enough to satisfyingly fill the estate’s vast new ‘modern architectural’ Haveli building and reliably bring the (already replete) audience to their feet. Senior devotee Sakshi Gopal das deftly took up the MC reins to oversee a night of musical and anecdotal homage to one of Liverpool’s most celebrated sons.

Famous singer Boy George, veteran pop group The Rubettes, devotees, and others performed their best hits at the Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Haveli to raise money for the ISKCON’s Inisrath Temple in Northern Ireland. When Boy George was asked if he would take part in Bhaktivedanta Manor’s charity show in support of Inis Rath Hare Krishna Island, Boy George replied immediately, saying “I’m in. I need Krishna’s light!”.

Spring is upon us and that means it's time for the Festival of Colors. The Festival of Colors is an annual celebration of the Holi Festival. Holi Festival is an ancient Hindu festival that commemorates Radha Krishna's love as well as the triumph of virtue over evil. The Holi Festival began in India and has now spread throughout the world.

The song is dedicated to Vinod Shivprasad Trivedi who met Srila Prabhupada at Bhaktivedanta Manor in the early 1970s. Prabhupada signed a book for Vinod that his son Dilip holds dear to his heart and reads frequently which has inspired him to fund this single.

“Give Peace A Chance” and “Hare Krishna” go viral on European radio once again.

The legendary singer and most recorded artist in the world (Guinness World Records) passed away on February 6, 2022 at the age of 92. I had the good fortune of meeting her in 1976 and spending several hours one on one with her over a three-day period.