Tropically settled on the southern coast of the Sunshine State, Delray Beach is a welcome home to many- especially those looking to catch some waves or connect body, mind, and spirit! A month before the Bhakti Lifestyle Retreat, five New Vrindaban devotees had scoped out the area during a short fall vacation earlier. At the time, they didn’t realize Krishna would soon place them back in Delray Beach to gift a spiritual revolution to the salty-haired yogis they had crossed paths with- but they were more than happy to receive the invitation. Ananta Gauranga was one of the main organizers of the Bhakti Lifestyle Retreat. Ananta is a 2nd generation devotee from New York who has been living in New Vrindaban, interning under Jaya Krsna as a young leader. He often helps organize major retreats and teaches bhakti philosophy and kirtan. Melting hearts with his melodious kirtans and sharing deep Krishna Conscious philosophy in a relatable, practical way is just a microscopic sample of his sincerity and realizations in bhakti. Vrindavan Priya would also lend her equally mesmerizing kirtan talent and friendly wisdom in this endeavor. A pattern was very apparent in Delray Beach. “Everyone was nice… on the beach, shopping, walking down the road, hiking...” a delighted Anuradha expresses. Each individual they came across was engaging, reflective, and, most of all, in tune with spirituality. This health-conscious community, bereft of anxiety, was prepped by Krishna to receive bhakti. It seemed like the collective fashion verdict was swimsuits or yoga pants, and the yoga studios were just like temples. Everyone had a membership and would go daily. Some even twice daily! Ananta Gauranga feels they “hit a real pulse by going to a city where people were naturally interested in spiritual life. Some of these people moved to Delray to be close to the yoga community. So connecting with those people felt like a streamlined, easy connection.”

On December 6, 2022, Iskcon Cidade São Paulo held another Ratha Yatra, which took Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra to Avenida Paulista, where thousands of people watched and followed the parade of the Deities. Despite the unpredictability of the weather, roadblocks that could have prevented the arrival of the car, costs, and all the necessary logistics for such a large event, the reunion of Lord Jagannatha with His devotees aroused intense emotions and spread joy everywhere!

November 25, 2022, marks the UN’s International Day to End Violence Against Women.  This year, ISKCON’s Vaishnavi  Ministry will join the UN’s global 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.  As Vaishnavas, we are mandated by our scriptures and tradition to protect the vulnerable and those placed in our love and care, including “the brāhmaṇas, the cows, the women, the children, and the old men” [Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.5 Purport]. Abuse in any form is a severe violation of the essential practices of Krishna consciousness and Vaishnava culture. Vaishnava culture requires cultivating qualities such as mercy, self-discipline, and compassion. Abuse undermines and destroys these qualities. According to Srila Prabhupada, one of the purposes of ISKCON is to bring devotees closer to “each other and nearer to Krsna”, and to establish that each soul is part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” Inherent in this purpose, are the values of community, inclusivity, belonging, acceptance, and the cultivation of loving relationships. The existence of gender-based violence within our communities limits our ability to achieve Srila Prabhupada’s vision.  Nearly 1 in 3 women have been abused in their lifetime and ISKCON communities also suffer from domestic abuse. In times of crisis, these numbers rise, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent humanitarian crises, conflicts, and climate disasters. While the pandemic of violence against women is not new, it’s not inevitable, unless we stay silent. Therefore, in cooperation with the UN, the ISKCON Vaishnavi Ministry aims to raise awareness about the issue of gender-based violence from the perspective of our teachings as presented by the Srila Prabhupada and our Gaudiya Vaishnava Acaryas.  Join us from 25 November to 10 December where we will discuss gender-based violence and domestic abuse, ISKCON’s official policies to combat such abuse, and Srila Prabhupada’s teachings on how devotees should treat each other. You can follow the campaign on ISKCON Vaishnavi Ministry’s Facebook (@iskconvaishnaviministry)  and YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@vaishnaviministry7915/featured). 

On Saturday, October 8, 2022, ISKCON Philadelphia and our Philadelphia Vaishnavas C.A.R.E. Team presented our 1st Annual Holistic Health Fair in order to welcome our neighbors to the temple for an afternoon of friendship, educational activities, healthcare assessments, and an introduction to Krsna consciousness. After days of stormy rain and cold winds from Hurricane Ian, by Krsna’s Grace, we had a perfect sunny day with clear skies and ideal temperatures for the Fair. Two weeks prior, we delivered 250 hand-written invitations throughout the local neighborhood and advertised on several online event websites, reaching many more adjoining areas.

Ahimsa means non-violent. Ahimsa dairies do not confine their herd to a building where they never see the sun and they are allowed natural behaviors such as living in a herd and chewing cud in a pasture. Ahimsa dairies do not slaughter the cow at the end of her milking days. When her milking days are past, she can live out her life in a pasture with other retired dairy cows. Milking is mostly done by hand rather than mechanically and dairy cows are not typically artificially inseminated on ahimsa dairy farms. Calves on ahimsa farms are allowed to stay with their mother and drink some of their mother’s milk rather than the milk substitute fed to calves on industrial farms. These calves are often allowed to naturally wean from their mothers.

In this video, you will hear about how Raghunath das celebrated the Panihati festival by the order of Lord Nityananda. Did you know that a very special guest appeared on this festive occasion? Watch the video to find out!

On April 3rd, 2022 an international event took place for a worldwide puja invoking the blessings from Lord Nrisimhadeva's divine protection towards the devastating conflict happening in Ukraine. This conflict has affected the lives of thousands of Ukrainians and the number is growing every day. The conflict is not only affecting Ukrainians but is affecting all of us globally. The event felt like a must to help Ukrainians and pray for protection for all during these chaotic times. Organizers and helpers of the event stated they felt the presence of the Lord even in the days leading up to the puja. They felt a true sense of inspiration, a divine presence, and that they were being guided and moved throughout the process.

According to a new Bhumi Global survey, Hindus around the world see global environmental issues as an urgent concern. The poll, which was conducted last year and analyzed over the past few months, is the first such global survey conducted among Hindus. Participants of the survey represented the gamut of the Hindu population, including India, the United States, Canada, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Mauritius.

If you’ve never seen it, now’s the time. It’s the 20th anniversary of Burnt Ladhu, a production by Vaisnava youth creatively and courageously sharing their experiences growing up in ISKCON. On behalf of thousands of devotees, the cast explores coming to terms with life after gurukula; how devotees can behave in harmful ways; attitudes toward youth; family relationships; and navigating adult life with the foundation they were given.