Devotees singing kirtan to greet Prime Minister Modi.

On Monday, July 8th, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi arrived in Moscow. At the Carlton Hotel, Modi was met with a lively kirtan offered by members of ISKCON Russia. Their joyful welcome was shared on many Indian TV channels, further spreading the Holy Name.

The following day, Modi held a special meeting with the Indian community in Russia. Sadhu Priya Das, the Regional Secretary for ISKCON Moscow, presented the Prime Minister with a photograph taken during Modi’s visit to the ISKCON temple in Moscow in 2001. In the photo, Modi can be seen offering prayers with devotees at the ISKCON temple. Acyutatma Das, the ISKCON GBC for Russia, was also present at the meeting. India media covered the interaction here and here.  Interestingly, this meeting took place in a building quite near the hotel where Srila Prabhupada stayed in 1971 during his visit to Moscow. During the visit, Modi announced that consulates will be opened in two more large cities of Russia.

In St. Petersburg, the Indian Consulate helped coordinate the large Ratha Yatra festival which welcomed 15,000 guests. During the festival, the devotees distributed many books and several thousand portions of prasadam. See the gallery below of the Rath Yatra celebration.