On Friday August 28, ISKCON Moscow’s Sri Sri Dayal Nitai-Saci-suta deities were taken out to see the sights of Russia’s capital city for the first time in over seventeen years.

Riding on a canal-cruiser barge, they traveled down the Moskva river, with beautiful views of Moscow landmarks such as Red Square, Temple of Christ the Saviour, Park of Culture and Moscow State University.

“Of course Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda can see all these without our assistance,” says Moscow devotee Veda Priya Dasi. “And what are the temporary wonders of a modern city compared to the holy towns of Navadvipa and Vrindavana? Yet still, we hope they took pleasure in the service we offered them.”

The sight-seeing cruise lasted two hours, with devotees singing sweet kirtan melodies to the deities throughout.

Sri Sri Dayal Nitai-Saci-Suta appeared to enjoy the bright sunshine—althought it had been raining as they were carried to the wharf under the shelter of an umbrella, the shower had stopped as soon as they were placed on the deck of the barge.

Photos of the cruise are available here.

More photos of the Moscow deities and Vaishnava festivals can be found here.