The third annual Govindadvipa Mellows – a kirtan festival usually held on the island also known as Inis Rath in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland – will be held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The event is co-hosted online on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/914108069123040/ by Govindadvipa Mellows and Kirtan Dublin, and will run from 7:00am to 7:30pm Irish time on Saturday October 17^th. 

As with previous editions of the Mellows, the virtual event will be dedicated to Irish-born Prabhupada disciple Tribhuvanath Prabhu. A trailblazing preacher who united the Irish Yatra and organized Hare Krishna Festivals in the UK, Ireland and Africa, Tribhuvanath passed away on October 16^th, 2001. 

“There’s a very common saying that a person’s life is measured by how much they are missed,”  says Govindvipa Mellows organizer Supriya Radha Dasi. “And although it’s been nearly twenty years since Tribhuvanath Prabhu left this world to be with Srila Prabhupada, he’s still remembered, he’s still loved, and he’s still inspiring devotees to this day.”

Starting at 7:00am with a virtual Deity Greeting, Govindadvipa Mellows 2020 will include previously recorded kirtans and classes by Tribhuvanath Prabhu, as well as new kirtans filmed by various devotees in their homes.

The event’s poster

Chanters will include Ireland and UK kirtaniyas such as Jaggi Suta, Sita Davis, Nakula, Karunesvari Dasi, Ananda Maya Dasi, Supriya Radha Dasi, Pushpa Dasi, John, Jayananda Davis, Rosie, and Sri Rupa Das.

“Initially we were just going to play the audio from Govindavipa Mellows 2 in 2019, and we decided on the offchance to put a shout out and see did anyone want to film videos and send them as part of a new offering,” Supriya Radha says. “We were amazed how many people got back in touch with us and were willing to welcome us into their homes for their home kirtans. And that’s been something very very special, the support that we’ve received.”

The virtual festival will conclude at 7:20pm with a final kirtan by Tribhuvanath Prabhu recorded on Gaura Purnima in 2000, the year before he passed away.

“It’s important that we don’t forget what Tribhuvanath Prabhu gave us,” says Supriya Radha. “And it was very much his wish that the festival programs keep going, and that we take care of each other. 

“Even if we can’t do that in person, we can still do so through all the different mediums that are given to us like Facebook, Skype, etc. It’s very important that we take care of each other, because devotee association is paramount. And as far as keeping the festivals going, that’s where this virtual Mellows comes in.” 

Watch Virtual Govindadvipa Mellows 2020 on October 17^th here: https://www.facebook.com/events/914108069123040/