Sri Giri Govardhan in Vrindavanita, Colombia

 By Vrinda Family News

On November 15th was celebrated the beautiful festival of Sri Giri Govardhan and the transcendental disappearance of Srila Prabhupada in Vrindavanita Eco Yoga Farm Monastery, Bogota-Colombia.

There were several activities and offerings full love by the dear devotees.

Here are some pictures of this beautiful festival that was full of joy and sadhu sanga.

Giri Govardhan giving us her divine darshan and mercy

The most lovely smile

Vinoda Devi Dasi with her small child bathing Giri Govardhan
"There is not bigger treasure than teaching your children the path towards Krishna Consciousness"

BV Sagar Swami, Vrinda Mission's missionary, worshiping Sri Govardhan and giving us his nectar in this day

All expansions of Giri Govardhan giving us their sweet darshan

Sharing in family, Sadhu sanga Ki, Jay!

Ecstatic kirtan by Prabhu Askalita, pioneer and guardian of the Vrinda Mission in Colombia

Sri Giriraj Govardhan Ki, Jay!

Vrindavanita Ki, Jay!

Vrinda Mission Ki, Jay!

Anuttama Dasa & Michael Langone at Parliament of World Religions

by ISKCON News

ISKCON's Minister of Communications, Anuttama Dasa, spoke in October at the World Parliament of Religions in Salt Lake City, Utah, on a Panel entitled "Understanding and Mitigating the Dangers of Manipulation, Undue Influence and Abuse within Religious and Spiritual Communities." Anuttama was joined by Dr. Michael Langone, the Executive Director of the International Cultic Studies Association. Both discussed potential problems of spiritual leadership and the means of avoiding abuse through training, accountability, and transparency.

Kirtan Raga: JOY - Album Promo Clip

“Joy” - KirtanRaga’s first album of live kirtan recordings. Kirtan Raga is an educational project dedicated to sharing knowledge about the philosophy and practice of kirtan. “Joy” is available on iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay, Spotify, and other digital platforms. All profits will be used to fund worldwide promotion of kirtan through website development, publications, events, and educational initiatives.

Giri Govardhan Celtic Remix- Virtual Mantra Choir

Vrindavan festival to bring together various cultures

Vrindavan Today: Mathura, November 17, 2015

A week-long festival seeking to unite different cultures and create an environment of peace and harmony will be held here from November 18 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the 16th century monk and reformer Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Vrindavan Prakash Mahotsav is set to bring together at least 40 different styles of music from 25 states across the country.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is said to have promoted the community-style devotional worship of Krishna with kirtans.

President to attend opening function

President Pranab Mukherjee, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav along with host of dignitaries will be present at the inauguration on November 18.

Of the various avatars of Vishnu, he revered Krishna and popularised the chanting of the ‘Hare Krishna’ mantra, also known as ‘Sankirtan.’

“India is known for acceptance and tolerance, and we want this festival to be known for that. The essence of this festival is to create love and harmony,” says Abhishek Goswami, the convener of the festival.

With Manipuri manjiras fusing with mridangams from Bengal and Manganiyar musicians from Rajasthan, the festival aims to “bring the whole country together in a single sutra.”

“The main objective of the festival is creating a bridge between all forms of culture, music and to emanate love,” says Mr Goswami.

Organised by Vrindavan based organisation, Earth Voice, with the support of Kathak Kendra, the Sangeet Natak Akademi and Dharmik Leela Commitee, the festival would host musical legends including Sanjeev Abhyankar, Kalapini Komkali and Trichur Brothers.

Dipwali

By Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja

Varsana, Vrndavana, India
12th October 1996

Devotee: Why do we celebrate Dipavali, and in what mood is it celebrated by Vrajavasis?
Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja: Dipavali means a time of happiness. When Lord Rama defeated Ravana and reached Ayodhya, a big Dipavali festival was performed there. Sri Vamanadeva wanted to cheat Bali Maharaja. He did not cheat him; rather He gave His mercy, although it seemed that He was cheating. When Bali Maharaja was offered a benediction from the Lord, he requested, “Always remain in my home.” In this way the Lord Himself was “cheated.” Lord Vamanadeva was very glad, and He agreed to stay there forever. Due to great happiness, Bali Maharaja then asked all his associates to hold a Dipavali festival, and that was the first Dipavali. When Krsna defeated Duryodhana and returned to Dvaraka, a Dipavali was also celebrated there.

Lord Krsna Himself, along with Mother Yasoda, Nanda Baba and all the other Vrajavasis, came here to Manasa-ganga, and celebrated this festival with their own hands. In other words they themselves offered dipa (a lighted ghee wick) and rendered many other services.

Dipavali also means light. If there is no bhajana of Krsna there is darkness, and in Krsna Consciousness there is light. We celebrate this function in order to give up darkness and to bring the light of bhakti, pure devotion. This is the same celebration. Real happiness comes from playing karatalas and mrdangas. If one hears this, and if maya hears, maya will go away at once. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu brought the saìkirtana movement to this world to drive out maya. Sri Krsna and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu celebrate this Dipavali Themselves, and we should try to follow Them.

Halloween Evening Harinama at New York's Union Square

ISKCON News: Nov. 6, 2015, 5:43 a.m.

Rama Raya Das wraps up an intense Halloween evening kirtan and costumed passersby dance with devotees and later offer lamps to Damodara. Rama Raya then offers his concluding speech.

500th celebrations from Amiya Nimai temple

By Vrindavan Today: Vrindavan, November 12, 2015

Mahaprabhu's portrait is taken on sankirtan around Vrindavan.Mahaprabhu's portrait is taken on sankirtan around Vrindavan.

Of the many celebrations of the 500th anniversary of Shri Chaitanya’s Mahaprabhu’s advent in Brij-Vrindavan, the one being organized by the Amiya Nimai temple in Gopinath Bazaar. Amiya Nimai is the most important temple dedicated to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Vrindavan and the scene of annual celebrations commemorating Mahaprabhu’s 1515 visit every Karttik Purnima.

This year, under the leadership of Vaishnavacharya Padmanabh Goswami of the Radharaman temple, festivities this year will be much expanded, bringing together many prominent persons from various walks of life.  It will be held from the 18th to 25th November.

The President of India, Hon’ble Shri Pranab Mukherjee, will inaugurate the celebration on the 18th November. Various dignitaries will also grace the occasion by their presence and the lineup will include Shri Ram Naik, the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Akhilesh Yadav, Chief Minister of UP and Smt Hema Malini, MP for the Mathura constituency.

On the 18th November, at the request of Acharya Shri Padmanabh Goswami, Acharya Shri Padma Lochan Goswami, Acharya Shri Anurag Goswami, the President of India and Guests of Honor will visit the Shri Radha Ramanji Temple and the Amiya Nimai Mahaprabhu Temple. They will then attend a stage program at the Parmeshwari Devi Dhanuka Saraswati Vidya Mandir.

    21 Nov. 6.30 p.m. Installing the auspicious vessel, performance of the adhivasa kirtan, by followers of Ramdas Babaji of Path Bari, Barah Nagar, Kolkata, W.B.
    22 Nov. 5-6 p.m. Bhaktamal discourse by Bhaktimali Ji.
    23 Nov. 4.30 p.m. Mahanta Sri Sachidananda Shastri, lecture.
    23 Nov. 5.30 p.m. Tridandi Swami Bhaktivedanta Madhusudan Maharaj, lecture.
    24 Nov. 9.00 a.m. Akrura-lila kirtan, by followers of Ramdas Babaji of Path Bari. Followed by bhoga offering and Vaishnava seva.
    24 Nov. 5.00 p.m. Mahanta Premdas Shastri, lecture.
    25 Nov. 9.00 a.m. Sri Harigopal Goswami (Kolkata) will read from Chaitanya Charitamrita the section on Mahaprabhu’s arrival in Vrindavan.
    25 Nov. 3.30 p.m. Nagar sankirtan. Followed by bhoga offering and prasad.

Vaishnavacharya Padmanabh Goswami, Sevait of Radharaman and Amiya Nimai temple.

 The celebration will culminate in a grand procession on the 25th November, Kartika Purnima at 3.30 p.m. from Shri Amiya Nimai Gauranga Mahaprabhu Temple. On this full moon day of the Kartika month, a kirtana procession goes out to the places in Vrindavan that Mahaprabhu visited on the day he first arrived.

During this procession, various kirtanas are performed that describe what Mahaprabhu felt when He saw the various pastime places of Shri Shri Radha Krishna.

On the day of Maha-raas Leela i.e. Kartik Purnima, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to Vrindavan for the very first time. During His visit, he came to places where Radha and Krishna conducted their pastimes by doing the internal Parikrama of Vrindavan.

Every Kartik Purnima for the past 100 years, thousands of Gaudiya devotees and aspirants follow those footsteps of Mahaprabhu by going to those same sacred places, entering the mood of Vrindavan just as he himself taught his followers.

The procession starts off from the Amiya Nimai Mahaprabhu temple (also known as Boro Gaur or Big Gaur) in Gopinath Bazaar at 16:00, and continue through the streets of Vrindavan until 12:00 am, singing the kirtans of those lilas that signify the feelings Mahaprabhu developed as he went to each place, the moods he was in when he saw the places of Shri Radha Krishna’s pastimes. On this particular day, none of the main seven temples or any other temple closes until this procession reaches them.

Birbhadra Das Babaji Maharaj of Barahnagar Path Bari leading kirtan in Vrindavan on Karttik Purniima, 2013.

 We would like to invite you to enjoy the divine nectar and the swim in the ocean of devotion. Radhe Radhe!! (Vishakha Dasi)