ISKCON NewsThe News Agency of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

On Sunday 28th June London’s Ratha-yatra returned to the streets of the British capital. London was illuminated by the wonderful colours and sounds of the festival, a vibrant celebration of Vaishnava culture and spirituality in the city.

Today’s world isn’t just hectic and stressful for adults. Youth must juggle school or college, home studying, exams, and part-time jobs while holding on to some semblance of a social life. No surprise that every so often, it’s time for a much needed break. But while some choose drinking, partying and dogged pursuit of casual sex, ISKCON’s Pandava Sena youth group are looking for a true break away from it all this summer: a sample of the simple life.

For decades now ISKCON devotees have also been part of the Glastonbury experience. Despite the fact that the festival coincided with London Rathayatra this year, a dedicated team of 20 devotees went down to make a spiritual contribution to the event. “For years the organizers have given us free tickets and a good spot for putting up our tent,” explains team leader Giridhari Dasa, “So we reciprocate by giving people a helping hand and genuine festive experience.”

A new biography of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, a highly influential teacher of Gaudiya Vaishnavism and the guru of ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada, has been completed this June.

Prabhupada disciple Bhakti Vikasa Swami spent over twenty years researching the book, titled Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava, and at three volumes and 1,500 pages, it’s clear his efforts have paid off.

Twenty-one students successfully completed another academic year at Bhaktivedanta College in Radhadesh, Belgium, and a graduation ceremony took place on June sixteenth. The room was crowded when the tired but satisfied undergraduates and staff were joined by cheering temple devotees, friends, supporting members, and a few proud parents.

ISKCON devotees in Jalandhar, Punjab made the news on Sunday June 28 when they announced plans to hold a 12-hour chanting marathon in hopes that Lord Krishna would be pleased and send rain.

India is currently dealing with a rain deficit 85 per cent below normal, with monsoons being delayed as much as one month. This means no livelihood for the roughly 600 million Indians supporting themselves off of the land, especially since irrigation is a luxury for most farmers.

Summer grilling season is in full swing - but while many are flipping burgers and steaks, one local community is firm in its dedication to keep mankind's bovine companions from harm.

The New Vrindaban community of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, better known as the Hare Krishnas, near Moundsville has operated a cow sanctuary since the community's inception in 1968 - the first of its kind in the United States.

Character matters, especially in a world where surety is fast becoming a thing of the past, in a communication age where according to Marshall McLuhan, “the medium is the message,” and philosophers of language are still pondering the question, "What is meaning?"

In the 1960s, psychologist Walter Mischel and others started a revealing study of four year old children at a preschool on the Stanford University campus. The four-year-olds were offered a proposal involving getting a marshmallow (a kind of sweet candy). If they could wait for about twenty minutes till the person giving the candy returned after doing a small task, they would get two candies. If they couldn’t wait till then, they would get only one candy – but they would get it instantly.

New Remuna Dhama, ISKCON Toronto, would like to extend a warm invitation to devotees around the world to experience our 37th Annual Festival of India (Ratha-Yatra) on July 18-19, 2009! Toronto’s Ratha-Yatra has the unique distinction of being accredited by Madhuha das, the organizer of the traveling Festival of India tour, as being the largest Ratha-Yatra in North America with close to 40,000 people in attendance along with a plethora of Srila Prabhupada’s books sold each year!

The Sri Mayapur International School's holistic approach to education engages the body, mind, intelligence and words of devotee children from all over the world. It prepares them to fulfill their life's purpose spiritually, at the same time providing internationally accepted skills, training and academic education.