ISKCON NewsThe News Agency of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

This August 13th to 14th, devotees of Shri Krishna around the world celebrated Janmastami, the day of the Lord’s appearance on earth. The time of this appearance is often cited as roughly 5,000 years ago, although according to scholars the western equivalent of the exact date, given by Vedic philosopher Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, was July 19th, 3228 BC.

As the sun rose above the Ganges on the morning of June 30th this year, young trainee priests from ISKCON Mayapur’s Bhaktivedanta Academy poured ghee onto the flickering flames of a ceremonial fire sacrifice, and chanted Vedic mantras for auspicious effect.

There was excitement in the air.

One of the largest Hindu gatherings outside India is expected to attract 70,000 people to Hertfordshire.

Celebrations marking the 5,000-year-old festival of Janmashtami are taking place at the Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna temple in Watford.

This photo essay entitled 'Spring of Love' attempts to capture the festive celebration of Holi around the sacred Vrindavana area in India. Images by Pavel Tomanec (Paramdhamananda Dasa).

The high school students of Bhaktivedanta Gurukula and International School in Vrindavan were in ecstasy when the Krishna Balarama Temple management asked them to decorate the swing for the Divine Couple Sri Sri Radheshyamasundar on the first day of Jhulan Yatra. The four day swing festival culminated on Balarama Purnima, Lord Balarama's Appearance Day.

Kyrgyzstan is continuing a crackdown on people exercising their freedom of
religion or belief, Forum 18 News Service has found. Communities of
Protestant Christians, Hare Krishna devotees and Ahamdiya Muslims have all
been ordered by the authorities to stop meeting for worship, in some cases
the orders having been originally issued in 2007.

Thousands of devotees gathered at the ISKCON temple in West Bengal's Nadia district as Janmashtami, the festival that marks the birth of Lord Krishna, was celebrated.

On Thursday midnight, the exact time when Krishna was born, people prayed at temples, and thousands gathered to sing hymns in the festive atmosphere of Nadia district's Mayapur, housing the global headquarters of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness).

Pune - A strong believer in Lord Hanuman, businessman Amar Ludhrani visits Hanuman Temple in Camp every Saturday. It is a practice that hasn’t taken a backseat, even when he has the most important business meeting lined up. But with the compounding swine flu scare, Ludhrani doubts that he might have to break the practice he has followed for last 15 years, without fail.

The drive from Cleveland to Wheeling, West Virginia is a beautiful juxtaposition of Ohio forests with the industry that supports Ohio. As you live the city behind you, your trip will take you past small towns and awe-inspiring factories, like the First Energy plant just outside of Steubenville, which spans the roadway and creates a tunnel.

It is December of 1936. Abhaya Caraṇāravinda Dāsa, a forty-year-old pharmaceutical distributor then in Bombay on business, feels a sudden impulse to write a letter to his spiritual master, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura.

It is December 9, 1968, thirty-two years later. The same disciple—now a renunciant and spiritual master himself—finds himself in the city of Los Angeles where he relates to a gathering of his own disciples the story of his 1936 letter. He is observing with them the “Disappearance Day” of his spiritual master.

Paternalism is based on the premise that it better to keep people, especially those people judged from a position of superiority to be vulnerable, in ignorance rather than given knowledge and the consequent rights and responsibilities. Not only is paternalism debilitating, but its effects can linger for decades. I’m living proof.

Tempe is a cheesy substance made by soaking and boiling soya beans, inoculating them with a fungus Rhizopus oligosporus, packing them into thin slabs wrapped in polythene (or banana leaves pierced with holes) and leaving to ferment. Tempe is easily digested, delicious and a great source of protein, and best fried for optimum taste and texture. Serves 4.

Karl and Dorsey Gude of East Lansing, Mich., can remember simpler mornings, not too long ago. They sat together and chatted as they ate breakfast. They read the newspaper and competed only with the television for the attention of their two teenage sons.

That was so last century. Today, Mr. Gude wakes at around 6 a.m. to check his work e-mail and his Facebook and Twitter accounts. The two boys, Cole and Erik, start each morning with text messages, video games and Facebook.