ISKCON NewsThe News Agency of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

On February 23rd, just months after becoming a Hare Krishna devotee, Steven Cottingham, a Texas prison chaplain, passed away in a car crash. The story of his passing is a sad one, yet the circumstances surrounding it are glorious and inspirational.

An ISKCON youth based near the Hare Krishna temple in Potomac, Maryland, USA has joined the staff of online interfaith magazine KidSpirit. A free teen quarterly that empowers youth to tackle life’s big questions, KidSpirit holds its headquarters in New York but has satellite editorial boards run by youth in schools in Maryland, California, and India.

Ravi M. Gupta, associate professor of religious studies at The College of William & Mary, USA, is working on an abridged English translation of the Bhagavata Purana. He is working with Kenneth R. Valpey, the author of "Attending Krishna's Image".Their translation will come out in 2014 and will accompany a new volume of scholarly articles examining the Bhagavata Purana, just published by Columbia University Press.

ISKCON Crawley will be hosting the grand opening of the Bhakti Yoga Centre on Saturday 23rd March, 2013. It’s been a long time coming for the community of devotees situated in a small town, in the South East of England.

This years Durban Festival of Chariots, promises to be an incredible gathering featuring a variety of locally and internationally acclaimed performers and entertainers. Inspired by Mayor James Khumalo’s call for a socially cohesive society, the festival has adopted the theme of “Culturally Many, Spiritually one”.

On Sunday 24th March at 10am, Bhaktivedanta Manor will be holding an ancient Adivasa Puja ceremony to mark its 40th Anniversary.

On occasion of Women's Day on 8 March 2013, the Commissioner of Police, Mumbai and all ranks invited ladies from ISKCON Mumbai to participate in an awareness program to enhance the safety of women in Mumbai as representatives of Vedic culture.

Twenty-six married couples have been invited to participate in the Grihasta Vision Team’s first ever Couples’ Retreat, entitled “We’re In This Together,” from June 7th to 9th this summer.

Approximately seventy-four gurus, sannyasis (renunciants) and members of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission—the society’s highest ecclesiastical body—gathered in Mayapur, West Bengal this spring for the first annual Sanga for Gurus, GBCs and Sannyasis (SGGS).

Due to a large increase in student numbers Sri Mayapur International School (SMIS) has new service opportunities beginning August 2013.

Fifty thousand people, including devotees from all over India as well as spiritually minded residents of Belgaum were in attendance, pulling the chariot of the Lord with great love and enthusiasm. This year, a special chariot in the shape of a swan was prepared for Their Lordships, Sri Sri Jagannathji, Baldevji and Subhadra Devi.

GBC Statement on Srila Prabhupada's Preeminent Position

During its Annual General Meeting, the GBC released an official statement regarding the “preeminent position” of ISKCON's Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

This winter, Indradyumna Swami's 21-date Krishna Fest tour visited cities across Gujarat, drawing between 2,000 and 8,000 people each night with its thrilling three-hour show.

Sura Dasa of ISKCON Los Angeles’ Temple Bhajan Band has been presented with the World Interfaith Harmony Humanitarian Award, for his work in providing free prasadam and kirtan at interfaith charitable events throughout Southern California.

ISKCON devotees established a large camp at the Maha Kumbha Mela in Prayag (Allahabad) from January 14th to February 15th, bringing kirtan, prasadam and Srila Prabhupada’s books to the largest religious gathering in the world.

The Bhumi Project, a new effort led by Radhanath Swami disciple Gopal-lila Das, is attempting to bring together Hindu communities — including Vaishnavas and ISKCON devotees — for environmental action.

While there are a host of well-known devotees throughout ISKCON from whom we derive inspiration, there are also many, many who exist “under the radar.”
Devotees who have steadfastly carried out their service for years on end, with very little recognition and no desire for it.

The President of India said, “Centers such as these are invaluable assets for developing India’s social infrastructure – just as the education that they impart helps break the vicious cycle of poverty and underdevelopment. The spiritual awareness such centers propagate are the life-sustaining nourishment for our souls.”

President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the Vedic Cultural Centre of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Pune on Sunday.