New Temple Coming Up In Lucknow
Lucknow, UP: On May 16, ISKCON Lucknow performed bhumi puja on 5 acres of land for a grand new temple.
The 5 acre complex is expected to become a new landmark for the historical city of Lucknow.
ISKCON AP to Restore Ancient Kondaveedu Fort
ISKCON of Andhra Pradesh will begin work on a Spiritual Heritage Revival Project at the historical Kondaveedu Fort in Guntur District this year, starting with a beautiful new temple for the ancient Venna Gopala Deity at the foot of the Kondaveedu Hills.
The Deity was originally installed 500 years ago by the great South Indian Emperor Krishna Devaraja. “Today both the fort and the temple are in ruins after centuries of being plundered by Muslim kings and local dacoits,” explains project director Rama Murari Dasa, who also serves as president for ISKCON temples in the twin cities of Vijayawada and Guntur.
Indore Prisoners Experience Spiritual Freedom
Indore, MP: On May 22, ISKCON Indore inaugurated a Prison Preaching Program and organized its first event at the Central Jail in Indore. The program included chanting of the holy names and a short speech by Mahamana Dasa, the temple president. More than 600 prisoners and prison officials attended the program. All the prisoners received a copy of Back to Godhead (Hindi) along with prasada.
New Trinidad PM Lets the GIta Lead the Way
On May 26, Kamla Persad Bissessar was sworn into office as Prime Minister of Trinidad with her hand on Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad gita As It Is. The move has no doubt endeared the new leader to the Hindus of Trinidad, who comprise nearly a quarter of its population.
ISKCON Pune Breaks World Record
An art competition organized by ISKCON Pune has found a place in Guiness World Records by becoming the Largest Art Competition in the World. The competition organized on December 14, 2009, received record participation of 1,41,918 students that broke the earlier record of Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs of Germany by over 18,976 paintings as it had 122,942 entries from the children in Germany.
The competition aimed at creating awareness amongst the children about environmental protection and cow protection. Lord Krishna was the central theme of this competition.
Contributed by Vrajendranandana Dasa, Navina Syama Dasa, Madhava Smullen and Hemangi Oza.