Boat Festival 2008 Report

Hare Krsna everyone!!

With the boat festival, the major festivals of the 2008 have concluded.

The day was cloudy and just prior to the commencement of the festival, the clouds seemed to threaten us with a heavy downpour. They were pitch black, covering the entire sky except the moon. It seemed as if the Moon of Nadia Lord Gauracandra was witnessing this great festival. After all, the festival is His pastime.

Probably owing to this rain, the attendance was not much. About 200 people assembled. The kirtan was really first-class as was the prasadam. Extra prasadam was distributed to the needy outside the stadium complex.

We shall put up the pictures very soon.

Hare Krsna!

Harinama at Chinese Festival

Hare Krsna!!

It was a very unique preaching opportunity indeed! A few weeks ago, one Chinese gentleman came to our Sunday Love Feast. He invited us to a joint celebration of all the societies, organizations and clans of Geylang Lorong 29 on the occasion of Mid-Autumn Festival which falls on the 13th of September, wherein each society, clan, etc. have to display their unique activity on stage for 5 minutes. Sundar Gopal Prabhu, our President here, accepted the invitation. 

This is a Chinese traditional festival. Nevertheless, they opened up and invited all socities thus making it a multi-racial event. Dr. Fatimah Binte Abdul Lateef, the MP for Geylang Serai Community presided over the festival as Guest of Honor.

As soon as she arrived, a small girl devotee of Sri Krishna Mandir, Bhaktin Pavitraa, presented her some transcendental books of Srila Prabhupada in a nice gift pack thus making her very fortunate.

Amongst all the items displayed, our item stole the show!! It was HARINAMA!!

Everybody present there really appreciated the kirtana.

One comment was particularly notable. The Event Manager commented, "How is it that your temple is full of youngsters?" All the Chinese clans comprised of old people.

This is the dynamism of Srila Prabhupada! Srila Prabhupada ki Jaya!

Srila Prabhupada ki Jaya!

Radhastami 2008 Report

Hare Krsna to one & all!

Yesterday, we have concluded the Radhastami festival. It went on very well. The temple room was exquisitely decorated with flowers. At noon, we had a Puspanjali for Srimati Radharani and a special Prasadam feast was served to the devotees and attendants. We had a special program in the evening too!

The highlight of the program was the initiation ceremony. Five devotees have taken vow to become disciples of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada with the full blessings of all the Vaisnavas present. 

The initiates were: Sridhara Dasa, Saksi-Gopala Dasa, Prahlada Bhakta Dasa, Radha Ramana Dasa & Anuradha Devi Dasi.

It is very heartening to see that the above-mentioned five people have taken up the path of Bhakti Yoga in all seriousness on such an auspicious occasion as Radhastami.

This was followed by another feast for the devotees and attendants of the ceremony.

With that we would like to conclude this post. Thank you for all your support once again.

The Significance of Radhastami

Hare Krsna everyone!!

Radhastami is not very well known as compared to Sri Krsna Janmastami. The reason is that to understand Srimati Radharani constitutes even more confidential knowledge than to understand Sri Krsna. The following is a very brief understanding of the position of Radharani.

Madana means Cupid. We, in the material world, are all afflicted by the sharp arrows of Cupid. In fact, these arrows of Cupid are the cause of our perpetual bondage in this material world. Cupid reigns supreme in this material world.

But Krsna is called Madana Mohana - The Enchanter of Cupid. In fact, His beauty defeats the beauty of Cupid multiplied a million-fold. Everyone, in the material and spiritual worlds, are directly or indirectly enchanted by Krsna. Therefore, Krsna's position is supreme.

Although Krsna is such an ocean of reservoir of pleasure, there is one person who can completely enchant Krsna. That person is none other than Srimati Radharani. She is so perfect in Her devotional service to Krsna that although Krsna is very sober and completely aloof from all affection, even He cannot help but be attracted to Her. Such is the force of Her devotional service. Within the entire material and spiritual worlds, She alone can completely attract the mind of Krsna. Therefore She is also called Madana-Mohana-Mohini.

Therefore if we try to please Srimati Radharani, then Krsna will be more pleased with us than when we try to please Him directly. We observe this celebration in commemoration of the Appearance of Srimati Radharani so that Krsna will be very much pleased.