This year is a very special one for The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON): It is exactly 50 years since the movement’s founder A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada inaugurated the society in New York. Since those days, ISKCON has gone from strength to strength and it now has more than 600 temples all around the world and not only attracts the Hindu diaspora but participants from all cultures and backgrounds.
In the final few months of the year, leading devotees of ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor have been making a special effort to embrace the Diwali festive season.
Diwali in London
For this year’s Diwali in London (DIL) celebrations in Trafalgar Square, Sanjay Gadhvi was heading it up on behalf of ISKCON and was the Chair of the event’s Committee.
Both Sanjay and Srutidharma das joined the Mayor of London Mr Sadiq Khan and others on the main stage to wish everyone a happy and devotional Diwali.
(pictured) Srutidharma das, Sanjay Gadhvi joined the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, the Deputy Mayor and the Deputy Indian High Commissioner to light the ceremonial Diwali lamp on the main stage in Trafalgar Square.
Srutidharma das was invited to the Diwali function at Number 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British Prime Minister, Theresa May MP.
Along with the Prime Minister and other dignitaries such as the Indian High Commissioner Mr Dinesh Patnail, Srutidharma das was invited to speak and lead the Diwali prayers.
Echoing the Prime Minister’s own words, Srutidharma das added that the fact that the community is celebrating Diwali at the Prime Minister’s home is the symptom of “a fairer Britain.”
During the Prime Minister’s Diwali message, she made reference to Srutidharma’s speech and also gave reference to the government funded Avanti Schools Trust, of which ISKCON is the faith affiliate.
Jai Nitai das, the Temple President of ISKCON-London said "It's wonderful, that in celebrating 50 years of ISKCON that today the movement is recognised for its tremendous contribution for the spiritual life of the British people and thus involved to celebrate with the Prime Minister."
Other ISKCON devotees present at the function included Mahaprabhu das (Head ISKCON European Communications and Chair of the Hindu Forum of Europe), Dhruva-kusa (Head of Pandava Sena), and Braj-vadu dasi of Veda London.
Diwali at the House of Commons
During this year’s Diwali event at the House of Commons, organised by the Hindu Forum of Britain, many ISKCON devotees were in attendance.
Gauri das, the Managing Director of Bhaktivedanta Manor and Spiritual Commissioner of the Hindu Forum of Britain, led the opening Sanskrit prayers for the event. Priti Patel MP, the Secretary of State for International Development was pleased to receive a book about A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada from Devaki dasi, the UK Co-ordinator for ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary.
ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary’s Magical Diwali
How apt it was to round off ISKCON 50th Anniversary public celebrations during the magnificent Diwali festival on Sunday 30rd October! In the evening thousands gathered on the front lawn for the Grand Firework Display, in front of the iconic Manor building which was illuminated in purple, and with the adjacent trees adorned with psychedelic lighting!
Described as a “spiritual Disneyland”, the evening atmosphere was full of magic, and after a period of anticipation the night sky became the backdrop to a thrilling firework display.
Earlier guests were earlier treated to two different performances of The Ramayan: the Pandava Sena cast performed on stage in the field. Two hours earlier the Bhaktivedanta Players staged their version inside the main tent.
Invited guests included a host of community leaders including His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, Editor of the Asian Voice Mr C.B Patel, Mayors; and many MPs and Lords including Lord Jitesh Gadhia, Richard Harrington MP, Oliver Dowden MP, Theresa Villiers MP, Barry Gardiner MP and others.
“The Diwali festival is all about lighting two lamps” explained Srutidharma das, “We light a lamp to welcome Lord Rama back home to Ayodhya after His exile, and other, internal lamp: the lamp of knowledge, inspiration and direction. These things will illuminate our lives for the upcoming year.”
The New Year
But that was not the end of Bhaktivedanta Manor’s celebrations! The following day, traditionally the first day of the Hindu New Year, the Temple’s celebrations included a magnificent array of vegetarian preparations offered to Lord Krishna during the Annakut festival. Govardhana Puja was also performed on the day, and the cows were honoured in a special ceremony, with swarms of devotees decorating the cows with traditional hand paints.
Devotees and guests all circumambulated the Govardhana Hill which was made of a huge variety and quantity of sweet prasadam and which was then distributed profusely to everyone present.
Through these festivities, devotees sought to re-create in a small way the events which took place over 5000 years ago in Vrindavan, the place of Krishna’s childhood pastimes.
At the House of Lords
Sri Radha Ramana das, an ISKCON priest and employee of HSBC Bank in Canary Wharf, organised a special event at the House of Lords in observance of ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary. The event was hosted by Lord Dholakia and Shalesh Vara MP was amongst the special guests.
Lord Dholakia spoke of ISKCON’s special contributions to British Hinduism, focusing on the campaign to save Bhaktivedanta Manor from public closure. He also spoke in length about ISKCON’s disagreement with the RSCPA’s policy to put sick cows ‘to sleep’, and how he, Shailesh Vara MP and ISKCON worked together to convince DEFRA to adapt its protocol to accommodate different cultures’ attitudes towards cattle.
Srutidharma das and Gauri das then praised Lord Dholakia and Shailesh for their support for the British Indian community by within the corridors of power.
The keynote speech by delivered by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, who spoke about the unique contribution of A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada for spreading Krishna consciousness all around the world.
