Hare Krishna celebrate 50th anniversary
The anniversary festivities will coincide with the celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna on this earth and will take place on Thursday, August 25
THE International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in South Africa, as well as its local branch in Midrand, will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the organisation globally this year.
The fiftieth anniversary of ISKCON will be celebrated in 600 cities across 75 countries.
The movement’s founder is His Divine Grace (HDG) Abhay Cararanavinda (A.C.) Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Its local branch, ISKCON Midrand’s president, RadheShyam Dasa, says that HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was a “true cultural ambassador and spiritual master” of India to the world.
“He took India’s greatest wealth, its culture and spirituality and established it all over the world. Today, Indian culture such as Ratha Yatras, spiritual festivals, chanting hari-nama, paintings of Krishna’s pastimes and deity worship can be seen in every corner of the globe.”
HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada travelled from India to the USA at the age of 69, with no financial or institutional support, to begin a spiritual revolution that spread across the world. In 1966, he opened up the first Krishna temple in New York City’s Lower East Side.
Today ISKCON has grown and its spiritual achievements include over 600 temples across six continents, 65 farm communities around the world, 110 Hare Krishna vegetarian restaurants and the hosting of about 6000 Krishna festivals globally.
ISKCON Midrand will be celebrating this milestone at its major festival of the year Sri Krishna Janmashtami this week, which celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna on this earth.
“The day is usually celebrated by ISKCON in over 75 countries, as well as many Hindu homes globally,” said RadheShyam Dasa.
He added that all residents in the area were welcome to attend the event at no charge. “We will have activities for children and adults, including spiritual discourses, music and drama, as well as a free vegetarian feast on the day.”
The festival will take place on Thursday, August 25 at the Sagewood School Hall, on Sagewood Ave (off Liebenberg Road), in Noordwyk, Midrand, fromt 6.30pm till late.
For more information, call Sandhir Sewparsadh on 084 608 2714.
