iskcon sec_ nov 2010

8/8/2019 Iskcon Sec_ Nov 2010

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First time in many years, we decided to conduct a Ratha Yatra in Secunderabad. But it so happened that we

ended up doing two Ratha yatras instead of one, one in Secunderabad downtown and one in Kukatpally area.

Both the Ratha yatras were successful beyond our imagination. Next year, we plan much bigger festivals.

Herewith we present report of both the yatras.

Secunderabad Downtown Ratha Yatra

On 17th July, Saturday, 2010, it was a pleasant day with clear skies. Nearly eight hundred devotees assembled

at ISKCON Secunderabad at noon. Their Lordships boarded the Ratha amidst rousing kirtana and parade

started. The route was the busy downtown area and police provided a whole contingent. SP Road, Patny, RP

Road, Clock Tower, SD Road were covered in almost four hours. Residents of Secunderabad look forward

to welcome Their Lordships again next year and year after year.

Hundreds joined the parade enroute. Shopkeepers and office workers offered their prayers.

Ratha Yatras

One Is Not Enough..Two Will Do !!

ISKCON Secunderabad

N O V - D E C 2 0 1 0

NewsletterF O U N D E R A C H A R Y A : H I S

D I V I N E G R A C E

A . C . B H A K T I V E D A N T A S W A M I

P R A B H U P A D A


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P A G E 2

I S K C O N

Glimpses of Secunderabad Downtown Ratha Yatra, 2010


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Kukatpally Ratha Yatra

P A G E 3N E W S L E T T E R

As we know, Hyderabads IT Sector

rapidly grew over years and Kukat-

pally came up as one of the hubs.

This became a city in itself while

being hailed as the fastest develop-

ing area in Hyderabad.

We opened a Namahatta and

Bhaktivriksa center

and an ISKCON

base for the youththere. Then the

enthusiastic devo-

tees wanted a Ratha

Yatra and lo and behold..everything

fell in place for one.

The date was fixed as Sunday, 25th

July 2010 and preparations started

on war scale but the day before

Ratha Yatra it started raining like

anything and on the day of Ratha

Yatra the rains continued without

any break.

The devotees were concerned that

whether there will be enough

crowd to even pull the Ratha, giventhe fact that it was first ever Ratha

yatra in the area.

What followed was historic. Three

thousand people appeared and it

became the euphoric rain dance for

next 6 hours.

Following are the snippets from the

historic festival which will remain

ever etched in the memories of

twin cities devotees.

Jagannath

at kukat-

pally

Rathayatra

H.G.Nitaipriya das leading ecstatic kir

grand Jagannath rathyatra parade

His Holiness Sukhdevgoswami Maharaj and H.G. Sahadevadasa seenwith the chief guest Sri. Narasimha Reddy, Member of Parliament.

H.G. Yugal Kishore prabhudistributing prasad from the rath

HH Sukadeva Maharaj performing aratiRain dance continued for hours

Devotees At The Pandal doing Haibols


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Glimpses of Kukatpally Ratha Yatra, 2010


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Theology Classes For Christian Leaders


ISKCON Secunderabad is active

on interfaith scene since many

years. Now the temple hosts regu-

lar classes for various religious

communities who get their first

hand experience of Vedic philoso-

phy and lifestyle .

They visit the

temple, hear thedevotees, chant,

dance, take prasa-

dam and buy

books.

In October, 50

senior Christian preachers of An-

dhra Pradesh came to temple for 3

hours of classes on eastern theol-

ogy. They chanted, danced, partook

prasadam, and purchased dozens of

books. Father Sebastian compli-

mented ISKCON for giving a true

insight into vedic culture and on

behalf of the group, congratulated

Dr Sahadeva dasa for making themfeel at home. He said that they felt

as if they were in a seminary.

Srila Prabhupada has taught a uni-

versal philosophy which transcends

the boundaries of caste, religion,

age and social status. Krishna con-

sciousness is a timeless philosophy

and an ageless culture.

Christian

Leaders In

Theology

Class at

ISKCON

Secunderabad


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ISKCON SecunderabadFounder Acharya : His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

CORDIALLY INVITES ALL LIFE MEMBERS, WELL-WISHERS AND DEVOTEES TO

Gita Jayanti Maha-YajnaAnd Pancha Sahastra Gita Prachar Sankalpa

on Friday, 17th December, 6-8pm

And

ISKCON Secunderabad Silver Jubilee Celebrationson Saturday,1st January, 2011, 7-9.30pm


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Appearance of Sri Sri Radha Govinda


At Kukatpally Namahatta center,

this Janmastami, Sri Sri Radha Go-

vinda made a mysterious appear-ance.

The story goes like this. Some

devotees, while touring Bengal,

came across a pair of beautiful

Radha Krishna Deities which have

been kept in a Hanuman temple in a

neglected state because the family

whom they originally belonged was

not interested in taking care of

Them. They thought of providing

them a suitable home but over the

years, the temple authorities were

not interested in parting with them.

When Kukatpally namahatta center

was started this year, suddenly thenews came that the temple authori-

ties have finally agreed to give the

beautiful Radha Govinda to who-

ever is interested in taking care of

them.

Naturally we showed up before

anyone to take Them to Secundera-

bad. It was a very challenging task

to bring them as transporting old

Deities requires several bureau-

cratic permissions. And it was all

happening 2 weeks before Jan-

mastami.

But somehow, by Radha Govindas

mercy, they arrived without anyhindrances 3 days before Jan-

mastami. To get their dresses and

jewelry ready at such a short no-

tice was another herculean task but

it all happened, as if automatically.

Mahasrnga Prabhu and team

worked tirelessly day and night.

Several thousand people took their

darshan on janmastami day.

The visitors included a newspaper

editor and he was so

impressed with Their

beauty that he gavethem a front page

coverage the next day.


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ISKCON Sunday Feast - A Popular City Getaway


Even since Srila Prabhupada estab-

lished ISKCON, the Sunday Feast

has been the frontline preaching

program in every ISKCON all over

the world, where guests come to

the temple, hear about Krishna,

chant, dance and feast on Krishna

prasadam.

In the lush green outdoors, ISK-

CON Secunderabads Sunday Feastis a popular attraction in the city.

And it has been so since the temple

was established 25 years ago and

the tradition continues. Following

are the snippets from a Sunday

Feast on November 21, 2010.


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ISKCON Sunday Feast -Photo Feature Cont



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Namahatta News - Bidar Janmastami

P A G E 1 0N E W S L E T T E R

Bidar is a small city, 140 kms from

Hyderabad, and is known for its

Narsimha temple where one has to

wade through chest deep waters.

Since last five years, ISKCON

Secunderabad devotees are con-

ducting regular programs. Now

there is an active congregation ofover two hundred devotees.

On Sept1, 2010, ISKCON cele-

brated its 5th Janmastami in Bidar.

The chief guest for the occasion

was Mr Harsh Gupta, the District

Collector. Over 5000 people at-

tended the festival which was held

in the citys biggest auditorium,

Ranga-mandir. Devotee children

presented over 2 hours of dramas

and dances, followed by Maha-

abhisek, arati and prasadam.

Chant, Dance And Feast - All The Way

Into The New Year

You are invited to the 31st Night Bash - Celebrate New Year with Krishna

December 31st

10 AM to 12.30AM

Mantra Rock Band Live


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Weekly Harinams and Monthly Maha-Harinams


ISKCON is also known as sankirtan

movement or the movement for

congregational chanting of the

holy name of the Lord.

Every Saturday evening, from 6-7

pm, ISKCON Secunderabad

devotees go out for their

weekly harinam and every-month, they hold a maha-nagar

sankirtan. This is attended by

over one hundred fifty devo-

tees.

All the devotees, life-members

and well-wishers are invited to

come and participate in these

spiritually uplifting programs.


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Vaisnava Calendar


1 Dec 2010 We - Sri Narahari Sarakara Thakura -- Disappearance

2 Dec 2010 Th - Fasting for Utpanna Ekadasi

Sri Kaliya Krsnadasa -- Disappearance3 Dec 2010 Fr - Trayodasi

Break fast 06:31 - 10:14

Sri Saranga Thakura -- Disappearance

17 Dec 2010 Fr - Fasting for Moksada Ekadasi

Advent of Srimad Bhagavad-gita

18 Dec 2010 Sa - Break fast 06:40 - 10:22

24 Dec 2010 Fr - Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura -- Disappearance

(Fasting till noon)

31 Dec 2010 Fr - Sri Devananda Pandita -- Disappearance

Fasting for Saphala Ekadasi

1 Jan 2011 Sa - Break fast 06:46 - 10:28

What a prayer to Prabhupada will do By Maha Buddhi dasa

Bhaktitirta Swami, who was Ghanasyam before taking sanyasa was on book distribution with me in the 197

distributing full sets to the colleges. We went to a small college and found out it was a holiday. Ganasyam

decided to give it a try anyway. I said, Why do you want to waste your time and mine, its a small school an

it is a holiday!

Ghanasyam said, Alright, Ill just go to the bathroom and be right back. Just in case I find someone Ill brin

some books.

One hour went by, then two. I was becoming very upset. But I also knew that Ghanasyam sometimes would

amazing things, almost mystical. I decided that I wouldnt immediately chastise him, first I would find out w

he took so long.

When he finally returned I asked him, Why did you take so long, you were just going to the bathroom?

He replied, Thats what I was going to do, but as I was walking to the bathroom I was praying to Prabhupad

Prabhupada please help me to serve you, I want to please you by distributing your books, please give me yo

mercy.

While I was in the bathroom there was a man in there, and we just started talking. He was a professor of

history and religion. I told him about the Srimad Bhagavatam that we distribute and showed him what I had,

was fascinated. We went to his office and he bought a set. Then I asked if he knew if the library was open. H

said it wasnt, but he is a friend of the person in charge and would call him. When he called, his wife said he

was on his way to the college to get some things he needed. Ten minutes later he shows up and also bought a

set.

I said, Thats amazing, Im impressed. I guess there are no material formulas if we sincerely want to distribu

books.

iskcon sec_ nov 2010

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