New Vrindaban Revives Agricultural Roots
by New Vrindaban Communications
Posted August 24, 2010
"When New Vrindaban was founded, we used oxcarts for transportation, just like people use in rural India. We grew our own food and had our own dairy herd. Later, however," said Malati Dasi, one of New Vrindaban's GBCs, "the focus of the community shifted away from agriculture.'
There is currently a new wave of interest in reviving the agricultural roots of New Vrindaban, a move which is supported by the community's local leadership as well as by the top leadership of the worldwide Hare Krishna movement. "The current petroleum-based economic system is viable for 50 years at the most. Someone needs to create an economic model to fill the impending vacuum," said Malati dasi. "A major part of New Vrindaban's mission is to create, by example, the next economic model."
The Hare Krishna movement around the world is making headway in the field of sustainable agriculture. Therefore, New Vrindaban is fortunate to have access to some of the world's experts. Earlier this year, the community hosted Sivarama Swami from Hungary, Bhakti Raghava Swami from India, and Dhanesvara das from the Ukraine. Sivarama Swami is a co-founder of Hungary’s Eco-Valley, a Hare Krishna community in Hungary which is practically self-sufficient regarding agricultural products as well as electricity. Eco-Valley draws 30,000 visitors a year in ecotourism, and economists have found that the standard of living in Eco-Valley is 150 percent of the standard of living of the surrounding community. Bhakti Raghava Swami, originally from Canada, is now based in southern India, where his team is researching and reviving India's ancient agricultural techniques in areas such as irrigation and pressing oil from seed. New Vrindaban also hosted Dhanesvara das, a member of Ukraine's Gitagrad Community and author of the book Lessons in Spiritual Economics.
"New Vrindaban's next public festival is a celebration of agriculture and agriculturalists," said Malati prabhu. On Tuesday, August 24, New Vrindaban will celebrate Balarama Purnima, or the day on which Lord Balarama (the elder brother of Lord Krishna) descended from the spiritual world to the material world. All events are free and open to the public.
This festival is based on the ancient Vedic scripture, Srimad-Bhagavatam, which was written approximately 5,000 years ago in Sanskrit, the oldest extensively documented language known to mankind. Over the centuries, India's greatest mystic sages and pundits wrote voluminous commentaries on Srimad-Bhagavatam. The first English translation and commentary was written by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Although Prabhupada opened more than 100 temples and centers around the world and initiated over five thousand disciples, Prabhupada said Srimad-Bhagavatam would be his "lasting contribution to the world."
According to Srimad-Bhagavatam, Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama spend their childhood in Vrindaban, the most exalted place in the spiritual world. When the two brothers descend to the planet Earth, they descend to Vrindaban, located in north-central India, which is an exact replica of its celestial counterpart. It was Prabhupada's instruction that New Vrindaban in Marshall County, West Virginia, be developed as another replica of its namesake.
"Vrindaban is a place of natural beauty with forests and rolling hills, just like West Virginia. Vrindaban is an agricultural community, which is why Lord Balarama carries a plough," explained Malati. "In New Vrindaban, our model for sustainable agriculture is based on Srimad-Bhagavatam, and it begins with Lord Balarama and his plough," said Malati. "We want New Vrindaban to truly reflect the spiritual world."
New Vrindaban will celebrate Balarama Purnima on Tuesday, August 24. It is an evening event, from six to eight p.m., followed by a fabulous vegetarian feast. All events are free and open to the public. On December 3 through December 6, New Vrindaban will be hosting North America’s first annual "Farms, Food and Faith" conference. The conference will address issues such as hunger, community-building, renewable energy and small-scale organic farming.
New Vrindaban Community is located south of Moundsville at Wheeling, off Route 250. For more information about Balarama Purnima or about the "Farms, Food and Faith" conference, contact Malati dasi at (304) 845-9591.
Harvestfest & Balarama Full Moon Feast
by balaramfest.com
Posted August 17, 2010
Kirtan in the fields: four days of drums, dance & prasadam
Join us this year for Saranagati’s special festival of presentations, performing artists, teachers, authors and special guests. We are very excited to present the Balaram Full Moon Harvest Festival. Four days of drums, dance & delicious prasadam in the breath taking beauty of Venables Valley, British Columbia. Lord Balarama wields the plow and is the Avatar of agriculture. Balarama is also the personification of the sacred mridanga drum. The Balaram Full Moon Harvest Festival is inviting Sacred Drums of all traditions & nations to gather together in peace to drum, chant and dance for the glory of Lord Balaram.
August 21st – August 24th
- Featuring: Gaura Vani & As Kindred Spirits, The Maypuris, Ghost Brothers, Give Peace A Chant, and more.
- Special Book signing event: The Journey Home featuring Radhanath Swami
- Balarama Full Moon Kirtan & Feast: Call to all Sacred Rivers of the Universe
- Planetary Dance
- Saranagati Eco-tours, scenic safari drives, morning meditations walks.
- Workshops & Seminars
- The Journey Home with Radhanath Swami
- Vedic Mantras with Dravida das
- Simple Living, High Thinking with Yadubara Das
- Alternative Building Construction: with Michael Hollihn
- Off The Grid: Bio Fuel & Alternative Energy:
- Survival Skills for a Sustainable Home
For more information and registration please visit: www.balaramfest.com
21st Annual Los Angeles International Gurukuli Reunion
by Kuli Mela Association
Posted August 1, 2010
Vishnu & Garuda grace the 2010 t-shirt
Following last year’s amazing breakthrough event: KulimeLA 2009 – 20th Anniversary of the Los Angeles International Gurukuli Reunion, we are proud to start a new tradition with our gatherings. Please join us on Saturday July 31st, the day before the Festival of the Chariots, to enjoy an afternoon of reconnecting with friends and enjoying the only 360° view of all metropolitan Los Angeles! This year, the reunion will be held at a new park called Blair Hills Park, with a back trail entrance into a hilltop area with a spectacular view known as the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. Entrance located off Jefferson Blvd. several blocks east of the original Culver Park on Duquesne Ave.
We will have an informal gathering, picnic, sports, activities for children, Bhajans and Prasadam. Lunch will be provided at approximately 1:00 pm. The annual reunion photo will be at 3:00 pm at the Scenic Overlook, after which time all are invited for Harinam in Santa Monica at the Promenade after 5:00 pm; this may be followed by an informal gathering at Dockweiler beach in Playa Del Rey for a bonfire, if there is sufficient interest.
Of course, Lord Jagannath has been at the center of our gatherings since the beginning, so the following day, Sunday, August 1st, is the 34th Annual Festival of the Chariots (Ratha Yatra) at Santa Monica and Venice Beaches.
All are welcome. The Reunion is free. Limited-edition t-shirts will be given to anyone who volunteers a little of their time to help.
The t-shirt was designed by Mahanta prabhu and Rasikananda dasa.
Kuli Reunion organizers: Kamal Vyas, Sridevi Fournier, Ram Prasad & Shakuntala Zakheim.
This event is sponsored by the Kuli Mela Association, a 501(c) Non-profit organization dedicated to serving an international community by supporting and encouraging its members to come together as friends in service, association and empowerment with a focus on spirituality.
Please visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/kulimela
New Vrindaban Ratha Yatra Draw Over 350
by New Vrindaban Communications
Posted July 26, 2010
The elaborately decorated chariot carrying Lord Krishna (Jagannatha), his brother Baladeva, and his sister Subhadra is pulled with ropes of love.
New Vrindaban’s annual Ratha Yatra drew over 350 people from across the United States to Marshall County last weekend. “I can’t believe the entire parade lasted 90 minutes! Once I started singing along with everyone else, the time just flew,” said Jenny Santilli, a Spanish teacher at South Harrison High School in Clarksburg, WV. “The chariot was gorgeous. There was so much decorative detail – paper swans, cow-shaped and parrot-shaped balloons, and garlands of fresh flowers.”
Santilli, who is working on her doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction at Marshall University, attended the Ratha Yatra to fulfill part of her Multicultural Studies requirement. Her assignment was to visit a community that is different from her own. “I am a practicing Catholic, so the Hare Krishna community is definitely different. But after talking with the devotees, I can see many similarities in our fundamental belief systems.”
Santilli also brought her 15-year old son Jonathan to the Ratha Yatra. “I want to expose my kids to as many different cultures as possible. Jonathan saw things he had heard about in school. Everybody was so friendly and answered all our questions.”
Counter-clockwise from bottom left: Padma & Pritha Seward (New Vrindaban), Vani Patel (New Vrindaban), Susan (California), unnamed guest (New York).
Ratha Yatra, which originated in Jagannatha Puri, India, is based on the ancient Vedic scriptures. Lord Krishna, who is also known as Jagannatha or “Lord of the Universe,” is seated on an elaborate chariot, along with his brother Baladeva and his sister Subhadra. The Vedic scriptures describe how Lord Krishna was the most beloved person in his simple childhood village of Vrindaban. When Krishna was forced to leave Vrindaban as a youth to assume his princely duties in Dwaraka, all the residents of Vrindaban went into mourning, thinking only of the day when Krishna would return. Many years later, the residents of Vrindaban met Krishna in Kurukshetra, where they saw him in an elaborate princely chariot and fine royal dress. The residents draw the chariot, with Krishna aboard, with ropes of love. The Ratha Yatra, and its significance in Vedic culture, was established in the western world by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
“New Vrindaban is a very peaceful place, and I plan to come back and bring my niece from Wheeling,” said Santilli. “New Vrindaban is definitely God’s country.”
New Vrindaban Community is located south of Moundsville – Wheeling, off Route 250. For more information, contact (304) 843-1600 or mail@newvrindaban.com.
Chandan Yatra Festival
by ISKCON Murari Sevaka
Posted July 21, 2010
Chandan Yatra Festival
At ISKCON Murari Sevaka
On Saturday, July 31st 2010
4th annual!!!
Come and have darshan of Sri Sri Nitai-Gourachandra
covered in cooling sandalwood paste
Join us in a lively procession, chanting the holy names of the Lord in a kirtan led by Gadi Prabhu. Help us carry the Deities of Chota Goura-Nitai and Srila Prabhupada in a palanquin to the pond where we will all offer Them abhiseka. Listen to a wonderful lecture by our guest of honor Gadi das and end the transcendental evening with a delicious vegetarian feast.
Schedule
3:00pm Bhajans by Gadi das
4:00pm Parikram (Procession)
4:25pm Abhiseka and kirtan
5:00pm Maha Aratic
5:30pm Lecture by Gadi das
6:00pm Free Vegetarian Feast
Sponsors needed
Prasadam Feast $ 251
Flowers $151
Abhiseka $108
Garlands $108
Deity Garments $108
Maha Aratic $51
For more information contact Rama or Murli at rvigrahadas@yahoo.com
or call 931-759-6888 address; 532 Murari Lane Mulberry, TN 37359
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