In music, few artists have achieved the remarkable synthesis of spiritual depth and artistic greatness within research, education, and innovation at the highest level, as Bhadra Rupa Das.

In August of 2023, the global Hip-Hop community will celebrate the 50th anniversary of this influential cultural movement. Hip-Hop music has not only served as a platform for artistic expression but has also become a powerful tool for broadcasting specific qualities of consciousness. To discover the intersection of Hip Hop and Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON News interviewed AZitIZ (Lalita Garrett), a Krishna-conscious hip-hop artist, to explore her journey and the significance of this art form as a means of sharing Krishna Conscious messages and sankirtan in the global community.

Soweto, South Africa - In a harmonious endeavor that transcends cultural boundaries, the Hare Krishna Mzansi Choir is making waves with its innovative fusion of African choral music and traditional Vaishnav bhajans. 

ISKCON Delhi, Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi Mandir, celebrated the completion of twenty-five glorious years of service with the Ram Navami festival on March 19th-30th.

ISKCON Nepal successfully organized the largest Vaisnava festival, Gaura Purnima, to celebrate the 537th birth anniversary of Lord Chaitanya. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself who appeared in this age of Kali as a Golden Yuga avatar to teach the principle of devotional services The event was held at Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu Temple, and was attended by over 5000 devotees. More than 6000 participants received free prasadam meal on this day.

Devotees from across the UK descended on Liverpool, the city of George’s birthplace for a series of special events aptly titled ‘The Spiritual Beatle’, celebrating his spiritual journey. Gurudas, one of the ISKCON UK’s pioneers, who first met George Harrison in 1968 came especially for the celebration.

Like a surprise pot of chipped-rice and yogurt won at a panihati festival auction, Mahimamrita Dashakam, a song released to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the installation of Shri Shri Radha-Vallabha at ISKCON Melbourne, is packed with many delectable flavours.  The song begins by describing ISKCON Melbourne as “śrī-prabhupāda tīrthaṁ” where ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada performed relentless preaching and writing pastimes, and by his potency transformed a mundane land into a holy tirtha, a sacred place of pilgrimage. The poet then uses Srila Prabhupada’s own words to describe this temple as “non-different from Vrindavana…” Describing the Lord’s inner reasons to come to Melbourne, Victoria, it sings of Their compassion for suffering humanity, especially for the residents of Melbourne. 

Bhaktivedanta Manor’s annual George Harrison tribute evening at the end of November received the highest ever attendance, many being first-time visitors to the Temple. Having been treated to a generous helping of delicious prasadam, the assembled crowd’s expectation levels were set high. The evening opened smoothly with sacred mantras delivered in silken melody form by a group of seasoned kirtaneers. George Harrison’s best Beatles and solo compositions are safe as ever in the hands of well-honed tribute band The Inner Light, whose accomplished delivery of classics such as Here comes the Sun, Something and My Sweet Lord will soon reverberate robustly enough to satisfyingly fill the estate’s vast new ‘modern architectural’ Haveli building and reliably bring the (already replete) audience to their feet. Senior devotee Sakshi Gopal das deftly took up the MC reins to oversee a night of musical and anecdotal homage to one of Liverpool’s most celebrated sons.

Famous singer Boy George, veteran pop group The Rubettes, devotees, and others performed their best hits at the Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Haveli to raise money for the ISKCON’s Inisrath Temple in Northern Ireland. When Boy George was asked if he would take part in Bhaktivedanta Manor’s charity show in support of Inis Rath Hare Krishna Island, Boy George replied immediately, saying “I’m in. I need Krishna’s light!”.