In this statement, we wish to summarize and report on the activities of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Ukraine during the almost one-and-a-half difficult and tragic years of the unexpected war that brought immeasurable suffering to the entire nation.
Food-for-Life Nepal (FFLN), a non-governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to the well-being of marginalized children and communities in Nepal, recently hosted a stall at the Administrative Staff College in Lalitpur as part of the 15th Human Rights National Magna Meet 2023 held on December 8th.
In the quaint villages and bustling towns of Norfolk, a retired couple, Shyamlal Prabhu and Danakeli Mataji, have embarked on a remarkable 175,000-mile book distribution journey in the last seven years, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of the local community. This initiative, driven by their deep devotion to Srila Prabhupada's mission and guided by the instruction of their spiritual mentor, serves as a shining example of dedicated service within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) community.
On December 7th, Kunti Devi Dasi, ISKCON's Interreligious Dialogue representative in Brazil, was invited to speak at an event that brought together justices from the Regional and Federal Courts of Justice in Rio de Janeiro. The auspicious occasion was held at the feet of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, a colossal Christian monument atop the Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio. The theme of the gathering was "justice," and it featured representatives from various religious traditions who brought their unique perspectives to the topic with an aim to promote understanding and more meaningful interreligious dialogue. Kunti Devi Dasi spoke on the Vedic approach to justice.
For the past fifteen years, ISKCON Tucson has been serving the city's unhoused with a healthy seven-course meal along with the chanting of the holy name.
Food for All-UK, famous for its courageous food distribution in areas plagued by natural disasters or war, recently distributed thousands of Srila Prabhupada's books to some of the nearly 250 schools in the Vrindavan area.
The major highlight was the acceptance of the proposal made by ISKCON via the Government of India to celebrate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada, which falls on 29 February 2024. This proposal was seconded by Russia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Vietnam, and Thailand in their Executive Meeting earlier this year and adopted by the entire body in Paris last month.
Mayapur Clean & Green, an environmental initiative led by Murari Mohini Devi Dasi, recently welcomed new devotee volunteers who enthusiastically contributed to the cleaning activity for several days and helped raise funds for the laborers. Their service highlights the challenges of a rapidly expanding population in Mayapur without a matching infrastructure, waste management resources, financial support, and more volunteers to keep the Holy Dham clean and safe.
ISKCON Malaysia Headquarters, Sri Jagannatha Mandir in Kuala Lumpur, achieved a record during the 2023 Damodara month with 222,709 lamps offered and 19,821 plates of prasadam shared. Out of this, a team of devotees conducted the Damodara Program, also known as Deepa-Damodara Program, at 25 local primary schools (ages 5-12), facilitating the offering of 104,747 lamps and the distribution of 8,656 plates of prasadam.