ISKCON devotees in the UK opened a long-awaited new outreach center in Redbridge, East London this August 15th.<\/p>\n
The center will host weekly Sunday programs with talks on the Bhagavad-gita, arati and prasadam food, as well as regular kirtan evenings and sangas\u00e2\u20ac\u201dsmall groups facilitating structured study of Vedic philosophy. The charity organization Food For All will also arrange distribution of food to the homeless from the center.<\/p>\n
ISKCON Redbridge is making a special effort to reach young people, and will host regular activities for the local Pandava Sena youth group. The weekly Sunday School \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Krishna Club,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d for instance, is geared towards children under thirteen, while fortnightly \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Jammin\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Youth Sessions are for youth aged thirteen and over.<\/p>\n
Regular courses on various subjects will also be offered, including Sanskrit and Hindi classes, yoga, and music lessons on traditional instruments such as harmonium, mridanga, kartalas, and sitar.<\/p>\n
The center was initially spearheaded by a group of four dedicated devotees, who now form an operational committee to run different areas of management: Bhaktavatsala Dasa heads up maintenance and facilities, Radha Dasi outreach, Dulal Krishna Dasa community building, and Jai Radhika Dasi finances.<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The vision behind it is to provide a facility for local practitioners of Krishna consciousness to come together as well as to attract others to Srila Prabhupada\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s movement,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Bhaktavatsala says. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s already proving to be successful in empowering those involved.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
During the center\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s inauguration event on August 15th, ISKCON guru Chandramauli Swami spoke highly of its prime location, telling the 120 guests present, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153People will just walk in off the streets.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153At that very moment, a couple who were walking by saw the new facility, came in, and just sat down and joined in!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Bhaktavatsala. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We were all amazed at the miracle that had just happened\u00e2\u20ac\u201dand it happened again a number of times that day. Living in London, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve grown to accept the sun\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s absence. But now, the sun of Lord Chaitanya\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mercy has risen for us. And we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re excited about carrying out his mission.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n
East London youth and young professionals as well as the community at large are already playing a major role in managing the project, as well as gathering support and fundraising for it.<\/p>\n
The center will serve community members of all ages and support already established local activities, as well as encouraging new initiatives that have not taken place until now due to a a lack of facilities and resources.<\/p>\n