ISKCON South Africa Annual Report - 2014 | Page 29

1 2 possible. The first seminar held was the 3day ‘National Communications Seminar’ facilitated by HG Anuttama Prabhu, GBC Head of Communications. The seminars are usually facilitated by local devotees as it assists in the cultivation of relationships amongst all members of the congregation. Since opening, ISKCON Sandton has Bhagavad-Gita classes every Monday and host scriptural presentations by resident devotees every evening. ISKCON Sandton has also launched Bhakti Sastri Courses. Festivals: Within the past year, ISKCON Sandton has hosted over 35 major festivals with Janmastami bringing over 1000 devotees and other festivals between 150350 devotees and well-wishers; Ran the Sunday Love Feast every Sunday of the year; Excitedly held: Ramayana week, Gita month leading to Janmastami as well as a program (arati, lecture and Prasad) every day during the month of Kartik. Township Preaching: ISKCON Sandton gives precedent attention to ‘African Preaching which constitutes 1 of 6 national mandates. Consequently, in November ISKCON Sandton launched the ‘Township Preaching Program’ in Alexandra. Twice a week devotees distribute Prasadam, have kirtan and deliver Krishna Conscious discourses to over 50 attendees. Govinda’s Restaurant and Take-Away: In October 2014 ISKCON Sandton opened a 7-days a week pure vegetarian restaurant. It started off with a huge bang and continues to exhilarate everyone’s taste buds with many customers making their way over for lunch and supper on a daily basis. Property Bond: Within 16 months ISKCON Sandton managed to raise R3.5million to pay off the property bond. Education and Training: Srila Prabhupada repeatedly emphasized the importance of studying sastra for it is through knowledge that one’s faith develops. ISKCON Sandton recognizes the importance of this principle and thereby hosts multifarious seminars as frequently as ISKCON Sandton has recently launched an array of new portfolio’s – Devotee care, Outreach programmes, Congregational Development in the form of house programs and namahattas and a Samskara’s portfolio. The increase in activities has warranted a need for a bigger space that caters to our everswelling congregation. At the start of January 2015 ISKCON Sandton took their first steps in expansion by purchasing the adjacent property that will be converted into a fully-fledged temple which will allow for more living space for resident devotees; a bigger and better Govinda’s, space for a fully-functional gift-shop as well as a conferencing centre.