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.