BEST OF THE WEEK

Mysore

We had a very good Harinam on the 4th of September with about 100 devotees going out for 1 hour in the morning. We are getting about 50 devotees for chanting in the morning japa time. Many other have pledged more rounds to be chanted at home and we are tracking their chanting daily. We are trying to help them improve their chanting by personal counseling and group discussions. They are very much enthused to be part of the program. The congregation feels more committed to the temple programs. We had a very nice 24 hour sankirtan from 4th Morning to 5th Morning, with good participation. The internet sankirtan was conducted between 4:30 PM to 6:45 PM on 5th September. The slow internet here was playing a little spoilsport, but we had a group of devotees participating. I hope by next year we can improve that. It is good idea though. We are planning a day trip to a temple with a good feast for all the devotees who participated for the whole week.


Vrndavan:

We are all enthusiastic for the World Holy Name week here in Vrindavan. We have the innauguration Harinam Kirtan tomorrow in Srila Prabhupada Samadhi Mandir. 500 devotee Harinam to celebrate Srila Prabhupada's 50th Anniversary of Sannyasa! And Internet Sankirtan Party on Saturday and Sunday with Indradyumna Swami and Lokanath Swamis. The Japathon booth will be set up as guests and devotees enter the premises of Krsna Balaram Mandir.

We hope that the holy names can be carried from Sri Vrindavan Dham to the whole universe!


Pandharpur

2nd September 2009

On this first day of this most auspicious week of world Holy Name, All India Padayatra is on the road again. With the collaboration with the Padayatra team, the temple devotees from ISKCON Pandharpur did a big Nagar Sankirtan on the holy streets of Sri Pandharpur Dham. More than 30 devotees took part in this. Srila Prabhupada books were distributed to pilgrims.

4th September 2009

On the WHND, the Padayatra along with 20 devotees from Pandharpur did a harinam Sankirtan, in village called Velapur (32 KM from Pandharpur towards Pune) where the Padayatra devotees spent a night. More than 150 villagers joined in this Harinam Sankirtan with Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundars cart. Acarya Prabhu, the new Padayatra leader, met donors from ISKCON Aravade, who organized a pandal program, near an ancient Siva Temple, known as Ardha Nari Nateshwar. Around 300 villagers attended this program; H.G. Santadas Prabhu delivered the lecture on the importance of walking festival, Lord Ramachandra, and Lord Chaitanya, etc.

6th September 2009

Early morning, around 8.30 am, all the devotees went to Akluj, 1 hour drive from Pandharpur and performed Nagar Sankirtan with Sri Sri Nitai Gaursundar from 10.00 am till 2.00 pm. Many books were distributed. HG Haribhajan Prabhu from Belgaum was chanting the holy name of the Lord very enthusiastically, with melodious tunes. The devotees were dancing on the main streets of the city, in market places and residential areas. In the main circle of city known as Dr. Amedkar Circle, one of the political leaders KM Dada garlanded Sri Sri Nitai Gaursundar and Srila Prabhupada. He honored Srila Prabhupada and HG Rupa Goswami Prabhu with Pheta (turban). Devotees were happy to see Srila Prabhupada with Turban. In the evening a press conference was organized by Ayodhya pati Prabhu: about 8 reporters interviewed Rasamandala and Mohanrupa Prabhus. In the evening, a program was organized in a Hanuman temple.

8th September 2009

Nagar Sankirtan, Book Distribution and a program in an advocate house was performed in Sangola. Mohanrupa Prabhu prayed to Lord Vitthala to help us to preach Holy Names of the Lord. On the way the Lord sent one boy called Aniruddha, who invited us to his house for kirtan. The family asked the devotees to perform a weekly program in Sangola. Around 20 peoples attended this kirtan and lecture, followed by Prasad distribution.

9th September 2009

Harinam Sankirtan along with book distribution was performed in Kurduwadi, which is the nearest big Railway Station from Pandharpur. Devotees were preaching to all passengers on the platform, they were distributing the Holy Names and the message of Godhead. After that they went to the market place with Harinam Sankirtan party.

11 September 2009

Harinam Sankirtan was performed in Mangalvedha. After the Nagar Sankirtan devotees went to Sri Vitthala temple, then, after kirtan, Mohanrupa Prabhu delivered lecture. He spoke on the real constitutional position of soul. He introduced Krishna Consciousness to people in general. Book distribution party distributed BTG in big numbers.


Dindi from Chinchli (Belgaum) to Pandharpur .

Around 180 devotees took part in this walking festival from Chinchli to
Pandharpur. The total distance is more than 200 KM. This dindi was organized by ISKCON Belgaum devotees. Chinchli one of the preaching center of Belgaum. 10 brahmacaris took part in this. The devotees from Khanapur, Ambewadi, Waghwade took part. The devotees arrived in Sri Pandharpur Dham with a big harinam Sankirtan Party. Pandharpur devotees welcomed Sri Sri Nitai Gaursundar. After the Pandharpur Parikrama with Harinam Sankirtan the devotees came to Sri Sri Radha Pandharinath Mandir.


Damodardesh Report

Maha Vishnu Maharaj graced our Friday congregation. Since this the Holy month of Ramadan in Islamic calendar, we were a bit concerned about the sound level of our Sankirtana Yajna, but when Maharaj came with his accordion and started HIs first words of kirtan "Krishna Krishna Raksa Man" everything turned out a totally different. All the posters that indicated "Low sound level pplease...etc were forgotten and it was about one hour of loud ecstatic kiran of the Maha mantra. After his discussion on Srimad Bhagavatam, there was a "once more" request for kirtan and again we had a wonderful 30 minutes kirtan and dance. It was unbelievable how the mercy of Lord Caitanya and Srila Prabhupad flows into every corner of the world despite all restrictive conditions. Harinam Sakirtan Yajna ki Jay!. Hare Krishna Maha mantra ki AJay!


Ujjain

ISKCON Ujjain participated in the Internet Sankirtan Party, broadcasting twice, and they also organized a 50-man Harinam party. They also pledged 108 million Holy Names in this year’s japathon.


Govardhan

During World Holy Name Week on Sunday 6th September, on the inspiration of H.H. Gaura Naryana Maharaja from Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Srimad-Bhagavatam Vidyapitham and Bhaktivedanta Ashram devotees, both at Govardhana, Vrndavana, together had a Harinam Sankirtan Procession. The route of the procession started from Bhaktivedanta Ashrama and circumambuted Manasi Ganga. The route was approximately 4 km.

One of the devotees present in the kirtan party, Sarvajna Prabhu, recalls:

“It was such ecstasy. Almost all the people that saw our group on the road
joined us. They were jumping and singing like mad."

They arrived at Harideva Mandir, where Lord Caitanya used to dance in ecstasy. At Harideva Mandir, the kirtan reached a climax and devotees were in so much bliss that they were wondering if Lord Caitanya Himself was going to appear in the kirtan party.

On this day, devotees were praying for the health of H.H. Niranjana SwamiMaharaja and H.H. Radhanath Swami Maharaja, which added to the intensity of the chanting.

Upon returning to Bhaktivedanta Ashram, at the conclusion of the yatra, the Harinam party enjoyed wonderful Mahaprasadam from the Govardhan Silas there.

All the devotees present were in agreement with Gaura Naryana Maharaja when he stated, “This Harinam is so wonderful. We should have them as frequently as possible.”


Yavatmal

With reference to the World Holy Name Week 2009, a nagar sankirtan was celebrated at Yavatmal (70 kms from Kaudanyapur dham).

H G Akrura Prabhu and H G Lokmanya Prabhu had come from Kaundanyapur with some devotees; They, along with Yavatmal devotees, have celebrated the occasion by nagar sankirtan.

12-15 devotees walked from Sri Dutta Mandir to Sri Sri Vitthal Rukmai mandir about 1.5 kms, performing Nagar Sankirtan with devotees from Kaundanyapur. The path consisted of market places and residential places. The sankirtan started at 8 am and carried on till 10.30 am. The public gave a very good response to the sankirtan. All the way bundi prasad was distributed.

After sankirtan everybody was served khichadi and bundi prasad to their full satisfaction.

Print media has also helped us to inform public about the function and its
significance.

We all and other persons request for such regular programs at Yavatmal. Your kind guidance and blessings are begged to spread Krishna Consciousness in Yavatmal.


Juhu

This is first time 4 temples in Mumbai (Juhu, Chowpatty, Kharghar, and Mira Road) participated simultaneously doing Harinam. On Sunday it was in Kharghar, thousands of divotees were there, and it was a wonderful Harinam. On Saturday) it was at Mira Road. Lots of people were watching and hearing the Holy Names.


ISKCON Punjabi bagh

Devotee at Shiv nagar, Hari nagar and Janakpuri in coordination with ISKCON Punjabi bagh organised a Hari Namm Sankirtan.

Pune
Today is the 8th consecutive day for Harinam Sankirtan in the prominent streets of Pune. Every day, we are going out at 5:30 PM and having Harinam till 8:00PM under the leadership and guidance of HG Ekalavya Prabhu. Around 40 brahmacaris are participating every day and about 70 to 100 local congregation devotees are also joining us. On Monday, we had Harinam in Hadapsar area and we distributed more than 5000 Hare Krishna mahamantra stickers while performing Sankirtan. We are also distributing about 50 small books and over 120 BTGs every day.
In JAPATHON we have got commitment from about 3200 devs who will be chanting extra rounds to accomplish 42000 rounds per day thus making it possible for Pune devotees to contribute 1 billion names for the WHNW 2009. The coming Sunday i.e on 13th sept, all devs will return their Japa Score Cards where they have noted the number of rounds they have chanted during WHNW and then we will be able to give more accurate details.
Today, 24 HRS Kirtans are already going on in the temple hall however due to some technical limitations we are not able to broadcast it on internet. Tomorrow, there is grand Harinam with all the students and brahmacaris from 5PM to 6:30PM. We seek your kind blessings and mercy to continue our services for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada.

Chennai

Devotees here in Chennai enthusiastically participated in the World Holy Names Week. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we held hari-nam in crowded areas pulling a decorated vehicle carrying the murthy of Srila Prabhupada and were inspired by the participation of the public, especially the youth who danced with us. Congregation devotees undertook to chant extra rounds during the week. Several schools were approached and requested to include the Hare Krishna mantra in the daily morning prayer session. Three schools agreed to continue the chanting through the year. About 5000 flyers giving information about the maha mantra and Srila Prabhupada were distributed. Nagar kirtan is really a wonderful blissful experience, and we have decided to go out on the streets every second Saturday.

Nagpur

50+ devotee Harinam Sankirtan in central part of Nagpur – 04/09/2009

24hrs kirtan clubbed with Internet Sankirtan Party. – Starting from 11 am on 5th to 6pm on 6th September (IST).

Harinam Sankirtan planned from 7th to 11th September in different parts of Nagpur city along with Book distribution.


Alachua

*Fri, 9/4*> 5 PM - 7 PM: 50 person harinama at the busiest street corner in Gainesville, 34th and Archer at Butler Plaza.

*Sat, 9/5*> 4 PM - 9 PM: Continuous kirtana in the main temple room;
5 PM - 7 PM: 50 person harinama at the entrance to University of Florida's first football game of the season. Tens of thousands of people will be there, as the whole town revolves around college football.

*Sun, 9/6*> 9 AM - 4:15 PM: Continuous kirtana in the main temple room.;
4:15 PM - 8 PM: Sunday Feast program centered on the Holy Name.

*Fri, 9/11*> 5 PM - 7 PM: Another 50 person harinama in Gainesville.


San Diego, CA

By Krsna's grace, we had a 50 person Harinama on Friday evening, September 4th, the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada's sanyasa initiation. We all felt empowered and very uplifted. There is talk of many of the devotees there, that they want to come out for this Harinama again and again, as they didn't know how this was going to propel them to higher realizations. Many said that they could see much clearer the difference between happiness in the material world, and the happiness in spiritual practices.

Special thanks for the push from HH Lokanath Maharaja to get us out there with 50 people. This is our night out, but usually we have 20. So we had to inspire 30 more to join us, and look at all of these people! From 11 year old Ishan, to Prabhupada's physically oldest disciple, M. Vrajavadhu, 96ys old!!

This stuff builds courage, determination and willpower to advance. Give up another block of valuable time, do something bold, and skyrocket past where you were yesterday, closer to the spiritual sky with new found strength.

World Holy Name Week Ki Jai!!!

Towaco, NJ

Japathon: Devotees have joined hands to chant 923 rounds per day. There are many more who will be chanting but could not get their #s in on time.

Kirtan: Sept 4th will be Kirtan Program at the temple from 7 pm ~ 9 pm.

Harinam: Monday, Sept 7th from Noon onwards. Venue to be decided.


Nashville, TN

Nitai Gaurasundar Prabhu arranged a 24-hour kirtan at his house to celebrate World Holy Names Week.


Portland, OR

Japathon: 456 rounds per day, or almost 8 million Holy Names.


Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach pulls in 75 devotees for the 50-man Harinam and 25 million Holy Names for the Japathon.


Toronto

In Toronto, a double decker bus was organised to do Harinam along the streets of down town. About 30 devotees were there up and down free book and dry fruit prasad was distributed. Devotees even danced and made the people dance as the bus stopped at few places.

Even as the bus was moving continuously for more than 3 hours, people
from the streets, at their home balcony, and even small kids were waving hands and dancing.

H.H Bhakti Marg Swami did wonderful kirtans; also H.G Ajamil Prabhu did melodious kirtan in Bengali style. We all clapped our hands and sang loudly the maha mantra. It was indeed ecstatic.


Johannesburg, SA
Thursday, 3 September

19:00 – 20:30 Bhajan & Kirtan at KRSNA BALARAMA YOUTH GROUP

Friday, 4 September

19:00 – 20:30 Bhajan and Class at Zak Park Namahatta
19:00 – 20:30 Bhajan and Class at Vraja Mandal Service Group in Emmarentia

Saturday, 5 September

07:00 – 09:00 Japa at Emmarentia Dam (KRSNA BALARAMA YOUTH GROUP)
09:30 – 11:30 Harinama at Zoo Lake
10:30 – 13:00 Harinama (gather at Carlton Sky Rink Parkade) (Contact Lokanath Prabhu 084 2111 221)

Sunday, 6 September

13:00 – 14:00 Harinama (gather at 12:45 at ISKCON LENASIA TEMPLE) (Media will be on Site)
14:00 – 15:00 Bhajans
15:00 – 15:30 Japa Sessions
15:30 – 16:45 Class by HG Govardhan Prabhu on “Only the Holy Name”
16:45 – 17:45 Kirtan
17:45 Prasadam

Thursday, 10 September

19:00 – 20:30 Bhajan & Kirtan at KRSNA BALARAMA YOUTH GROUP


Cape Town

World Holy Name Week was a huge success in Cape Town! There were celebrations the whole week. One of the highlights was the ecstatic Harinam along Camp's Bay last Friday, comprising 30 devotees (big for our yatra) and a few members of the public. One of the pubs invited the devotees inside, and we had a massive kirtan between the bar and tables! It was much appreciated by the people and staff there! I had forgotten how much harinama increases one's faith and pride in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, and how it fills one's heart with such satisfaction. It really is different to japa and having kirtan amongst devotees only.

Another beautiful occasion was the next day when we held a 12 hour kirtan in the temple room. Many devotees led wonderful kirtans and the mood was very enthusiastic and sincere. Around midnight the police came to tell us to keep it down (we were all dancing and bringing the house - and neighbourhood - down by then!)

I must thank the organisers of this global event. It is thrilling to think of the holy name circulating this globe continuously for this week. Thank you to His Holiness Bhakti Charu Maharaj for encouraging us to participate!


Croatia

Croatian Harinam Party returns to Croatia for World Holy Names Week after performing 85 Harinam sankirtans in 55 cities.


Prague

We are also doing every day harinam in Prague. See www.harinamsankirtan.mypage.cz


Phoenix, Mauritius

The Mauritian yatra inundated the island with the ecstatic chanting of the holy names during the World Holy Name Week which lasted from the 2nd to the 11th of September. On different evenings, maha harinam parties, padayatras and hall programmes were organized by the respective nama-hattas of Quatres Bornes, Glen Park, Bambous and New Grove. There were also kirtan festivals at Sri Sri Radha Golokananda Mandir, Hare Krishna Land, and the Rose-Belle Preaching Centre.

Each event was attended by at least 200 devotees. The maha-harinam in Poste de Flacq (near Sri Sri Krishna Balarama temple at Bon Acceuil) on the 9th of September was attended by at least 600 devotees and guests. It ended in the village playground where devotees spontaneously got onto the big stage at the far end of the field and began an unplanned festival of the holy names of the Lord. People from the village flocked to join in and the dark sky reverberated with the ecstatic chanting of well over 1000 voices. Sukadeva prabhu, one of the organisors, affirmed that 1000 plates of prashadam were distributed that night.

On Saturday the 5th, the padayatra and Food For Life teams organized a colourful carnival through Quatre-Bornes. Lord Jagannath, in His ratha cart, accompanied the devotees through the busy town. Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai came too, pulled by a stately bull. Children from the Sunday Gurukul were dressed up as spiritual personalities and animal friends of Krishna. A float carried “Radha” and “Krishna” swinging in the Vrindavan groves. Onlookers were captivated and many joined in the chanting. After the carnival, many devotees went on to join the 24 hour kirtan at Hare Krishna Land, Phoenix, organized by Vaikunthamurti and Kaunteya Prabhus, and attended by devotees from all over the island who came together to experience the potency of chanting of the holy names together.

On Thursday the 10th, Sundara Lala Prabhu, the creative mind behind the week’s activities, and the ISKCON Youth Forum, organized an interfaith programme at the IVTB auditorium. It was attended by Mr. Rafiq Hatia of the International Sufi School in Mauritius, Reverend James of the Anglican Church of Mahebourg and some Buddhist friends. After each representative spoke, members of their congregation sang. The Sufi ladies presented some very soothing Islamic chants and to the delight and appreciation of the devotees, they chanted a Hare Krishna bhajan. The devotees clapped and danced with glee. Mrs. Cale gave an amazing rendition of “Amazing Grace”. Our Chinese friends brought humour to the night with the very expert performance of a dragon dance. Krishna Chandra Prabhu spoke on behalf of ISKCON and to conclude the evening, the devotees sang. Everyone transcended cultural and religious barriers by chanting and dancing together. It was wonderful!

The week ended with a music concert in Jardin de La Compagnie in the island’s capital, Port-Louis. The Vaikuntha Vibes rocked the day while the Food For Life team distributed free prasadam. Crowds gathered, some joining in the singing, others more interested in prasadam and yet others buying Srila Prabhupada’s books. After a week of intense chanting, many devotees explained how they felt that the World Holy Name Week had greatly benefited the yatra in terms of its unity and strength. They felt enthused and blissful, wishing that the Holy Name Week would be re-baptized Holy Name Year!

**

The 24-hour kirtan festival, held at Sri Sri Radha Golokananda Mandir, Phoenix Mauritius under the auspices of the World Holy Name Week, was scheduled to begin on Saturday 5th September 19 00 and continue to Sunday 6th September 19 00.

The festivities actually started at 17 00 on Saturday with an adivas ceremony. Vaikunthamurthi Prabhu had read, in a recent edition of Sri Krsna Kathamrta Bindu (published every ekadashi by HG Madhavananda Prabhu), a poetic description of how Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed his associates on how to conduct the adivas ceremony prior to a kirtan festival. So the organisers (Kaunteya Prabhu and Vaikuntha Murthi Prabhus) endeavoured to follow these instructions as best we could. Our former Head Pujari, HG Govindachandra Prabhu very kindly agreed to conduct the adivas ceremony, where we worshipped the mrdanga and the other instruments as well. The mrdanga is considered to be non-different from Lord Balarama, so the sacred rituals were accompanied by the chanting of Sri Balabhadra Sahasra nama (1000 names of Lord Balarama) from the Garga Samhita. At 18 50 everything was ready and we heard a welcome address from our temple president, HG Harideva Prabhu. Vaikuntha Murthi Prabhu made a few announcements, and, finally, the curtains opened for the Gaura Arati at 19 00 with the Glen Park Namahatta kirtan group.

The 24 hour kirtan festival was the first of its kind organised in
Mauritius, and as per the feedback from the devotees it was a grand success by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha Golokananda. The temple was decorated with mango leaves and flowers so that everything looked nice. They had 8 kirtan teams,
each with a 3-hour slots. Everyone was really impressed by the muscial expertise and devotion of the kirtanyas who ecstatically chanted the holy names through the night and the entire next day.

In the early evening, devotees started trickling into the temple room and around 10 p.m. it was completely packed; some matajis at the back were very gracefully dancing in time with the mrdanga beats. Throughout the festival the different kirtan teams expressed the variety of kirtan styles that they have an affinity for. For example, HG Nrsimha Tirtha Prabhu, who was accompanied by the Namashraya Divine Vibration kirtan team from Bon Accueil, made everyone jubilant by expertly singing traditional ragas and building the kirtan up to a climax every now and then. During the day we also had the Vaikuntha Vibes team, who came with their keyboard and other instruments and sang very beautiful soothing melodies for their Lordships.

All in all, it was a very inspiring festival and devotees had a wonderful
time chanting the holy names. One mataji stated: "This is a wonderful festival! These devotees are singing such nice kirtan that I did not want to
go home, and even when I did eventually go and was taking rest, I kept
dreaming of kirtan throughout the entire night. Thank you for organising
such an ecstatic festival!"


Auckland, NZ

Janananda Goswami reports that during the initial days of World Holy Name Week, Wednesday and Thursday – a group of around 15 of us go
daily to the centre of Brisbane for Harinam. Then, on Friday, the 4th of September, 75 devotees weave their way around the city on blissful Harinam – the biggest street kirtan party in Brisbane for more than 10 years. On Saturday the 5th, as we are arriving in Sydney airport we can hear the sound of kartals and then singing the holy names gently as a dozen or more devotees greet us to go straight to the suburbs of Sydney for Harinam. We go to three towns with about 25 devotees- the day is ecstatic. Then, on Sunday, at Manly Beach and Town – again 25 devotees dance and chant to their hearts content and that of many onlookers and on the spot participants. In the afternoon - the party goes to the heart of Sydney city for hours of blissful dancing and chanting. Even 6 year Mayuri leads the kirtan with large crowsa gathering around to watch and film. When kids lead the kirtan it really captures people. Monday again in Sydney and then fly in evening to Auckland for 5 days of Harinam there, Krishna willing. Harinama Sankirtan ki jaya.


Moscow

Last Sunday we set up a table with beads and asked devotees and congregational members to make their commitments. Totally we have collected 75 names with 1346 rounds of japa per day during the 9-day period. Other devotees will directly email to your web. We can give this to His Holiness Lokanath Swami during his visit to Moscow at the end of September.


The Hague

We are planning to have a big harinam on Friday 3 Sept. in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. I am also planning to organize a japathon in our Nama Hatta in The Hague.


Novosibirsk

55 devotees took part in the Japathan for a total of 15,800,832 names.


France

World Holy Name Week in France started with 3 days of metro yoga in Paris ,headed by Gadadhara Priya das. For those who don't know much about this new form of sankirtana, metro-yoga consists of a small group of devotees joyfully, and respectfully, chanting the maha-mantra right in the subway, accompanied with a few musical instruments, the distribution of invitation to "I love India" devotee concerts, and a super short speech or comment on the issues and problems of the day, and how the chanting will help them resolve them. It's been very much welcomed and appreciated by people in the subway, especially since devotees do not ask them for any money. During these 3 days, the harinam group distributed 5,000 invitations for the following Saturday night concert.

Then, with the help of other devotees, Sundar Gopal organized a special week-end of harinam-yajna in Paris on the 5th and 6th of September. On Saturday 5th, about 30 devotees from Paris, New Mayapura and even a few from Radhadesh joined for a wonderful harinam in Paris, at a most historical and popular location: St Michel and Notre Dame. This is where devotees used to have harinam for hours together almost everyday in the early seventies and where Srila Prabhupada gave some public initiations. It is the intellectual "quartier" of Paris, the heart of philosophical thoughts and empirical debates, and a popular place for tourists. The day's programme culminated in the evening in a Mantra concert organized by the Paris devotees' bhajan band "I Love India". The concert took place in a beautiful yoga hall where about 80 people who had paid joined enthusiastically in the chanting of Hare Krishna and enjoyed a tasty prasadam banquet.

On Sunday 6th, under a crystal blue sky, the devotees joined again for a Harinam maha-yajna in one of the most touristic places of the world: the
Eiffel Tower. For three hours devotees chanted blissfully amongst throngs of curious unlookers. Hundreds of photos and videos were thus taken back to their respective countries by these tourists who will show to their families and friends the extraordinary scene they had witnessed in one of the most advanced countries of the world. During the harinam a devotee remarked how important it was to have done this Yuga Dharma-yajna under the Eiffel Tower, which is definitively the perfect architectural emblem of this sad Kali-yuga, the age of iron. During the Harinam more than a thousand packages of prasadam cookies with maha-mantra cards were distributed. All devotees felt that the special extra mercy they and the public had received on these blessed days was certainly due to the combined extra efforts undertaken by the worldwide community of devotees to spread the Holy Name of Krishna.

On Monday 7th, the Paris devotees went for another Harinam Place Clichy, and will probably have the maha-mantra resound again in the capital once Gadadhara Priya gets back with his accordion.

Meanwhile, in New Mayapur, Gaurangi dasi organised a few evening sessions to share and discuss the glories of the holy names, based on the Namamrita and the books of Sacinandana Swami and Mahanidhi Swami. Thus, improving one's own personal chanting was also on the menu for the devotees who had service or could not make it to Paris.


Zurich

ISKCON Zurich organized a harinam on the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s sannyasa and a 24-hour kirtan for World Holy Names Week.

Benelux

A manifestation of about one million people will take place in France where devotees will perform Hari-Nam during the weekend. I made an anouncement in the morning program about the World Holy Name Week referring to the mails I sent on the Benelux Istagosthi. Mahaprabhu mentioned that a bus can still be organized to take the devotees to France during the weekend. Vinod behari from The Hague wrote to me that Radhadesh was already involved in the WHNW.

Malaysia

Day 1: World Holy Name Week starts in Penang Street

About forty devotees participated in the Harinam in Penang Island which
started at 7PM from Queen St. Mariamman temple and ended at Madam Kaliammah Restaurant at 9.00PM. The devotees included one on a wheel chair.

Day 2- World Holy Name Week at Sungei Petani, Malaysia

Harinam procession began at the Radhe Krishna Asrama in Taman Ria Jaya, Sungei Petani, Kedah. Twenty children carrying banners, buntings and flags organised themselves in 2 rows and participated in the Harinam. Kripa Sindhu Krishna Prabhu, Amara Gaura Prabhu and Siva Caitanya dasa Prabhu took turns to lead kirtan which lasted for about 2 hours. Pamphlets on the glories of the Maha Mantra and Krishna prasadam were distributed during the procession. Procession ended at the Radha Krishna Asrama with ectatic kirtan where HG Kripa Sindhu Krishna dasa delivered a short lecture on the glories of the Holy Names of Krishna.

Day 3: World Holy Name Week at Bukit Mertajam, Malaysia.

The Harinam party had a good start at Bukit Mertajam town covering three
housing estates in two hours. With a twenty devotee strength the Holy Names were chanted in the Taman Sejahtera, Taman Selamat and Taman Nirvana. The housing estates residents were very respectful to the devotees on Harinam and offered prayer items and fruits to Srila Prabhupada Murti. Bhakta Chris and Gokul Damodara dasa took turns to carry Srila Prabhupada Murti on the full procession.

HG Kripa Sindhu Krishna dasa was so ecstatic that he mentioned having
similar Harinam processions three times a year respectively for the North,
Central and South of Peninsular Malaysia.

Day 4 - World Holy Name Week at Taiping, Malaysia.

Yesterday about seventy devotees came together at Taiping to celebrate the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra for the World Holy Name Week 2009. The combination of children carrying colorful flags, youths and adults all well organised in two rows while a few devotees were distributing prasadam and flyers explaining the glories of the Holy Name was a wonderful sight to the many onlookers. Other than the bramacharis all the other devotees were of the Taiping congregation.

The procession began at main town Taiping beside the St. George's school at 6.30PM amidst a beautiful weather. The Harinam party took to all the main streets and returned at about 8.30PM. The Harinam party passed by many signboards highlighting issues such as Stress, Drug Abuse, Vehicle thefts, etc. Lalita Madhava dasa Prabhu was in ecstacy preaching to the city onlookers mostly of Chinese origin. Since it was Ramadan breakfast timemany of our Malay friends happily accepted murukku snack packets. Devotees then proceeded to the Taiping Hare Krishna centre for prasadam. The local devotees prepared many wonderful dishes for the pleasure of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai.

On Day 5, around forty devotees took part in the World Holy Name Week celebrations in Sungei Siput on the morning of 5 September 2009. It was very enlivening to have the Harinam party going around the town area especially at this time. The town was crowded everywhere and the holy name benefited all of them. Dry sweets were distributed together with leaflets of the World Holy Name Week. Fifteen new youth boys took part in this glorious chanting and helped us to carry the flags and banners. Kripa Sindhu prabhu was leading the kirtan and singing very sweetly from the beginning till the end. Gokul Prabhu carried Srila Prabhupada's murti all the way and Siva Caitanya Prabhu was snapping all the unforgettable shots during the procession. Also, Dharma Prabhu was present to give more enthusiasm.

We believe the congregational chanting on the streets should be increased as much as possible in order to expand Lord Caitanya's movement. Not only does it give us a lot of realization and inspiration but it also reaches the people who we never approached before or who never heard anything about our movement. The Holy Name never differentiates anyone. It simply benefited whoever watched us or heard the melodious chanting.

The Sungei Siput congeregation would like to thank the brahmachari team for showering their wonderful mercy to all the devotees in Sg. Siput.

On Day 8, 08 September 09 we did a wonderful Harinam at Seremban, Malaysia. The travelling brahmacari sankirtan party together with ISKCON Seremban, Rantau and Port Dickson congregation members drowned the streets of Taman Desa Rasah with the sound of the Holy Names. It was about thirty five devotees who were in the Harinam Party. Devotees enthusiastically distributed prasadam, Holy Name pamphlets during the two hour procession. The procession ended at the ISKCON Seremban branch with ecstatic kirtan lead by the Brahmacari members.

Yesterday, we did World Holy Name Week Harinam at Sri Jagannatha Mandir, ISKCON Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Harinam Kirtan began at Sri Jagannatha Mandir ISKCON Kuala Lumpur at 6.30PM moving through Taman Yarl, Taman OUG and then back to Sri Jagannatha Mandir at 8.30PM. This will be our ISKCON Malaysia last destination for World Holy Name Week Harinam and today our Harinam party went to Tiruchy, India to celebrate the World Holy Name Week in India.

On Day 9 of World Holy Name Week, ISKCON Malaysia did a very successful World Holy Name Week Harinam at Johore Bahru, Malaysia. Around 35 devotees participated in the Harinam.


Internet Sankirtan Party

Bali and Moscow completed 24-hour kirtan festivals. "Krishna.com" broadcast some of their kirtans during the Internet Sankirtan Party.

Krishna das surprised us with a kirtan on September 4th, bringing 2765 people of his own to “krishna.com.” During the Internet Sankirtan Party, Krishna das and Gaura Vani Prabhu broadcast from the Omega Festival in upstate New York.

BB Govinda Swami arranged for one broadcast Sunday morning with his Kazakhstan devotee musician band, and another in the evening with a Lugansk, Ukraine orchestra.