MESSAGE FROM KIRTAN MINISTER
It gives me great pleasure to present the second Kirtan Ministry Newsletter, Kirtan World. As the newsletter name suggests, many global kirtan events have taken place since the launch of the first publication in January 2021. This edition follows a similar trend in sharing a range of exciting events and developments as we travel through Nepal, Belgium, Hungary and India.
The good news is that the Kirtan Ministry celebrated their first Ekadasi Sravana-kirtana Festival on 24 January. Japa-kirtan-talk is the current format of this festival which will be celebrated fortnightly. This program was well received across the world. Sat Tila Ekadasi on 7 February promises to be an engaging event and I encourage all of you to join this 24 hour online program.
Read about the inspiring inauguration of Padayatra in Nepal, in Mirchaiya Bajar, Siraha district. I had discussed the padayatra in Nepal idea with Patri Prabhu a year ago in Mayapur, and am delighted to announce that on 19 January it became a reality. Our monthly Padayatra column captures the enthusiasm of the Nepal Padayatra team to navigate the hilly terrain of Nepal using innovative and interesting bullock cart approaches. Nepal now joins global padayatra initiatives like Hungary, Italy, Russia, Netherlands, Brazil, Argentina, England, Philippines, South Africa, and New Zealand, amongst others. A most welcome addition to the growing list of padayatras worldwide! Padayatra is synonymous with kirtan. Srila Prabhupada instructed us to go on Padayatra to bring the holy names to more towns and villages.
There were many events held for the recovery of HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja. JPS Japathon Worldwide Prayers Team co-ordinated a 16 Days Nonstop Akhanda Sankirtan for the recovery of Maharaja and others affected by COVID-19. The Birmingham PandavaSena organised an online 6 Hour Kirtan. These programs and the 12 hour kirtan hosted by the Kirtan Ministry are also documented. The response to these initiatives were phenomenal. My sincere gratitude to all the chanters and kirtaniyers for their enduring participation!
Devotees from all parts of India attended the Sravanam and Kirtanam Retreat at the Govardhan Eco Village for a weekend of intensive study on kirtan etiquette, mrdanga playing workshop, music and Srimad Bhagavatam studies. Read the inspired report that emerged from this retreat.
The Fortunate People campaign was a major part of the World Holy Name Festival in 2020. This report shares the statistics and describes why it is now becoming a household name. You can also find out more about the Chantnow.com campaign which was launched two years ago as a cultivation platform for people new to Krishna Consciousness.
Our regular features - upcoming events, inspirational moments, japa affirmation, and interesting facts will keep you inspired. A new addition is the Readers' Review section. I encourage you to participate in the different ongoing activities co-ordinated by the Kirtan Ministry team. Kirtan World offers you an easily accessible digital platform to reawaken your spiritual consciousness. It hopes to enthuse, encourage, educate and address aspects of your spiritual growth in every issue.
With opulent photography gracing the pages, this issue of Kirtan World offers captivating stories and spiritually empowering ideas of the Kirtan Ministry services. The Kirtan World team will strive to keep you engaged, so stay with us and expect more! Spread and share Kirtan World with all!
May you all develop a taste for chanting the holy names of God. After all, it is the only way.
ISKCON Kirtan Minister
February 2021
OUR INSPIRATION
"However burden you may feel, as soon as you perform krsna-kirtana, you'll find immediately refreshed. So one who has got taste for this kirtana, he has no problem."
~ Srila Prabhupada
~ Lecture on SB 1.16.23 -- Hawaii, January 19, 1974
EVERY TOWN AND VILLAGE
3
JAN
6 Hour Kirtan for Jayapataka Swami Maharaja (Birmingham, Pandava Sena)
Birmingham Pandava Sena organised an online 6 Hour Kirtan on Zoom, for the recovery of Jayapataka Swami Maharaja . Pandava Senas’ and alumni across the UK joined in this festival and prayed deeply for Maharaja’s health. The festival averaged 40-60 attendees on Zoom and had 1200 reaches on Facebook. It was a wonderful spontaneous offering as it was planned 2 days prior to the event! Thank you to all the Kirtan facilitators and chanters who joined in this wonderful offering for Jayapataka Swami Maharaja. The festival was broadcast on zoom and Facebook (wwww.facebook.com/bhampandavasena).
~ Ankith Kamath
Mayuri & Gaurangi Gandharvika leading a blissful kirtan from Mayapur
Kushali and Kaushalya Matajis singing Krsna Kesava bhajan3-18
JAN
16 Days Nonstop Akhanda Sankirtan for Jayapataka Swami Maharaja and others affected by COVID 19
Even though Jayapataka Swami Maharaja has been taking all the precautions for almost 9 months at the beginning of new year, some of his caretakers were Covid positive and Maharaja became Covid positive too. The worldwide devotees started nonstop prayers for Maharaja’s recovery.
16 days nonstop Akhanda Sankirtan (Japathon/Kirtan) from 3 January 2021 was coordinated by JPS Japathon Worldwide Prayers Team. The program concluded on Jan 18 2021 and will continue every Ekadasi day with 24 hours Sankirtan.
Few Highlights:~ Sarvajaya Madhava Dasa
17
JAN
Annual Kirtan Mela: Bhaktivedanta Manor
‘Holy Name Day’ which is an annual kirtan event at the Bhaktivedanta Manor was conducted virtually this year, on Sunday 17th January 2021. The festival was a grand success as it was led by HH Sivarama Swami, HH Sacinandana Swami, HG Madhava Dasa and HG Jahnavi Jivana Devi Dasi.
The festival is dedicated in the loving memory of Sriman Govindji Mulji, Srimati Benaben Mulji, HG Priya Sakhi Devi Dasi and Srimati Palvi Mulji.
For the pleasure of Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda, the annual Kirtan Mela was on Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Facebook & YouTube pages.
Facebook: https://fb.me/e/hEBKdak0S YouTube: https://youtu.be/kxzJ5GsuiuE
~ Ankith Kamath
Jahnavi Jivana Devi Dasi
Madhava Dasa
Sacinandana Swami Maharaja19
JAN
First ever Nepal Padayatra
The concept of a Padayatra in Nepal took birth at the last ILS meeting when Padayatra Minister, Lokanath Swami Maharaja and Patri Prabhu, Regional Secretary for Nepal met and Maharaja said, “Why not have a Padayatra in Nepal?”
This message was taken to heart by Patri Prabhu and conveyed to Sahasranam Prabhu, originally from Ukraine and serving in Nepal for the past 12 years. He loves village preaching and community and farm services. It is by his endeavour that Nepal Padayatra was inaugurated at Mirchaiya Bajar, in Siraha district on January 19, 2021. He invested his own money to buy the oxen, named Gaur and Nitai and designed and constructed the cart himself. He collected books from the temple for distribution.
Prema Harinama Prabhu from India, who has participated in the Pune Dindi and has also served in padayatra, is helping Sahasranam Prabhu for a while.
On the back of the cart is a Nepal inscription, “Purna jivan ko lagi” meaning Nepal Padayatra will go on forever. They also promote cow protection.
They have now entered Dhanusha district and plan to go to Janakpur dhama. They start walking at 10 am and walk for about 10 kms. Daily they have an evening program, sankirtana and book distribution in every village they visit. Srila Prabhupada kirtan reverberates as they travel and people are drawn out of their houses to participate in the chanting of the holy names of the Lord and take darsana of Srila Prabhupada.
They are very happy on padayatra and love walking to and visiting different villages for preaching.
Dayal Gopal Dasa (Sankirtan preacher Nepal)
Nepal Padayatra Cart
Sahasranam Prabhu with a local Nepali 
Spreading the holy name in Nepal
24
JAN
First Kirtan Ministry Ekadasi Sravana-kirtana Festival
Ekadasi, the eleventh day after the full moon and the eleventh day after the new moon is a powerful opportunity to perform recommended austerities and make our way back to our original home in the spiritual sky. Ideally it is the day one should spend as much time with the Lord as possible. It is with this purpose in mind that Kirtan Ministry launched their Ekadasi Sravana-kirtana Festival on 24 January, Putrada Ekadasi. This was the first of a fortnightly festival. As the name suggests, the format of the festival is japa - kirtan - talk.
It was inaugurated by Kirtan Minister, Lokanath Swami Maharaja at 6am IST on the Chant Japa with Lokanath Swami Zoom conference. It set the perfect mood for the next 6 hours where we had Bhakti Caitanya Swami Maharaja, Bhakti Ananta Krsna Goswami Maharaja, Pancharatna Prabhu, Acyuta Gopi Devi Dasi, Kirtan Premi Dasa, Naru Gopal Dasa and Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa transporting us and keeping us close to Krsna though their japa, kirtan and talks. The 6 hours was repeated four times so that humanity at large irrespective of their location could get close to Krsna and bathe in the transcendental energy of the holy names of the Lord via the ISKCON Kirtan Ministry Facebook and official YouTube channel.
Get ready for the next bumper Ekadasi Festival as there are two dates. One for the West (7 Feb) and another for the East (8 Feb). On 7 February from 6pm to midnight IST and on 8 February from 6am to Midday IST.
Dinanukumpa Dasi
Lokanath Swami Maharaja
Acyuta Gopi Devi Dasi
Bhakti Ananta Krsna Goswami Maharaja 
Pancaratna Prabhu
Naru Gopal Dasa
Jagannatha Kirtanananda Dasa29-31
JAN
Radhadesh Mellows
Due to the ongoing difficulties with the pandemic the Radhadesh Mellows festival had to reinvent itself to maintain a first class kirtan experience for everyone tuning in from afar. Various recorded kirtans, live broadcast teams and kirtan crews in Radhadesh, Alachua, and New York joined hands to deliver an incredible chanting opportunity. Although very difficult to put together on an organisational and technical level, our dedicated team exceeded their limits to make it possible. More than 120000 views were recorded during the 3 days. Discover the profound and mystical kirtans by Sacinandana Swami, Kadamba Kanana Swami, Bada Hari Prabhu, Amala Harinama, Madhava, Nadiya Mani, Kirtan Premi, Vishvambar, Krishna Kishore, Dhanya, Ramanaji, and many more on our youtube channel: www.youtube.com/c/RadhadeshMellows/ It is simply a moment to experience again and again. ~ Manu (Festival Coordinator)
Kirtan Premi Das & Amala Harinaam Das
29-31
JAN
Sravanam & Kirtanam Retreat Govardhan ECO Village
The holy name, the nectarean pastimes of Lord Krishna and the association of the devotees encapsulated the mood of this retreat. The serenity and solitude of Govardhan Eco village acted as a catalyst in absorbing one’s mind at the lotus feet of the Lord.
The three day retreat from 29-31 Jan covered a plethora of devotional activities. Be it the most absorbing kirtans or engrossing and nourishing lectures or the spectacular aratis, the entire day left the devotees completely nourished.
Post pandemic, these power packed and highly inspirational lectures by Gauranga Prabhu, Chaitanya Charan Prabhu, Gauranga Darshan Prabhu, Vishwaroop Prabhu and with the daily dose of blissful kirtans by Madhava Prabhu and Radhika Devi Dasi quenched the thirst of all participants.
Around 150 devotees attended the retreat from all parts of the country, and their eagerness to attend all daily programs spoke volumes about their enthusiasm. Every session immersed them in joy and bliss.
~ Madhavi Gauri Devi Dasi
Yamuna Aarti
Kirtan in Temple Hall
Kirtan by Madhava Prabhu
Lecture by Vishwarupa Prabhu at Nanda Gaon
Giriraja Aarti Kirtan and Radha Kunda
Kirtan by Madhava Prabhu
Report From ChantNow.com
Chantnow.com was launched two years ago as an online follow-up and cultivation platform for people new to Krishna consciousness.
Chantnow provides resources that are centered around the maha-mantra. We currently offer 3 courses, designed for different stages of spiritual development; We put out a weekly kirtan newsletter, a bi-monthly magazine about mantra meditation, interactive webinars as well as offering personal coaching to our students.
Our team is committed to facilitating people’s interest in spiritual development and connecting them with environments where they can take up the chanting of maha-mantra regularly.
Therefore, It is our utmost pleasure to collaborate with the Kirtan Ministry to reach as many souls as possible with the chanting of the holy names.
For more information on how ChantNow can help your preaching efforts make sure to check out this page on our website https://www.chantnow.com/partnering/
Current Statistics
| Total through 2020 | January, 2021 | |
| Unique website visitors | 77,314 | 3,389 |
| Chanting workshop students | 1,984 | 138 |
| Full course students | 48 | 3 |
| Subscribers to our email lists | 1,295 | 39 |
~ HG Pancharatna Dasa
MESSAGE FROM HH JAYAPATAKA SWAMI MAHARAJA
~ HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja
READERS' REVIEW
~ Yogini Devi Dasi (UK)
FORTUNATE PEOPLE REPORT
UPCOMING EVENTS
13-19
FEB
Mahaharinam Sankirtan/Food for life at Kaduna temple, Nigeria
12-16
MAR
Online Mayapur Kirtan Mela
JAPA AFFIRMATION "Namasraya is the foundational goal of our chanting. We should chant Krsna’s names and avoid all namaparadhas, especially inattention. Seeing the limitations of our own sincerity and abilities, we should humbly seek shelter in Krsna’s holy names and bathe our consciousness in Their mercy."
~ Bhurijana Prabhu
DID YOU KNOW? The first Hare Krishna record album was The Happening Album: “Krishna Consciousness” It was recorded by Srila Prabhupada in New York in 1966.
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