This newsletter can be viewed at http://www.iskcon.org.au/news_events.asp

SRI KRISHNA JANMASTAMI MAHOTSAVA (GRAND CELEBRATION)

Wednesday 20th of August 2003, is the big day when devotees all over the world celebrate the appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, in this world, more than 5000 years ago in Mathura.

Your local Hare Krishna temple at 95 Bank Rd, Graceville will he holding a celebration on the night, the programme being as follows:

5.00 - 6.00 Bhajans

6.00 - 6.45 Class

6.45 - 7.00 Dance (Odissi)

7.00 - 7.30 Gaura Arati

7.30 - 8.15 Abhishek

8.15 - 8.30 Dance (Bharat Natyam)

8.30 - 9.00 Youth programme

9.00 - 9.10 Prize announcememnt for the story story writing competition

9.10 - 9.40 Slide show

9.40 - 10.15 Quiz

10.15 - 12.00 Reading and bhajan/kirtan

12.00 - 12.20 Midnight arati

12.20 - 12.30 Opening of the gifts

12.30 Midnight ekadashi feast

Any service to the Lord done on this day has thousands of times the benefit to the performer, therefore many devotees take the opportunity to give in charity to theLord on this day. There are still some major sponsorship opportunities for the festival available, as well as the beautiful abhishekam ceremony where sponsors get to personaly approach the altar of Sri Sri Radha-Syamasundar and make their offering to the Lord. These abhishekam sponsorships are $108 each, and you will receive an arati tray full of sweets and other nectar to also take home from the ceremony. Please direct any inquiries for sponsorship to Sakhi Rai Prabhu on shreeji@in.com.au

There are many preparations to be made for the celebration, so if you would llike to help out in any way please contact me by replying this e-mail, and we can allot some seva for you to do.

ISKCON FOUNDER SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPEARANCE DAY FESTIVAL

Srila Prabhupada is so very dear to all followers of the Hare Krishna movement, because he is the one that spread the ancient teachings of Bhakti Yoga all over the globe, and founded an international society, (ISKCON) to give shelter to people the world over, and to preserve and carry on his work to the future generations.

His appearance day celebrations will be held on Thursday 21st August, beginning at 10.30 am, with homages and offerings from disciples, grand-disciples, and well-wishers of Srila Prabhupada, followed by a Pushpanjali (flower offering ceremony) and feast.

ISKCON Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

LORD BALARAMA'S APPEARANCE DAY

This celebration will be held on the purnima night of Tuesday 12th August, at our Graceville centre. The programme begins at 5.30pm and includes the breaking of the pot full of sweets by the children, kirtanas and readings from Lord Baladeva's pastimes, and wonderful feast.

A special attraction this year is that everyone is requested to come in fancy dress - adults and children alike. A prize will be given to the best dressed adult and child on the night.

JHULAN YATRA - SWING FESTIVAL

The swing festival is a great favourite of all devotees on the festival calendar. This is the time when Sri Sri Radha-Govinda are swung personally be the devotees, and everyone gets the chance to perform this seva.

Jhulan Yatra will be held this saturday night, August 9th, and also on Lord Balarama's appearance day.

AYURVEDIC CONSULTANT TO SERVE DEVOTEES

Amardeep Singh Prabhu, a qualified Ayurvedic and Naturopathic doctor, has offered his services to consult on any health issues.

Consultations will be held from 2.00 pm - 5.00 pm on Saturday afternoons at the temple at 95 Bank Rd, Graceville. Bookings are essential, you can phone 0421 424462 or email ayur_science@yahoo.com.au

SEVA FOR LORD KRISHNA - SATURDAY SEVA DAY!

Thanks to all the devotees who have begun coming regularly to perform seva for the Lord. As mentioned in our previous newsletter, we are making saturday the seva day for the Hare Krishna temple congregation, and are asking congregational members to give one saturday morning per month to come and do some practical seva for the service of the Lord.

As the saying goes, "Many hands make light work." In the sastra Krishna says that one can receive all intelligence as to how to go back to Him in the spiritual sky, if one is always engaged in some practical devotional service for the Lord. By serving the Lord we can understand and realise what is the mood of service and surrender to God that the great saints of the past are describing. Without such service, our knowledge of spiritual matters can become dry and theoretical.

In the temple of Sri Nathji, in Gujerat state, there is such a wonderful mood of seva, that any time there is a delivery to the temple, everyone just runs to come and bring the firewook or whatever into the kitchen. Everyone has the feeling that, "Yes, I am a servant of the Lord." Srila Prabhupada explained that the Holy places are special because of the seva that goes on there. Therefore, if we can cultivate that mood here in Brisbane, we will see that the temple becomes transformed more and more into a holy place of pilgrimage, and this is certainly what we are trying to create with the new temple project that is being undertaken.

Areas where seva can be performed include:

kitchen and food preparation - cutting vegetables etc
temple maintenance work - if you have plumbing skills or electrical skills
gardening - planting flowers, weeding etc.
catering programmes - serving out and assisting in catering programs
prasadam distribution - serving prasadam ar assisting at Govindas, Food for Life or Krishna's Cafe.
computer skills - web page maintenance etc.

If you have any specific skills, we can take down your details and contact you regarding these at a later date.

Please think about how you can assist the activities of the temple. Its a great way to come closer to the community of devotees.

Any enquiries can be directed to me at deva@in.com.au or just reply to this e-mail.

The next ekadasi is this Friday, 8th August.

Hope this meets you in good health in this festival season,

your servant,
Deva Gaura Hari das