Night of Bhakti and Gratitude at New Vrindaban

On the sacred occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, New Vrindaban became the stage for an unforgettable evening of kirtan, remembrance, and deep gratitude. The event gathered Srila Prabhupada’s disciples from across New Vrindaban, celebrating not only their enduring connection to their spiritual master but also the extraordinary offering of Srila Prabhupada murtis.

This offering was no ordinary gift. Coins from Sankirtan devotees across the world—those tireless souls distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books—were collected, melted down, and poured into custom-made molds to create exquisite two-inch murtis of Srila Prabhupada. These murtis were lovingly offered to all living disciples of Srila Prabhupada initiated before November 14, 1977, as a tribute to his boundless mercy and their lifelong service.

Despite only 48 hours’ notice, approximately 23 of the 58 local disciples attended in person. The New Vrindaban team worked tirelessly—hand-delivering invitations, making calls, sending emails and messages, even posting flyers—to ensure no one was left out. And what unfolded was nothing short of magical.

Jaya Krsna Das, the temple president, opened the evening with a warm welcome. To center everyone’s hearts, he led the assembly in chanting one round of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra along with a recording of Srila Prabhupada’s own voice. As Prabhupada’s bhajan played softly in the background, each disciple came forward to receive their murti from Jaya Krsna Das and vice president Raghavacharya Das. Devotees returned to their seats, holding the murtis with tender affection, visibly moved.

What began as a gathering for memory-sharing soon transformed into something deeper—a flowing current of gratitude. One devotee’s heartfelt sharing about how Srila Prabhupada had saved his life sparked a cascade of testimonies. Story after story emerged—some astonishing, some deeply personal—all reflecting the miraculous, transformative power of Srila Prabhupada’s presence in their lives.

One devotee compared receiving the murti to America receiving the Statue of Liberty from France, calling it a symbol of true freedom for the entire world. Another simply called it a “miraculous gift.” There was a special sweetness in learning that each murti included a piece of bark from the jackfruit tree under which Srila Prabhupada was born—another layer of meaning to meditate upon.

The evening concluded with a prasadam feast, carefully crafted by a Prabhupada disciple to honor the dietary needs of the aging devotees—nourishing body and soul alike.

For those who could not attend, photos from this beautiful evening are available on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1090465343113352&type=3

But more than images, what remains is the lasting memory of a community coming together in gratitude—bound by the unbreakable thread of Srila Prabhupada’s mercy, and the loving service of those who made this offering possible.

We offer our heartfelt gratitude to all the senior disciples who came together to celebrate this moment, honoring the Founder-Acharya of New Vrindaban and the worldwide Hare Krishna movement, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Their presence and shared memories reminded us that Srila Prabhupada’s vision lives on—not only in the temples and communities he established, but in the hearts of those who carry his mission forward with love, service, and dedication.