Sadhu Sanga Rereat
This year saw the Sadhu Sanga Retreat, the biggest ISKCON kirtan event. continue its remarkable growth while offering up something special for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary.
The retreat is held every year at the Art of Living Foundation’s International Meditation Center in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Boone, North Carolina. It immerses participants in the Holy Name from morning till night, with an ever-expanding list of senior Vaishnavas guiding them in developing a deeper taste.
From an attendance of just 400 when it launched in 2011, this year’s event – running May 27th through 30th — drew an incredible 1,800.
1,800 people raise their arms and chant the Holy Names
As a unique gesture for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary, over 100 disciples of Srila Prabhupada were admitted and accommodated for free – a thank you for renouncing their careers to dedicate most of their lives to his mission.
Attendance of children under twelve increased by over 300 this year, and all were provided parallel activities to engage them during the main program. Children under five had arts and crafts and their own kirtans with chanter Madhava Das to encourage them in developing love for the Holy Name early. Those over five had sports activities, inflatable castles, and guided japa walks in the beautiful trails around the retreat center.
Meanwhile at the express desire of gurus Indradyumna Swami and Sacinandana Swami, children and youth were also given special attention as the future leaders for the next fifty years of ISKCON.
Heart-warmingly, senior kirtaniyas like Indradyumna Swami and Vaisesika Das also invited many children onto the main stage to chant along with them. “It was so nice to see them encouraging the kids and making them feel like part of the kirtaniya group,” says co-organizer Ram Vijaya Das.
Older youth were also a major presence at Sadhu Sanga this year too, with ISKCON Youth Ministry incorporating it into its Traveling Kirtan Experience bus tour, which teaches the mood and techniques of kirtan as a service.
In addition Rukmini-priya Dasi, 23, from Alachua, Florida, and Braja-vallabhi Dasi, 21, from Australia emceed the entire event, symbolizing ISKCON’s trust in passing responsibilities on to the next generation.
The devotees are delighted as Agnideva ups the ante
From the US, Badahari Das came with his deeply devotional and meditative kirtans. Indradyumna Swami, and his long-time transcendental sidekick Sri Prahlad Das from Australia, brought an uplifting, festive mood. Second generation devotee Nadiya Mani Dasi from the UK had her own sweet style. Mukunda Datta Das from Vrindavana, India brought classical ragas.
ISKCON kirtan legend and Sadhu Sanga first-timer Agnideva Das from Trinidad would take his kirtans off the stage, crashing his “whompers” together as the thrilled devotees crowded around him and the chanting reached fever pitch.
Continuing the ISKCON 50 theme, the huge stage in the retreat center’s sprawling main hall was expertly decorated by Krishna Murari Das from New Zealand to depict Srila Prabhupada’s journey from Vrindavana, India to New York City. Cardboard cut-outs of Vrindavana’s most famous temples, with atmospheric lighting to create a 3D effect, stood on one side of the stage, with New York City skyscrapers on the other. Meanwhile across the front were ocean waves, turning the stage itself into the Jaladuta steamship Prabhupada rode to deliver his message.
A full temple morning program was held every day for the Jagannath Deities on stage followed by inspirational classes on the Srimad-Bhagavatam from Vaisesika Das on Saturday, Giriraj Swami on Sunday, and Malatai Dasi on Monday.
Hours of ecstatic kirtan would then run from 9am all the way until 11 o’clock at night, with lunch and dinner breaks in between. All the chanters, from different parts of the world, each brought their own flavor.
To share the retreat with the many devotees around the world who were not able to attend, Sadhu Sanga’s organizers provided a live HD telecast on Mayapur.tv with five or six different cameras covering the entire kirtan hall from different angles. At peak times, the telecast was viewed by around 500 devotees, making it one of Mayapur.tv’s most popular. famous temples, with atmospheric lighting to create a 3D effect, stood on one side of the stage, with New York City skyscrapers on the other. Meanwhile across the front were ocean waves, turning the stage itself into the Jaladuta steamship Prabhupada rode to deliver his message.
Of course, a huge crew of over 600 devotees volunteered to achieve all this, cooperating together in loving service. And to thank them, Sadhu Sanga gave each of them free t-shirts designed by Rukmini-priya Dasi and showing the Hare Krishna mantra traveling from India to New York and all over the world. was viewed by around 500 devotees, making it one of Mayapur.tv’s most popular. famous temples, with atmospheric lighting to create a 3D effect, stood on one side of the stage, with New York City skyscrapers on the other. Meanwhile across the front were ocean waves, turning the stage itself into the Jaladuta steamship Prabhupada rode to deliver his message.
