ISKCON Temples held kirtans for minorities in Bangladesh. Image from ISKCON’s Radha Gopinath temple, Girgaon Chowpatty. | X (@DDNewslive)
ISKCON temples and communities around the world held special kirtans on Sunday to pray for the protection of their followers and members of other religious minorities in Bangladesh. At the Radha Gopinath temple, Girgaon Chowpatty, around 1,500 devotees gathered for special prayers.
Keshav Chandra Das, communications representative at the temple, said that devotees felt let down by the government of Bangladesh because ISKCON followers have been co-operative citizens in that country. “We have supported and engaged in services like food distribution.
We have never been political and this has been a part of Srila Prabhupada’s (founder of ISKCON) beliefs,” said Das. Prayers started after the Sunday Bhagvatam classes concluded at 1lam.
A special prayer was read out: “Dear Lord Krishna, dear Lord Chaitanya, kindly bless and protect all the devotees and other religious minorities in Bangladesh.”
“May the current social tensions be peacefully resolved and may lasting harmony be established in the land of Bangladesh.” Similar prayers were held at other ISKCON temples in the city at Juhu, Thane, Kharghar, and other places.
The international ISKCON Governing Body Commission executive committee, under the chairmanship of Guru Prasada Swami, and with the support of the global communications ministry, had taken the decision to call devotees and friends of ISKCON to join together this Sunday at their temples worldwide to offer prayers for fellow Vaishnavas, and other minorities, in Bangladesh.
“ISKCON devotees all over the world felt we should do something and appeal to the governments of India and Pic: Vijay Gohil Bangladesh for the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.” added Das. In a statement, Guru Prasada Swami said, “Many are asking what they can do to help devotees in Bangladesh.
We are asking all ISKCON devotees and friends to offer their heartfelt prayers especially this Sunday, and over the next few weeks, for the well-being of ISKCON devotees and other minorities in Bangladesh.” Earlier this week the Bangladeshi High Court rejected a plea to ban ISKCON.
