Travel Advisory

Below is a travel advisory notice from ISKCON's Governing Body Commission:

"Dear Friends and Members of ISKCON,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

The tragic news of the deaths of several devotee pilgrims from Russia last
month who died when their bus drove off the road and into the Bhagirathi
River in the mountainous Himalayan region in India has brought us great
sadness.

We send our prayers and support to their families. We pray that those who
lost their lives and those that were injured will be given full spiritual
protection by the Lord.

Reflecting upon this recent accident, we also remember the terrible plane
crash that took the lives of six devotees from the Chowpatty community in
Mumbai who were flying to the Himalayas. Both events remind us how dangerous
this world is and how we must strive to protect our fellow Vaishnavas from
harm.

Years ago, Srila Prabhupada had sober words to share after the death of a
devotee who drowned diving and swimming in the dangerous headwaters of the
Ganga. Prabhupada instructed that we should remember how fortunate we are to
have taken up Krishna Consciousness, and that "we should not take
unnecessary risks."

This order also applies when traveling to visit holy places. While driving
is dangerous everywhere in the world, it is especially so in India where
more than 100,000 people each year die in automobile accidents.

Some of the isolated Himalayan holy places where ISKCON devotees
occasionally visit are particularly dangerous. These include Badrinath,
Kedarnath, Muktinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. The roads to these places go
for many miles over treacherous curves just inches away from steep, deep
gorges. Landslides are common, the roads are poorly maintained, and are
often without any guardrails. In addition, drivers are often poorly trained
and poorly supervised.

Thus, the Executive Committee of the Governing Body Commission, concerned
with the safety of our fellow Vaishnavas, announce the following Advisory
Notice":

Advisory Notice

Devotees and friends of ISKCON are advised to take extra precaution in
planning visits to holy places in India, taking all possible steps to
ensure the safety of themselves, their families, and their traveling
companions.

We particularly advise pilgrims to take caution when visiting isolated holy
places in the mountainous regions in India including Badrinath, Kedarnath,
Muktinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. This is especially true for new members
and visitors to India, and for devotees organizing tours for others.

Anyone who chooses to visit these places should do so only after fully
deliberating upon the risks involved.

India is full of spiritual havens connected with the pastimes of Lord
Krishna, Lord Caitanya, and the Lord's many avatars and devotees. Visits to
most of these tirthas are relatively safe; some are less so.

Thus, remembering Srila Prabhupada's loving words "to not take unnecessary
risks," we strongly advise that ISKCON members apply extra care and caution
while visiting any of these holy places, and we pray always for your safety.

GBC Executive Committee
July 15, 2014

Anuttama das, Chairman
Praghosa das
Sesa das

Janmastami FOLK News Online

Read Janmastami season FOLK news online here. Your print edition should arrive in your mailbox by Friday July 11.



In this issue we feature the major vaishnava festivals of August and September and stories that inspire their observance.

Our Founder-Acharya encourages us to relish the benefit of appreciating Sri Krishna Janmastami philosophically and to approach Srimati Radharani for Her blessings by chanting Hare Krishna.

Then, with the help of Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakur, we remember Lord Balarama’s glorious pastimes at Rama-ghat.

Finally, Acharya Nirmal Chandra Goswami of Radha-Damodara Mandir remembers Srila Prabhupada in Vrndavana.

You can catch up on past issues here.