Festival of Vedic India at Bestchance Kindergarden

By: Navadwipa Isvari dasi

The 3 year old children were so excited to see us 'special visitors', but very curious of our displays.

It was a great pleasure to  talk about our vedic culture to such young souls. They were very receptive

with full of questions and answers.

We had an interactive power point presentation, where we discussed various aspects of our culture as well

as giving them hands on experience using traditional instruments as the mrdanga and kartals.

They appeared to also really enjoy learning word for word the Maha Mantra and then singing it all together using the instruments.

Then it was time for yoga. They were able to listen and follow the instructions of the various fun yoga postures, especially

designed for these young people. Relaxational music was played at the end of the yoga session, which proved effective when we saw everyone totally relaxed and falling asleep.

Finally they got a chance to try out the beautiful traditional clothes we had brought for them, which were colourfully displayed around the room. Most of them got dressed into the clothing and wore bangles and other jewellery. While others were keen on getting the Indian facial art done like us.

The teachers were equally as excited to get dressed with our help, while one teacher took on the challenge of draping the sari herself. The children loved seeing their teachers getting dressed up.

We presented the teachers and children with the colourful Maha garlands which they greatly appreciated. 

Fitzroy Community School

By: Navadwipa Isvari Dasi

What a great day of meeting the students and staff again!

We were enthusiastically welcomed back at the door by the students and teachers of Fitzroy community school. It really felt like a loving community with the students enthusiastically wanting to show us around and help us set up.

The students were excited to hear we were coming back, this time to present Vegetarian cooking and Yoga.

The yoga sessions were very well received with the students eagerly trying the various postures, learning about the befits of yoga in our everyday life, and learning the ever popular Maha Mantra and its meaning. They loved the Mantra so much they wanted to keep singing it in unison.

Cooking time! Everyone wanted to have a go making samosas. They eagerly listened to the instructions and demonstration of this all time favourite (Samosas). The students were ready as ever to give it a go when it was their turn. They thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the experience, especially tasting their preparation. Many said they couldn't wait to take the recipes home to cook with their parents.

We can't wait to go back to this school again!

Parking Alert

 

Free Shuttle Bus Service on Sri Krishna Jnamastami

Festival of Vedic India at Melbourne High School

By: Navadwipa Isvari dasi

 "What an Incredible evening at Melbourne High School's International night! Scrumptious Prasadam, ecstatic kirtan and amazing dancing with parents, staff and students from over 70 nationalities!

 We were fortunate enough to be part of this great evening presenting in our stall Henna/facial art as well as Indian cultural costume, kirtan on stage and prasadam distribution. Among other things in our stall we also had Higher Taste cook books and the ever attractive and fragrant Maha garlands, which were greatly appreciated.

 There were many cultural food items for the guests among which was our contribution of prasadam. A few remembered our delicious prasadam from last year and couldn't wait to eat.

 Our Harinama presentation was the Grand Finale. It was incredible to see the enthusiastic participation of the audience who joined in the singing and dancing of the Maha-mantra. It was amazing to hear the sound vibration of the Maha-mantra throughout the entire hall and down the corridors, which really rocked the whole place.

 We had very positive feedback from the Melbourne High School parents & friends and the school community about our wonderful participation and they are very much looking forward to having us again next year.

We were greatly appreciated by all and the guests are already looking forward to our involvement next year and so are we!"

For full view of the photos please click on the thumbnails.

Janmastami Weekend Program Details

Join us over the weekend of September 5-6 to celebrate Sri Krishna Janmastami.



Here are the detailed daily programs (download here).



In brief, on Saturday September the 5th. you can enjoy:

Extended Darshan,* Dramas, prasadam for all
4.30pm Arati & Kirtan
7.00pm Arati & Kirtan
7.30pm Adi-vasa Ceremony
9.00pm Arati & Kirtan

* darshan times are 4.30 - 5.00am, 7.00am - 9.30pm

Briefly, on Sunday September the 6th. our schedule is:

Extended Deity Darshans,* dramas, a fire sacrifice and prasadam for all
4.30pm Arati & Kirtan
7.00pm Arati & Kirtan
7.30pm Abhisheka & Kirtan
9.00pm Arati & Kirtan
Midnight Arati

* darshan times are: 4.30 - 5am, 7am - 5pm, 7 - 9.30pm and midnight -12.45am.

You can find out about parking and volunteering at our event page.

 

Festival of Vedic India at Presentation College Windsor

By: Navadwipa Isvari Dasi

"The Festival of Vedic India Team was warmly welcomed at Presentation College Windsor by the staff and students. They invited us to present Henna Art as part of their Presentation Day and Carnival.

Our stall was brightly decorated with fragrant Maha Garlands, Higher Taste books, and pictures of colourful Henna designs.

We had vibrant kirtan playing loudly in the background which everyone enjoyed and some students were even dancing enthusiastically to the music.

Our stall was constantly flooded with students and staff wanting to have various henna designs done. Some were attracted to our Higher Taste books and started talking about vegetarian cooking and its benefits. They loved the beauty, richness and fragrance of the garlands. The garlands were gratefully accepted.

The staff said they would like us to come back again very soon to present different aspects of our Vedic culture to their students.

We all had a really fun and enjoyable day."