Sri Sri Vitthal Rukumai, the presiding Deities of the new office, with Sri Krishna Chaitanya Swami, Prabhupada Jivan Das, Govind Charan Das, and Stoka Krsna Gopa Das.

April 9th – On the auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa, which marks the New Year according to the lunisolar calendar, the ISKCON Kirtan Ministry Office was inaugurated in Pradhikaran, Nigdi, Pune. The ceremony was held under the divine blessings of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Swami, who presided over the event. The occasion also saw the presence of esteemed guests, including Govind Charan Das and Prabhupada Jivan Das.

The event commenced with an enthusiastic welcome from nearly 200 devotees from ISKCON Ravet, ISKCON NVCC, ISKCON Camp, ISKCON BCEC, and ISKCON Kalewadi, who greeted Sri Krishna Chaitanya Swami and the guests with Harinam Sankirtan. The inauguration ceremony included a ribbon-cutting and lamp-lighting ceremony by Sri Krishna Chaitanya Swami, Prabhupada Jivan Das, Govind Charan Das, Anupam Gangwar, and Varsha Charhate.

Ribbon cutting and lamp-lighting ceremony by Sri Krishna Chaitanya Swami, Prabhupada Jivan Das, Govind Charan Das, Stoka Krsna Gopa Das, and other senior devotees.

A drama depicting the conversation between Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Haridas Thakura illustrated Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s desire and mission. Following the performance, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Swami addressed the importance of using modern technology and social media to spread Krishna Consciousness. He quoted Lord Chaitanya’s prediction: pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi-grāma swarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma, “The chanting of my holy names will spread to every town and village.” By utilizing social media, ISKCON Kirtan Ministry aims to fulfill this vision and reach every town, every village, and even every cellphone.

nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis
tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ
etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi
durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgaḥ

The Lord has unlimited names, and each of these names has unlimited energy. Whether it is loud, emanating from a mridanga, or small, coming out of a cell phone speaker, all energy is present, and this energy will create a revolution in the lives of impious civilization. Similarly, the ISKCON Kirtan Ministry will create a revolution in the lives of the impious civilization by installing the holy name on everyone’s cell phones.

The office’s inauguration is a significant step in promoting the glories of the holy name and fulfilling Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission. In today’s modern world, technology is revolutionizing every aspect of life, including spiritual outreach. The internet, social media, and digital platforms have emerged as powerful tools for spreading Krishna Consciousness. Sri Krishna Chaitanya Swami referred to the internet as the “Brihad Brihad Mridanga,” emphasizing its potential to reach people everywhere and spread the holy name.

Sri Krishna Chaitanya Swami depicting the use of smartphone technology in Krishna Consciousness.

Shridhar Das and Rushikesh Das creating a cinematic edit on Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe Illustrator.

Ekansh Gangwar recording voice and Shridhar Das filming for ISKCON Kirtan Ministry Social Media.

The ISKCON Kirtan Ministry Office in Pune is headed by Stoka Krsna Gopa Das (Managing Director – ISKCON Kirtan Ministry) under the guidance of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Swami (GBC Deputy and ISKCON Kirtan Minister) and Jadbharat Das (ISKCON Ravet Sankirtan Head)

The Ministry’s dedicated team includes Rushikesh Bhandari (Designer/Cinematographer), Shridhar Jalawadimath (IKM Manager/Designer), Soham More (ISKCON Padayatra Ministry Social Media Coordinator), Ekansh Gangwar (Artist) and Vikas Prajapati (Coordinator). Additional devoted volunteers include Akshay Gullapalli, Narayan Tarani, Parth Vyas, and Shantanu Vavale.

To stay connected with the ISKCON Kirtan Ministry, please follow their social media channels on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.