On July 13, 2024, ISKCON Butwal held a paddy planting program to provide the required straw and grains for the cows and devotees. One hundred fifty devotees participated in the program, which aimed to promote sustainable farming practices and self-sufficiency in the community. Butwal is a city in the Rupandehi District in Lumbini Province, Nepal, which lies between the Terai plains and the beautiful Chure hills.

ISKCON Butwal also cares for a goshala with more than 300 cows. “The enthusiasm of the devotees was truly remarkable as everyone came together on a single day to meet the temple’s needs,” said Karandhara Das, Temple President. “The planting is organized as a community festival which includes kirtan and prasadam at the end of the day.”

Srila Prabhupada advocated for self-sufficient farm communities where devotees could produce their own food and live off the land. In one of his press interviews on October 16, 1976, in Chandigarh, India, he said, “We are trying to present Bhagavad-gita as it is. That is our mission, that you produce food grains sufficiently and give protection to the cows so that food grains and milk will give you all the benefits of economic question. You’ll be satisfied.”

It is also one of ISKCON’s Seven Purposes. The sixth purpose mentions the need to “bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler, more natural way of life.” If there were more self-sufficient farm communities, life would be less complicated, and there would be more time to cultivate spiritual culture.

Karandhara Das, valuing this aspect, pointed out, “Our purpose is to consider the sixth principle of ISKCON given by Srila Prabhupada and to serve the cows.”

For more information on ISKCON Butwal, visit their Facebook page or email them. You can also watch a video of their planting program here.