A very excellent and outstanding occasion. The lady dancers at the front had the very best assortment of colours this year with among others red, yellow and black. The kirtan was excellent with HH Indradyumna Swami of world fame and HG Kalasamvara from New Zealand. When I listened to HG Kalasamvara for some time my feeling was:” This is professional kirtan!!! ” The resultant sound may be as powerful as the sounding of the instruments on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Transcendental sounds shatters the lower modes of nature such as ignorance and passion and reverberates on the facades of the tall buildings.

I met Sriman Herman, the QLD Assistant Minister for Cultural Affairs and we had an edifying discussion about the Hare Krishna life style. Herman attended last year and showed much enthusiasm on and off stage. His 2026 enthusiasm has not waned even an iota. On the contrary his enthusiasm has increased and he may now have come to the stage where he needs beads and bead-bag, which personally I don’t favour in all circumstances. When I showed him my beadbag he innocently enquired: ” What is this?” And we shall fix the matter ASAP.

I also met Ms. Wollf of Brisbane City Council. But that was in the fire or kirtan and we were unable to talk much, as is easily understandable. The temperature was further heightened by her fire red dress, top and bottom. :):):)

In the very beginning, I greeted and talked to a Senior Police Officer, just standing on the side. He was friendly. Later on at the final kirtan, I believe the very same Senior Police Officer was dancing quite nicely. HH Indradyumna Swami exchange a few words with him among others: “I travel all over the world, but I have never seen a police officer of your rank dancing with so much abandon in our kirtans.” Did not ask or notice a name and I regret it now. To be improved next time.

The long queues of prasadam kept me from staying further as I had other business, writing this article being one of them. Another person who left and I happen to meet made the same remarks. AUSTRALIA IS NOT INDIA AND WILL NOT BE FOR A LONG TIME TO COME. I used to call it Nava Bharata or New India just like New York and New Jersey.

LACK OF PUBLICIZING perhaps due to refusal to spend the money.

I often get the impression that ISKCON lacks publicising talents. And consequently falls short of the stage of advancement it is supposed to be after some 60 years of operation.

The product of KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS itself IS ABSOLUTELY FIRTS CLASS, the top of the top. There is no doubt about it. It has survived the last 5000 since the Bhagavad Gita was spoken. It deal with human realities encountered y all generations, all people etc etc…

But the marketing is miles away from that level.

This was confirmed on two occasions today.

ONE.

When I travelled by foot from central train station up Adelaide st, from corner Edward st to City Hall a walk of about 200 meters, there was absolutely nothing to suggest there was a Hare Krishna Festival in full swing just around the corner. NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING.

There should have been some proper indication on the side walk at least at the level of the festival, which I could have seen from 200 meters away.

TWO.

Anne, ticket officer at QLD Transport Ticket Office, also confided that she had seen Hare Krishnas running around all morning. But she had no clue whatsoever of what was going on. And when she intelligently tried to find relevant information on line again she was totally cheated out of suitable info. She could not find any.

Now what do you do when you feel bad vibes coming the top management?

What do you do?

You simply ignored it and go on unperturbed, not moving even a iota in your choosen cape.

The Challenge Bhagavad Gita As It Is 2.15 says:

“O best among men (Arjuna), the person who is not disturbed by such happinesses and distresses and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation.”

However it will be prudent to increase your determination and concentration in case a confrontation lies ahead. Since a very long time I feel ISKCON people have been systematically trying to minimize this humble self. No need to give names. But the tipping over point is coming closer and closer. Hare Krishna. Whence the essential need for me to create my own Prabhupada spiritual space in the form of The Australian Society for Krishna Culture Inc (AUSKCULTURE) soon to become The International Society for Krishna Culture PTY LTD (ISKCULTURE), my society having the advantage of NOT containing the letters CON in its acronym. Hare Krishna. As the saying goes: If it looks like a CON, feels like a CON acts like a CON, THEN IT IS A CON. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, the perfect truth telling gentleman and strict advocate of equal opportunity.