Date: August 13th 2016
Venue: Metea Valley High School
1801 N Eola Rd, Aurora, Illinois 60502
Time: 3:30 pm onwards
RSVP: Facebook
Cost: FREE
Program: Music (kirtan), presentations, Cultural programs – Drama on Bhagavad Gita by the youth, Utkalaa Center for Odissi Dance presenting Odissi classical dance by Ipsita and group, ISKCON Naperville’s vedic temple updates, delicious vegetarian food and more ..

Fifty years ago, on August 13, 1965, a lone elderly pilgrim and teacher, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami boarded the cargo ship in Calcutta, India for the one month sea voyage to New York City. While it was not unusual for immigrants from India to head to the US, what separated Swamji was the mission that urged him onward.

More than forty years before, during their first meeting, Swamji’s guru had instructed him to spread the message of Lord Krishna to the English speaking world. Thus, after a lifetime of preparation, at the age of 69, Bhaktivedanta Swami, later to be known as Srila Prabhupada, left for the New World not seeking riches, but to teach and distribute the greatest wealth of India and the East—knowledge of God, or “Krishna Consciousness”.

Today, fifty years later members of the society, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), and other admirers and followers around the world will be honoring this unique spiritual teacher and his achievements on August 13th, 2016.

Several community leaders, Academicians, Businesses professionals, and Naperville community in general will be joining us to celebrate the festivities. The celebration will include a brief presentation about ISKCON’s 50 year journey, cultural programs, and free delicious vegetarian feast for everyone in the Matea valley high school auditorium, Aurora IL. The invitation is open to all supporters, well-wishers and general public. Please visit www.iskoconnaperville.org/iskcon50 for more information and RSVP on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/591535357675685/

ISKCON celebrates 50 years worldwide

2016 is a year of festivities commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) founded by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada in 1966. Significantly ISKCON has grown into a worldwide movement of more than 600 temples, 65 farms and eco-communities, 110 vegetarian restaurants, and millions of participants globally in just 50 years.

Srila Prabhupada left India alone at the age of 69 on a cargo ship bound for New York to spread devotion to Lord Krishna throughout the world. In just eleven years he circled the globe fourteen times, translated and wrote commentaries on dozens of books, trained thousands of disciples, and opened more than one hundred temples and farm communities. In 2010, CNN listed him along with US President Ronald Reagan as one of ten “Famous Folks” who launched careers after the age of 50. (http://edition.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/worklife/05/16/mf.famous.career.after.50/index.html)

Dr. Harvey Cox, Emeritus Professor at Harvard Divinity School, wrote “I am impressed with how much the teachings of one man and the spiritual tradition he brought impacted themselves into the lives of so many people. In my view Srila Prabhupada’s contribution is a very important one and will be a lasting one.”

ISKCON Benefits Society

• Mantra Chanting—Brings peace of mind and awakens love of God
• Books—516 million books of ancient wisdom distributed around the world
• Festivals—Thousands of public cultural events/festivals celebrated yearly
• Bhakti—The most joyful and practical means of self-realization
• Health—Promoting a vegetarian diet for eco-friendly, non-violent lifestyle
• Hunger—Feeding billions world-wide with free, sanctified meals
• Peace—Advocating against sectarianism/exploitation of others & the earth