Invitation to Auckland's Grand Opening Festival

[Guest guest]

ANNOUNCING THE GRAND OPENING OF THE NEW RADHA GIRIDHARI TEMPLE

IN AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND.

 

WHEN: Friday January 16 to Monday January 19 2004

 

WHERE: New Varshan, 1229 Riverhead-Coatesville Highway, Riverhead, Auckland

 

WHO: A warm invitation is extended to all devotees, especially our

Australian godbrothers and godsisters, and all old friends of the Auckland

Yatra. Sannyasis already expected are HH Mukunda Goswami, HH Prabhavisnu

Swami, HH Ramai Swami, HH Jayapataka Goswami, HH Indradyumna Swami, HH

Devamrta Swami. Temple Presidents HG Atmarama dasa, HG Aniruddha dasa, HG

Tirtharaja dasa and others are planning to come. Special guests invited

include New Zealand's Prime Minister Rt Hon Helen Clark, former Prime

Minister Rt Hon David Lange, and local Members of Parliament, Mayors and

Councillors.

Please let us know if you are planning to come. All messages to

Radhikatma dasa, Ph. 64 9 412 8966, or 021 234 1468, or radhik (AT) e3 (DOT) net.nz

 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Thursday evening, Jan 15th - Welcome Programme

Friday, 16th - Installation of Kalashes and Chakra on temple domes

Saturday,17th - Deity Installation

1008 Maha Kalash Abhiseka (Bathing Ceremonies)

Sunday, 18th - Sunday Feast

VIP Official Opening, Cultural Programme

Monday, 19th - Vaisnava Sanga, Beach picnic programme,

Evening Videos and Memories

 

FOR ACCOMMODATION: Contact Radhikatma dasa, as above, and see

attached lists of local accommodation.

 

AIRPORT TRANSPORT: We recommend that visitors consider hiring a vehicle at

the airport. The distance to the temple is approx. 40kms. An Airport

Shuttle Bus is also available, or we can arrange to pick you up for a

minimal covering charge.

 

HISTORY: ISKCON in Auckland was established in 1972 when Srila Prabhupada

installed Sri Sri Radha Giridhari in the first temple, - a simple house in

Auckland city. He visited again in 1973, and then in 1976 he installed Sri

Sri Gaura Nitai and Sri Sri Jagannatha, Balarama and Srimati Subhadra Devi.

In 1978, 25 years ago, the rural property of 98 acres now named New Varshan

was purchased, and the Deities were installed in the existing farm house.

Over the years the temple has expanded, and with it the congregation and

devotee numbers. New Varshan is now home to 50 devotees, a thriving

gurukula, and 23 cows.

Construction of the new Vedic temple began in 1976, and the

completion is due to the efforts of all temple devotees and congregational

members who have, by the Lord's mercy, been able to raise almost three

million dollars (NZ) for this very glorious project. With granite from

Makrana on the Mandir floor, and the carved Simhasana and Vyasasana from

Jaipur, plus ceiling paintings now being completed by HG Dina-bandhu dasa of

the Ukraine, this temple is extraordinarily beautiful, and the Grand Opening

will definitely be one of the greatest festivals in the Southern Hemisphere.

 

ATTACHED: Temple Poster for Display. Accommodation Listings.