UK Communications Report Sept. 2004

[Guest guest]

Dear Maharajas, Prabhus and Matajis

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Hoping

this meets you well.

 

This month's 75-page communications report is dominated by the recent

successful Janmashtami celebrations at Bhaktivedanta Manor. For this event

we solicited more than 21 newspaper articles with one newspaper giving us a

double page colour spread. Seven national and local radio stations

broadcasted the event and three television networks carried the news.

 

Messages of support came from the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition

and the President of the Liberal Democratic Party.

 

All in all the two-day festival attracted no less than 44 dignitories,

including Cabinet Ministers, Local Government Councillors, a TV celebrity,

influential businessmen, media, India High Commissioner's Press Attache,

Mayors, and Bishop O'Brien from the Westminster Diocese.

 

A second highlight of the month was the very first "Janmashtami in the House

of Commons", a NCD initiative, supported by ISKCON and the National Council

for Hindu Temples (UK). This historic event was attended by 18 MP's; 5

Ministers; and 3 Peers. Other dignitories included Ken Livingstone, the

Mayor of London; the Indian High Commissioner; and a delegation from ISKCON

UK.

 

The Prime Minister sent a written message of support.

 

The NCD continues to encourage the efforts of the Moscow temple campaign by

soliciting support from our target audiences in the UK. Recently we managed

to get the Mayor of London to represent the support of the Hindu community

in London during his visit with the Mayor of Moscow.

 

Govinda's Restaurant at the Soho temple was commissioned to do the catering

for a meeting at the House of Commons during the launch of the

faithandfood.com initiative.

 

Attached to this e-mail is the abridged version of the communications

report. A hard copy of the full report is send to select devotees. Copies

are available on request.

 

Your servant.

 

Hari-dhama dasa.