Press Release

[Guest guest]

ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness)

 

Founder-Acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

 

RADHA GIRIDHARI TEMPLE, 1229 COATESVILLE-RIVERHEAD HIGHWAY

 

R.D.2 Kumeu, Auckland

 

Phone: +64-9-412 8075 Fax: +64-9-412 7130

 

 

 

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

 

 

HON CHRIS CARTER, THE MINISTER OF ETHNIC AFFAIRS TO VISIT HARE

KRISHNA AUCKLAND TEMPLE

 

 

 

CONTACT: Ketan Patel and Lakshmi Patel, Phone: +64 (09)849 7405 or

 

Mobile: +64 21 041 7164

 

E-mail: prudent (AT) xtra (DOT) co.nz

 

DATE: July 12, 2006

 

 

 

The Auckland Hare Krishna Temple has decided to approach Krishna devotees

and well wishers in New Zealand and across the world in order to raise NZD 1

million in the next two months to make the new Radha Giridhari Temple,

Auckland, mortgage - free.

 

 

 

The Hon Chris Carter, the minister of Ethnic Affairs, is scheduled to visit

the Hare Krishna Temple on July 23, 2006 to unveil the smaller version of

the "1 million dollar Krishna painting". The painting will be auctioned

during the on "Janmashtami" celbrations, Lord Krishna's birthday on August

16, 2006.

 

 

 

The Temple has already launched a website for fundraising,

www.iskconnz.com/1million to enable people in New Zealand and across the

world to participate in this venture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The magnificent new Temple for Sri Sri Radha Giridhari is called New

Varsana, (Varsana is Srimati Radharani's abode), and is situated at 1229

Coatesville Riverhead Highway, Riverhead, about 20 minutes drive north west

of Auckland city. It was officially opened on January 18, 2004 after a 17

year construction period. This is the largest ISKCON Temple in the Southern

hemisphere.

 

 

 

Pioneer devotees dreamed of building a glorious Vedic "Temple of Devotion"

which would attract thousands of worshippers to appreciate the beauty of the

Lordships and the value of Vedic culture. On February 14, 1987, the then

Prime Minister of New Zealand, the late Rt. Hon. David Lange poured the

foundation concrete for the two storey Temple.

 

 

 

In the early stages of construction the devotees did all the work

themselves: collecting donations, clearing up the area, mixing cement,

pouring the floor, walls and huge pillars using bucket brigades.

Construction was slow as it depended entirely upon the generosity of

well-wishers. As the building progressed so did the need for skilled workers

and the cost also escalated dramatically.

 

 

 

Members of the congregation took up the challenge to serve Sri Sri Radha

Giridhari and many donated or pledged substantially or offered their skills

like painting, wiring etc. The management had to borrow substantially, over

$800 000, to complete the Temple.

 

 

 

Finally by the mercy of Srimati Radharani and Lord Sri Krishna, Srila

Prabhupada's dream of a magnificent Temple of Devotion was realised on

January 18, 2004 costing over

 

$3 million.

 

 

 

The "1 million dollar painting" will be created by renowned Ukrainian artist

Dina Bandhu Das on a wall measuring 4.17 metres x 2.82 metres in the

Temple's main worship hall. Devotees are requested to sponsor this painting

towards the fundraising. This is the ONLY 1 million-dollar painting in the

world and the Temple expects 10,000 of Lord Krishna's devotees globally to

donate just NZD 100 each to make a total of one million dollars and thus

achieve the Mortgage-free goal.

 

 

 

Work on the painting will commence as soon as a donation total of $100,000

is collected. The progress of the painting will be updated on the Temple

website http://www.iskconnz.com/1million/progress.htm on a regular basis.

 

 

 

The Temple is requesting Lord Krishna's devotees globally to participate in

this once in a lifetime event, fundraising for the "1 million dollar Krishna

painting", and to receive the unlimited mercy of the Supreme Lord Krishna

and His eternal associates.

 

Donations can be made via credit card or a direct deposit into the Temple's

bank account, the details of which are provided on the website. All

sponsors' names are posted on the website at

http://www.iskconnz.com/1million/sl.htm

 

For more information on the fund-raising, please visit

<http://www.iskconnz.com/1million> www.iskconnz.com/1million and be part of

the world's ONLY "1 million dollar" Krishna Painting.