Bakari Gopala
(theharekrishnamovement.org) – We are currently in Naperville visiting the new temple. It is a very large, beautiful new building. Worth visiting.
On behalf of ISKCON Naperville, the temple president Premananda Dasi (Dr. Parvathy M. Russell), extends her warm welcome to everyone to come and participate in this unique, once-in-a-lifetime grand opening ceremony of the new temple and cultural center in the heart of Naperville.
Media/Press release
Grand Opening and Inauguration of the ISKCON Naperville Temple and Cultural Center on Saturday April 22nd
The ISKCON Radha Shyamasundar Temple, a local Vaishnava Hindu house of worship and cultural center, part of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) will be formally inaugurated with a grand opening on April 22nd 2023. The temple has been functioning in an old church building since 2011. With a growing congregation of over 100 diverse families, a new temple was much needed to serve the needs of the community.
Many local dignitaries including City Hall officials, state representatives and state senators are expected to attend this three-day extravaganza. The new 25,000 square foot temple facility designed with elements of ancient Vedic Indian architecture includes an ornate handcrafted altar in the temple room, Govinda’s (a snack bar serving sanctified vegetarian fare), a community hall, classrooms, and a “Bhakti Yoga Lounge”.
ISKCON has over 700 temples word-wide having members from many ethnic and national backgrounds. ISKCON followers who are also known as the “Hare Krishnas” or members of the “Hare Krishna Movement”, practice Bhakti Yoga, or devotion to God in the Vaishnava tradition. As part of this practice, devotees study the ancient Bhagavad-gita as their principal text and practice a daily meditation by chanting the Maha Mantra: “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare, Rama, Hare, Rama, Rama, Rama, Hare Hare”. Strict vegetarianism is also part of their practice. Numerous Hare Krishna food relief programs around the globe are considered to be some of the largest vegetarian food relief projects. ISKCON Naperville also provides hot, healthy, vegetarian meals to the homeless and the needy through their food for life program.
The 3-day Grand Opening is open to the public starting at 9am on Thursday April 20th to Saturday afternoon April 22nd. Throughout the three-day grand event festivities will include lively and colorful worship ceremonies honoring the Deity forms of divinity, kirtan (devotional songs and chanting where all attendees can participate), recitations of sacred Sanskrit hymns by trained priests, prasadam (world-famous sanctified vegetarian food items distributed to all guests free of charge), yajna (ceremonial fire sacrifice of grains and ghee) and many other unique and memorable experiences that take place only once during the formal opening ceremony of a temple of Lord Krishna.
A free sumptuous vegetarian feast will be served on Saturday at 1PM.
On behalf of ISKCON Naperville, the temple president Premananda Dasi (Dr. Parvathy M. Russell), extends her warm welcome to everyone to come and participate in this unique, once-in-a-lifetime grand opening ceremony of the new temple and cultural center in the heart of Naperville.
Contact: Pratibahu Das
Phone: 312-375-7195
Email: pratulp@iskconnaperville.org
