This month we were approached by Mr. Victor, the principal of Mandal Parishad Primary School in the rural village of Jonnavalasa, Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. He heard of our ashram's food distribution programs in Vizianagaram and requested us to do something for the children in his school.

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Already the children receive daily meals from the government, through the national mid-day meal program, so we asked in what way we could be of assistance. He replied that the children could use school uniforms, as their families cannot afford them.

We are happy to inform you that the Bhaktivedanta Ashram has recently begun food distribution programs in Andhra Pradesh. Currently we are conducting the activities throughout Vizianagaram district based from our ashram located in Vizianagaram, in the North of Andhra Pradesh. In the initial stages we are planning to distribute food 15 times a month in various tribal villages within 100 kilometers of our ashram.

Enclosed are some recent photographs of a program for 300 children at Bhadrak Primary School. We have begun distribution of school supplies to poor students in rural areas who are unable to afford their own. We do not want children to feel discouraged from studying due to the expenses involved in purchasing basic things like notebooks, pens and school uniforms.

Below are a few recent photos of the food distribution program we are conducting in the village of Ulanga. Ulanga is a small village located around 5 km from our relief center in Randiya. Like Randiya, it is also an adivasi (tribal) village. We humbly request you to keep the children of Ulanga in your daily prayers.

The following pictures are of Lord Jagannatha and Baladeva dressed in Hati Vesha (Elephant Dress) during last year's Snana Purnima festival at the Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Bhadrak, Orissa. Snana Purnima takes place 15 days before Lord Jagannatha's Ratha Yatra festival. It is the last darshan of the Lord until 15 days later when He comes out on His chariot.

In our previous newsletter we showed you pictures and a video of the children of Randiya and the weekly food distribution we conduct in that village. For the new year we thought it would be nice to give these children a small gift that they could really relate to, something that would allow them to just be children for a day.  [Video Inside]

Randiya is a very poor rural village located around 20 km away from our main Ashram in Orissa. The village consists of people from the adivasi (tribal) community. Around two years ago, the Bhaktivedanta Ashram opened a relief center here and began regular distribution of free meals to more than 300 children of the village. Since that time we have been able to distribute over 44,000 meals to these wonderful children.  [Video Inside]

Quite unexpectedly, on the auspicious occassion of Naga Panchami (the traditional day for worshipping snakes and Nagas), a divine Naga appeared at our Sri Jagannatha temple in Bhadrak to bless devotees. As word spread, more than 1,000 villagers arrived throughout the day and night, bringing offerings of milk and deepams to offer to the Naga.

On the auspicious occasion of Puri Jagannatha Ratha Yatra, the sacred deities of Sri Devi (Lakshmi), Bhu Devi and Vimala Devi were installed at the Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Bhadrak, Orissa. Each deity has been crafted from 110 kilograms (242 lbs) of ashtadhatu metal (a combination of eight metals: gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, tin, iron, and mercury), and they are each approximately two and a half feet tall.

Another village has been added to our food relief program in Orissa. The village of Ugalpur is located around 6 kilometers outside of Bhadrak. Here are a few photos of the children from this village and the recent food distribution. We have also included a three minute video clip at the top of the page. [Video Inside]

500 years ago, while walking from Navadvipa to Puri, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu spent the night in Bhadrak on the banks of the sacred Salandi river. He stayed at an ancient temple of Sri Sri Radha Madana Mohana (located in Santhiya village). Before departing for Puri, He blessed the temple pujari by giving him His personal blanket. This blanket has been worshipped for the last 500 years by the descendants of the original pujari.

This month we have begun food distribution in a new village, Bagurai Leprosy Colony, located a few kilometers outside of Bhadrak, in Orissa. As the name implies, most of the children in the village have parents affected by leprosy. This makes it even harder for their families to earn money, and take care of the children properly. We are trying to provide a little help in the form of spiritual food, so that the children can at least receive a few nourishing meals.

To commemorate the opening of a new branch in Avinashi, the Bhaktivedanta Ashram has organized ‘Hare Krishna Festival’ at the 800 year old Sri Lakshmi Narasimha temple in the famous temple town of Avinashi.

The last few months have been a time of increased activity for us. In September, a renewal of monsoon rains led to severe flooding throughout Orissa, leaving more than 1.5 million people homeless in the state. Every year Orissa seems to bear the brunt of monsoon flooding in India, but this year it was even more so, with miles and miles of land submerged under water.

On Kartika Purnima the Bhaktivedanta Ashram inaugurated special "Chandana Argali Parikrama" of Lord Jagannatha. Every full moon day devotees are allowed to enter the inner altar, usually reserved for temple priests, and perform parikrama of Lord Jagannatha while offering flowers to His lotus feet. This is the only temple in Orissa that allows people from all castes and communities to enter the garbhagriha to worship the Lord.

To commemorate the sacred month of Kartik, Bhaktivedanta Ashram Coimbatore has arranged for a month long celebration at its temple premises. The devotees take part in decorating the temple with lamps every evening, and after the arati, reading of a lila from Bhagavata Purana continues.

Bhaktivedanta Ashram Coimbatore conducted a seven days "Bhagavad Gita Course for Ladies" from 13th to 19th September 2006. Eleven ladies from different walks of life participated in the program. At the end of the course the participants took an oath in front of Srila Prabhupada’s picture to daily chant a minimum of two malas of Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, to read Bhagavad Gita As It Is regularly, to eat only prasadam (food offered to Krishna) and to associate more with other devotees.

In August the Bhaktivedanta Ashram opened a new center in the South Indian city of Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu). The devotees organized their first satsanga on the occasion of Sri Krishna Janmashtami to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna. Over 300 devotees attended the function, participated in bhajans and listened to a lecture on the sacred Bhagavad Gita.

A report on CNN News about the Bhaktivedanta Ashram's Jagannatha temple in Bhadrak, Orissa. Last week reporters from seven television channels came for filming (CNN, NDTV, ETV, OTV, Sony1, Zee News, and Aaj Tak).

Part of an interview for an Indian television channel (Aaj Tak). Topic of the interview is Puri Jagannatha temple's policy barring foreigners from entering to worship the Lord.