Harinam in Johannesburg City Centre

On Saturday mornings Johannesburg City Center is swarmed with a buzz of shoppers. On one Saturday every month a small group of us do harinam in the streets. It enlivens us to chant and dance amidst the African people. Below HG Mayapur Chandrodaya Prabhu distributes some books to passersby. I also do books on the harinam and find that Srila Prabhupada's books are well received. People give small donations. We sponsor the books and accept whatever contribution they give. Most Africans that I encounter speak English. So we distribute books in English. To survive in the working environment English literacy is important. Indeed even in our neighborhood young children converse in fluent English. It seems like soon native languages will be a thing of the past.

Below a group of youngster from Soweto joined in the harinam under the guidance of HG Mahaprabhu Dasa. Mahaprabhu and his good wife Malini devi dasi are originally from Soweto but have lived as full time devotees in asrams for many years. They moved out to start their own preaching center at Mother Malini's dad's house which she inherited after his demise. There they operate a Sunday program and do Food for Life. Many school children are attracted and attend these programs.

Mother Svaha who also works in the co-operate environment joined us for harinam and is seen with the hailer in hand. She led and ecstatic kirtan and many danced as her voice resounded the holy name.

Hg Nrsimhananda Prabhu is seen with a yellow mrdanga. He is also in the co-operate world and is my husband. He serves as the co-international director of the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture. Most evenings after work he teaches Srila Prabhupada's books at varying venues. He served as temple president for many years as was responsible for growing the congregation long before Namahattas were established. Actually the namhatta council was established only earlier this year or perhaps late last year. BCEC has been operational since the last 18yrs and continues to do so. Most initiated devotees in this area have been introduced to Krishna consciousness through the College classes. As a person preferring to act he remains an active preacher and follower making himself available to the devotee community at large at all times. The Iskcon News in its coverage of Iskcon in Johannesburg seems to create project a different perspective of how the congregation development took place here.

An enthusiastic bystander adds a few beats to the kirtan with an empty bucket.

hare krsna hare krsna
krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama
rama rama hare hare