On a bright and sunny Sunday, Bhaktivedanta Manor had the pleasure of welcoming Konda Surekha Garu, a Cabinet Minister from the Indian state of Telangana, who attended with her family.

Konda is a senior political leader serving as Cabinet Minister for Endowments, Forest and Environment. She has a long-standing history of community service stretching back to the 1990s and comes from a humble background.

A strong supporter of goshalas (cow protection initiatives), she takes a keen interest in supporting temples in India and preserving the Vedic tradition. Where better for her in the UK to visit than the Manor, with its beautiful, heritage-like surroundings—its beautiful grounds, the goshala (New Gokul), and of course, the darshan of Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda.

She also helped make garlands, met members of the congregation, and shared her thoughts in a warm and heartfelt address.

One especially memorable moment was when Her Grace Vishakha Dasi gifted Konda’s three-year-old grandson her new beautifully presented three-part series of the “Bhagavad-gita for Children – Feelings.”

She also departed with a copy of the Srimad Bhagavatam by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and shared that in India she has been supporting temples and related  initiatives.

The Temple looks forward to welcoming her and her family again.