On Saturday 10th September almost forty initiated disciples of Srila Prabhupada, along with up to 60 others who had chanted and rendered service together in ISKCON’s formative 1970’s era assembled outside 7 Bury Place, Bloomsbury, London, the site of the first ISKCON temple established by Srila Prabhupada on 14th Sep 1969.
With a palpable sense of anticipation the devotees, some of whom hadn’t seen each other for over 30 years, proceeded to chant and dance through the West End, stopping in Cambridge Circus where they drew a huge crowd of smiling (and sometimes dancing) members of the public. Most of them seemed already familiar with the sight of blissful devotees but not so accustomed to such a large assembly from the senior generation!
After a vibrant and sometimes tearful kirtan outside the Palace Theatre the party continued to the Soho Street Temple for arati. Most of the group then returned to Bhaktivedanta Manor to enjoy a ‘70’s style’ feast, followed by exquisite film footage of Srila Prabhupada in the UK compiled by Mohan das. Finally, many were visibly moved by this rare opportunity to reunite and chant together again in the intimate family mood so lovingly created by their beloved spiritual father, Srila Prabhupada.