Prison Program by ISKCON Indore

BY: VRAJENDRANANDAN DAS

May 24, 2010 — NEW DELHI, INDIA (SUN) — On the auspicious day of Sita Navami (22nd May), ISKCON Indore inaugurated a Prison Preaching Program and organized the first such event at the Central Jail in Indore. The program, which began at 5 PM, started off with an enthusiastic Kirtan led by the Indore devotees, which was enjoyed by the 600+ prisoners and the officials present in the program hall. The prisoners, dressed in their jail uniforms, joined the Kirtan with their rhythmic clapping.

H.G. Mahaman Prabhu, Temple President of ISKCON Indore and Zonal Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, delivered a short speech to the prisoners on the importance of chanting Harinam and requested them to take up this chanting of Hare Krishna. He appealed to them to forsake what has happened and look forward to rectify themselves and move into the mainstream society once again.

At the end, we again had ecstatic Kirtan along with the prisoners, who came forward to dance along with Mahaman Prabhu and I. The atmosphere vibrated with sounds of Sankirtan which went on for nearly 20 minutes, and at one point even drawing the prison officials to join the dancing of devotees and prisoners.

After the Kirtan, all the prisoners received a copy of Back to Godhead (Hindi) along with fruit prasadam which was sponsored and distributed by Sri Sumit Suri, a very active Congregation devotee at ISKCON Indore, and devotees.

Several high level jail officials were present at the program. A short list:

Sri Swami (Deputy Jail Superintendent)
Sri Kulshrest (Deputy Jail Superintendent)
Sri Abhishek Dangi (Welfare Officer)
Sri Manohar Rathore (Jail PRO)

At the end, jail officials and prisoners voiced appreciation for the program and Mahaman prabhu was requested by the Jail Officers to continue holding such programs in future. The program was well covered by the print media.

For more photos, please visit Photo Gallery.

Your Servant,
Vrajendranandan das
National Communications Director
New Delhi, India