Minister of Ethnic Affairs to Visit Hare Krishna Auckland Temple

BY: ISKCON AUCKLAND

Jul 16, AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND (SUN) — The Auckland Hare Krishna Temple has decided to approach Krishna devotees and well wishers in New Zealand and across the world in order to raise NZD 1 million in the next two months to make the new Radha Giridhari Temple, Auckland, mortgage - free.

The Hon Chris Carter, the minister of Ethnic Affairs, is scheduled to visit the Hare Krishna Temple on July 23, 2006 to unveil the smaller version of the “1 million dollar Krishna painting”. The painting will be auctioned during the on “Janmashtami” celbrations, Lord Krishna’s birthday on August 16, 2006.

The Temple has already launched a website for fundraising, www.iskconnz.com/1million to enable people in New Zealand and across the world to participate in this venture.

The magnificent new Temple for Sri Sri Radha Giridhari is called New Varsana, (Varsana is Srimati Radharani’s abode), and is situated at 1229 Coatesville Riverhead Highway, Riverhead, about 20 minutes drive north west of Auckland city. It was officially opened on January 18, 2004 after a 17 year construction period. This is the largest ISKCON Temple in the Southern hemisphere.

Pioneer devotees dreamed of building a glorious Vedic “Temple of DevotionR21; which would attract thousands of worshippers to appreciate the beauty of the Lordships and the value of Vedic culture. On February 14, 1987, the then Prime Minister of New Zealand, the late Rt. Hon. David Lange poured the foundation concrete for the two storey Temple.

In the early stages of construction the devotees did all the work themselves: collecting donations, clearing up the area, mixing cement, pouring the floor, walls and huge pillars using bucket brigades. Construction was slow as it depended entirely upon the generosity of well-wishers. As the building progressed so did the need for skilled workers and the cost also escalated dramatically.

Members of the congregation took up the challenge to serve Sri Sri Radha Giridhari and many donated or pledged substantially or offered their skills like painting, wiring etc. The management had to borrow substantially, over $800 000, to complete the Temple.

Finally by the mercy of Srimati Radharani and Lord Sri Krishna, Srila Prabhupada’s dream of a magnificent Temple of Devotion was realised on January 18, 2004 costing over $3 million.

The “1 million dollar painting” will be created by renowned Ukrainian artist Dina Bandhu Das on a wall measuring 4.17 metres x 2.82 metres in the TempleR17;s main worship hall. Devotees are requested to sponsor this painting towards the fundraising. This is the ONLY 1 million-dollar painting in the world and the Temple expects 10,000 of Lord Krishna’s devotees globally to donate just NZD 100 each to make a total of one million dollars and thus achieve the Mortgage-free goal.

Work on the painting will commence as soon as a donation total of $100,000 is collected. The progress of the painting will be updated on the Temple website on a regular basis.

The Temple is requesting Lord Krishna’s devotees globally to participate in this once in a lifetime event, fundraising for the "1 million dollar Krishna painting", and to receive the unlimited mercy of the Supreme Lord Krishna and His eternal associates.

Donations can be made via credit card or a direct deposit into the TempleR17;s bank account, the details of which are provided on the website. All sponsors’ names are posted on the website at

For more information on the fund-raising, please visit www.iskconnz.com/1million and be part of the world’s ONLY “1 million dollar” Krishna Painting.

ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness)
Founder-Acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
RADHA GIRIDHARI TEMPLE, 1229 COATESVILLE-RIVERHEAD HIGHWAY
R.D.2 Kumeu, Auckland
Phone: +64-9-412 8075 Fax: +64-9-412 7130 PRESS RELEASE CONTACT:
Ketan Patel and Lakshmi Patel, Phone: +64 (09)849 7405 or
Mobile: +64 21 041 7164
E-mail: prudent@xtra.co.nz
DATE: July 12, 2006