Galway’s festival scene is about to go all spiritual with a Hare Krishna festival.Well known all over the world for their shaven heads, bright saffron robes, for giving out free food and their famous mantra, the event is expected to see hundreds attend.
ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness ) and local members of the Hare Krishna movement have teamed up to welcome the public to the festivities.“Probably best known from the Glastonbury Music Festival or for singing in the streets of Irish cities, as the Hare Krishna Festival team we tend to appear all over the place. Whether local carnivals, theatres or town halls we like to be with the people,” said Giridhari Das, a Hare Krishna monk who heads up the UK and Irish festival team.
The Hare Krishna Movement follows ancient teachings of devotional yoga with roots in the Vedic culture of India, dating back over 5,000 years. It became popular in the 1960s when its message was brought to western countries by A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada – an Indian guru, aged 70, who left Vrindavan, India, and set sail for the United States in 1965 with just a few dollars in his pocket.
Within a year of his arrival he set up ISKCON, and today the movement has more than 400 temples and centres worldwide, including 60 farm communities, 50 schools and 90 restaurants.
The Galway festival, and other festivals across Ireland and the UK this year, are part of the build up to the 50th anniversary of the Hare Krishna movement. Thanks to The Beatles, and in particular George Harrison’s involvement, ‘Hare Krishna’ has become a household name.Nathan Hartley, press officer for ISKCON Festivals said that its philosophy is very rich and attractive to many people.
“In a world that’s becoming increasingly competitive, and has people believing they’ll only be happy through material gain, we’re showing a deeply positive alternative. The Krishna Consciousness message is for everyone.
“A universal, non-sectarian message of love, simple living, service and above all – connecting the self with the original spiritual source, Krishna.
Galway’s upcoming Hare Krishna festival is completely FREE, and will include music, dance, and free vegetarian food. It is open to the public and all are welcome.The event will be held at Black Box, at 7 pm on Thursday July 30.
For more details visit www.harekrishnafestivals.com or follow @HKFestivalsUK on Twitter.
