Janananda Goswami, along with devotees from around Luzon Island, Philippines, for Maha Harinam in Manila.

On March 9, 2025, the heart of Manila pulsed with the sounds of kirtan as devotees gathered for a Maha Harinam at Rizal Park. Led by Janananda Goswami, the event brought together devotees from different parts of the Philippines in a powerful display of unity and spiritual enthusiasm.

For Mahendra Das, Temple President of ISKCON Manila, the initiative extended beyond routine gatherings. “We have gone through harrowing political challenges, which somehow divided the Philippine yatra. A much-needed solution was to find common devotional service that enables devotees to overlook differences and unite in glorifying the holy names of the Lord,” he said. The presence of an advanced spiritual leader like Janananda Goswami served as a catalyst, along with the understanding that “in this day and age, the only means of perfection and sacrifice that will please the Supreme Lord is the sankirtana yajna.”

The spirit of large-scale Harinam in the Philippines traces back to the inspiration of His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami. Mahendra, a disciple of Tamal Krishna Goswami, recalled his guru’s unique approach to prasadam distribution: “He would distribute popcorn prasadam like a seasoned baseball pitcher, accurately throwing them through the small windows of jeepneys [local taxis].” The memory of such enthusiastic service remains a guiding force for Manila’s outreach efforts.

As the procession moved through Luneta Park, the atmosphere was nothing short of a festival. “The ladies danced in unison while the gentlemen jumped up and down enthusiastically. The crowd stopped whatever they were doing and closely observed the festive mood in awe of the mood displayed by the devotees. Some even tried to imitate the dancing, while many focused on the melodious sound of the holy names accompanied by kartalas, mrdangas, and a portable harmonium,” he described. Meanwhile, devotees distributed books and pamphlets, receiving donations in return.

The event sparked curiosity among onlookers. “The majority of the crowd were somewhat puzzled, silently asking among themselves: ‘Who are these bright-faced people with such happy and joyful moods? Where are they coming from? And what strange religion are they professing?’ Such inquiries were answered by those who were doing book distribution.”

One of the most striking images of the day was that of Janananda Goswami’s presence. “Even at his age, he was dancing and jumping up and down to the kirtan, looking so energetic. This inspired the devotees to chant loudly and dance gracefully,” Mahendra shared.

Organizing the Maha Harinam required meticulous planning. Devotees from the Vraja Eco Village, located three hours away from Manila, coordinated in collaboration with the Manila city temple to arrange devotee prasadam and plan activities that included a public lecture by Janananda Goswami. “Since our temple is at the heart of the metropolis, our Temple Manager, Indravali Devi Dasi, took care of securing the permit to hold our event in the park and ensuring we had a place for the lecture. The devotees from the temple organized other paraphernalia like tables, chairs, tents, and posters,” he said.

Smaller preaching centers from areas like Caloocan City and Taytay Rizal also contributed by preparing prasadam for distribution to the locals. While cooperation among devotees ensured success, he acknowledged areas for improvement: “Punctuality is foremost, as well as taking early action on some critical elements at the preparation stage.”

Beyond large-scale kirtan gatherings, ISKCON Manila remains deeply engaged in outreach. The temple is actively working toward the construction of a permanent home for their deities, Sri Sri Radha Madhava. “Right now, we are renting an old dilapidated house for more than a thousand US dollars a month, where rats and cockroaches abound, especially during the rainy season when they tend to take shelter on the premises due to overflowing canals,” Mahendra explained.

To fund the new temple project, the community is rallying support through donations and sponsorship, with hopes of relocating before the end of the year.

Other activities include regular prasadam distribution, which has a strong historical connection to Srila Prabhupada’s instructions in the Philippines. “When Srila Prabhupada set his lotus feet in the Philippines and saw the faces of the Filipinos, he said: ‘Just give them prasadam.’ Many became devotees because of prasadam. A handful is due to their philosophical search for meaning in life,” he shared.

Harinam has also become a regular feature, thanks in part to the leadership of Kavikarnapura Das, a devotee from Nigeria, who now leads street chanting and book distribution three times a week. Another devotee, Chaitanyachandra Das from Australia, has helped revive book distribution efforts, training devotees to engage in this essential service.

The Maha Harinam has had a noticeable impact on the local community’s perception of the devotees. “When they see devotees chanting, they see happy people. It makes them wonder what we are doing to be so joyful and peaceful. This curiosity often leads them to ask questions, take a book, or attend a temple program,” Mahendra Das observed. Such public engagements have helped ISKCON Manila reach new audiences and strengthen its presence in the city.

The yatra is also focused on university preaching. “We go to various universities and colleges in the metropolis, giving lectures on the Krishna-conscious philosophy of life, how to attain real happiness, vegetarian diets, and how to become successful after graduation. We integrate these topics with the study of Asian Civilization, psychology, and philosophy.”

Looking ahead, Mahendra hopes to maintain monthly Maha Harinam events and refine their organization, as is being done in other worldwide yatras.

With efforts spanning large-scale harinams, prasadam distribution, book outreach, and academic engagements, ISKCON Manila continues to share Krishna consciousness with enthusiasm and resilience.

To stay updated on ISKCON Manila’s activities, visit their वेबसाइट, follow their फेसबुक और यूट्यूब channels, or reach out via ईमेल and WhatsApp +63 961 152 4047 for more information.

A special thanks to Michael Hernandez for the photos.