Hare Kṛṣṇa, dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
On behalf of all Calgary devotees, please accept our humble obeisances at the dust of your
lotus feet. All glories to Your Divine Grace!
As we gather on this sacred day of your divine appearance beneath the same stars that wit-
nessed your arrival in this world 129 years ago, our hearts overflow with gratitude. In the harsh
Canadian winters, where temperatures plunge to -30°C, your teachings burn like a spiritual fire
that warms our souls and illuminates our path back to Kṛṣṇa – our eternal home.
You transformed what seemed impossible into divine reality – bringing Caitanya
Mahāprabhu’s teachings from the ancient streets of Vrindavan to the modern skylines of cities
worldwide. When you arrived at Boston Harbor in 1965 with only forty rupees and your unwav-
ering faith, who could have imagined that your movement would one day flourish even in the
remote western provinces of Canada? Yet here we stand, living proof of your spiritual vision mani-
fested against all material odds.
Learning about your struggles, including rejection, multiple setbacks, and suffering heart
attacks provides us with immeasurable strength. When we face challenges in our spiritual
practices amid the distractions of modern Calgary, we remember how you typed or dictated your
manuscripts through the night despite all obstacles, and our resolve is renewed.
An ancient Sanskrit verse perfectly describes your divine compassion:

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ
paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande
paramānanda-mādhavam

By the mercy of the guru, the dumb can speak eloquently and the lame can cross mountains. Just
as you transformed hippies into happies, you continue to transform ordinary Calgarians from
diverse backgrounds – engineers in the oil industry, students at the universities, families in the
suburbs – into devotees seeking Kṛṣṇa’s love.
On this auspicious occasion marking your appearance in this world, ISKCON Calgary humbly
presents our annual offerings at your lotus feet:
The bitter cold of Alberta winters does not deter our book distributors, who have increased
their distribution by 10 percent each year. Your transcendental literature is now distributed in
corporate towers and rural communities alike. We’ve placed your books in unique locations,
including major hospitals, provincial correctional facilities, senior care facilities, and university
campuses.
Following your explicit instruction that “books are the basis,” we have established many new
study circles focused on systematic reading. During the darkest winter nights, when the sun sets
before 5 p.m., devotees gather in homes across the city to illuminate their consciousness with your
words, creating islands of spiritual light in the snow.
As promised during last year’s Vyāsa-pūjā celebration, ISKCON management has secured a
spectacular property for our new temple of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava and Śrīnāthjī. We are happy
to report that we have seen overwhelmingly positive response from the local congregation and
received support from local organizations. There is still a long way to go, but we are confident
that through your boundless mercy, we will succeed in this most important project that will
ensure that ISKCON Calgary’s vision is realized and we will continue to nourish the souls of
countless current and future generations.
The Calgary Vedic Academy has become recognized for excellence even among nondevotee
educators. Our six concurrent programs now serve devotees from toddlerhood through adult-
hood, with specialized curricula for each age group. The 130 current students represent various
nationalities, reflecting your vision of a spiritual movement transcending all material designations.
Our outreach has expanded to include weekly saṅkīrtana parties, where hundreds witness the
Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra resounding among the downtown skyscrapers – creating scenes reminiscent of
your first public kīrtana at Tompkins Square Park.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam classes now regularly attract many attendees weekly, with online viewers
occasionally joining from across the globe. We’ve welcomed distinguished speakers, including
senior disciples who share memories of you, creating a living connection between generations of
devotees.
Our Janmāṣṭamī festivities last year drew over 5,000 attendees, many of whom were experienc-
ing Kṛṣṇa consciousness for the first time. The annual twenty-four-hour and monthly six-hour
kīrtanas have continued without pause, with devotees participating with utmost enthusiasm and
devotion to maintain the unbroken chain of divine sound vibration – a testament to the dedica-
tion you inspired.
As taught in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.27), “Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer
or give away, and whatever austerities you perform – do that, O son of Kuntī, as an offering to
Me.” In this spirit, ISKCON Calgary remains steadfastly dedicated to offering all our activities in
service to your divine mission.

tvaṁ gopikā vṛṣaraves tanayāntike ’si
sevādhikāriṇi guro nija-pāda-padme
dāsyaṁ pradāya kuru māṁ vraja-kānane śrī-
rādhāṅghri-sevana-rase sukhinīṁ sukhābdhau

O beloved spiritual master, ever present with Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, daughter of King
Vṛṣabhānu, please grant us service at your lotus feet, the bestowers of devotional
service. Place us in the ocean of transcendental joy through the nectar of serving Śrī
Rādhā in the groves of Vraja-dhāma. (Guru-stuti)
Śrīla Prabhupāda, when the first snowfall blankets our city each year, transforming it into a glis-
tening white landscape, we are reminded of your pure devotion, which transforms hearts. Like
those snowflakes – each unique, yet part of a beautifully unified display – we are individual souls
united in your service.
We are mere pebbles carried by time’s current. Without you, we have no shelter, no capacity,
and would be utterly lost in this world of darkness and ignorance. Though separated by time and
space, we feel your presence guiding our community with each sunrise. Please keep us at your
lotus feet and bless us to continue serving your mission for generations to come.

Your most fallen servants,
The devotees at ISKCON Calgary

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