A cult for some, International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) or the Hare Krishna Movement is a movement founded by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in New York city in 1966.
It is under a monotheistic tradition under the Vedic or Hindu culture where devotees are famous for chanting their prayer, ‘Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna’. They do this to attract the presence of Krishna and to attract positivity.
In the Philippines, one of their temples is located in Makati city. Weekly, they conduct their religious ceremonies and serve vegetarian food after. Aside from their God, Krishna, they believe in five things, yoga, meditation, karma, reincarnation, and vegetarianism.
Philippines, being a dominantly Catholic country, is not that open to other kinds of religions. Religions or movements like the Hare Krishna Movement are considered as cults or as a threat to the Catholic faith. There is an obvious hesitance from some Filipinos with these kinds of movements especially from those who are religious.
However, from my experience with the people of ISKCON, it taught me that they are no different from Catholics, Protestants or other followers of different religions. They are like many of us, believers of God. Pujari Baladeva Dasa, a preacher of ISKCON, explained that there may be many religions and different beliefs, but there will always be one God. He or she may have different names, but what is important is the faith and the enlightenment that religion brings to people.
Here are some of the photos that I took when I attended ISKCON’s Sunday worship and their celebration in Luneta, Manila.
Before the ceremony, followers of Krishna lies down before the altar of Krishna to pray. They believe that they should not face the altar of Krishna because of Krishna’s superiority and sacredness.
Pujari Baladeva Dasa, head of the ISKCON movement in the Philippines, and his guest started the ritual of offering a lighted candle to Krishna during the weekly ceremony of ISKCON in Makati city.
The female head of the Hare Krishna movement offers a lighted candle in front of Krishna. It is believed that this ritual attracts the presence of Krishna and makes the ceremony more sacred. This happens weekly at the ISKCON temple in Makati city.
An Indian man reads the chants for Krishna while the female head of the movement offers a lighted candle to Krishna during a weekly celebration at the ISKCON temple in Makati city.
Male devotees of Krishna were separated from the women during the ceremony. They were singing chants for Krishna inside the ISKCON temple at Makati city.
Pujari Baladeva Dasa, head of the ISKCON movement in the Philippines, initiates the chanting of Hare Krishna in front of Krishna’s devotees. This happens weekly at the ISKCON temple in Makati city.
Pujari Baladeva Dasa conducts his sermon after the chants and rituals. He does this every week at the ISKCON temple in Makati city.
Female devotees roll cotton balls into thinner portions in preparation for the ceremony at the ISCKON temple in Makati city.
Hare Krishna devotees practice their chants before their mini celebration and parade in Luneta, Manila.
ISKCON devotees place the statue of Krishna on a wooden table while they fix an empty space to serve as a venue for their celebration in Luneta, Manila.
Bystanders were curious on what ISKCON is all about as the devotees were setting up for their free vegetarian meal before their parade in Luneta. ISKCON is known for their belief in vegetarianism
Bystanders in Luneta stare at the devotees of Krishna while the devotees were preparing for their parade in Luneta, Manila.
An old man stares at the devotees of Krishna after he was given a free vegetarian cupcake. Members of the ISKCON movement are known for their belief in vegetarianism.
An American who knew the ISKCON movement for the first time initiated to give flyers to the tourists and regular-goers in Luneta, Manila.
A golden clay that symbolizes purity was placed on the forehead of a young boy before the mini-parade of ISKCON started.
The women of ISKCON led the group by dancing to the chant for Hare Krishna. They roamed around the Luneta Park while some of the devotees handed out flyers to bystanders.
More people in Luneta were attracted by the devotees of ISKCON when they started singing and dancing to the chant, ‘Hare Krishna’.
The sun sets sets behind the Rizal Monument as devotees of Krishna continue to dance and chant around Luneta.
Just like what Buddha said, “Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life”. All that is left is for people to respect each other’s beliefs and religion because of regardless or race, color or religion, we are all human beings.
PHOTO-OP 