WEDNESDAY 27TH NOVEMBER
The devotees had sent Srila Prabhupada regular updates on activities in London and he became keen to visit them. He arrived in London on 11th September 1969. Apple Records and Lufthansa Airlines helped the devotees arrange a reception for him at Heathrow Airport. As soon as Srila Prabhupada arrived at the VIP lounge that had been set up for his reception, the many devotees who had by now joined the original six pioneers ran out of the terminal, offered obeisances, and joyfully surrounded Srila Prabhupada.
Inside, he attracted a mass of reporters and cameramen and several dozen friends of devotees. He led a kirtana and fielded the reporters’ questions, and then was escorted to Beatles-member John Lennon’s Tittenhurst Park estate. The building in Bury Place was still a construction site, so John had invited Srila Prabhupada and his disciples to live in his estate until the renovations at Bury Place were done (although Srila Prabhupada was later keen to move there even whilst renovations were still taking place).
This festival is dedicated to Srila Prabhupada’s pastimes in London. Hear from his disciples about his arrival in London, meeting him at the airport, his time at Tittenhurst, meeting with the Beatles, the public lectures he gave, the media attention he received, and the efforts he and his disciples made in getting the building in Bury Place ready for the opening of the Radha-Krishna Temple.
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
4.30am Mangal Arati
7.00am Guru Puja and Extended Kirtans
8.00am Deity Greetings
8.10am Markine Bhagavat Dharma bhajan and Lotus Feet Blessings
8.30am Special class: Srila Prabhupada's Pastimes in London by Dhananjaya dasa
9.30am "Poems and Prayers to Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara" Selected readings
9.45am Breakfast
11.00am Kirtans
12.30pm Raj Bhoga Arati
1.00pm Special class: Srila Prabhupada's Mood and Mission for London by Jai Nitai dasa
1.45pm Feast
3.00pm Maha Harinama
4.15pm Dhoopa Arati
4.30pm Kirtans
5.30pm Special class: Srila Prabhupada's Arrival in London by Gurudas dasa, Shyamasundar dasa and Malati devi dasi
7.00pm Sandhya Arati
7.30pm Markine Bhagavat Dharma bhajan
7.45pm "Poems and Prayers to Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara" Selected readings
8.00pm Musical medley by Wednesday Night Kirtan Team
9.00pm Shayana Arati
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
We cannot organise festivals without the kind financial contributions from our community. If you would like to sponsor, you can make a donation online or at the Temple shop by visiting in person or calling on +44 (0)203 687 0618.
