by Madhuha dasa

17 year old established rural community in North Carolina has space available for a few families. We're looking for young families, or families with young children, that want to be part of a growing community.

Prabhupada Village--home of Festival Of India, in Sandy Ridge, North Carolina is looking for families who want to settle in a rural environment. We're looking for devotees who are team players, favorably inclined towards agricultural self sufficiency, and want to work towards further developing Varnashram Dharma. Although we do not have an open school now, we do have a few classrooms where our school was a few years ago (and many teaching supplies as well). Our school was approved and authorized by the State of North Carolina Department of Non-public education.

Prabhupada Village is an open community, wherein there are devotees from many different backgrounds, and nationalities. If you're looking for a place to raise your family in the association of about 20 devotee families, please come and visit.

There is a regular morning program 7 days a week and a Sunday feast program. We have nice festivals on most of the Vaisnava Calendar holidays listed on the BBT calendar.

There is local preaching available (within an hour) in Greensboro on a few different University campuses, as well as many small towns where we have done Harinam over the years.

Affordable rental housing is available, as well as a few homes that are for sale. There is also undeveloped land available if you want to clear land and build from the ground up.

Right now the "Barnashram" is available to rent. It is a 3 or 4 bedroom, 1 and 1/2 bath home with two attached rooms that were previously used for a day-school. There is also a large workshop that could also be used for an agricultural bldg. The building sits on about 18 acres of improved/fenced pasture with a water system. This is an ideal place to live if you are interested in having a big garden, or if you want to get into taking care of cows or horses etc. and/or developing any kind of agricultural program.

There are devotees here who are maintaining their families simply by growing and selling organic produce. Yes, it is possible to fully maintain your family off the land. Hare Krishna!

Unlike big devotional communities, Prabhupada Village is a small village environment where everyone really does count--you can/will make a difference. You won't have to wait in line to lead a kirtan, give a class or cook a preparation for the Sunday feast, everyone is encouraged to participate. Your service will be appreciated from the start. Hare Krishna!

For more information on visiting or moving to Prabhupada Village, please contact Madhuha dasa at madhuhadasa@gmail.com

Dear Devotees,

It is with sadness and heavy hearts that we bring this horrible news that our dear friend Hari Kirtan aka Harish, age 24, is no long with us on this planet. Harish is from Mayapur gurukula and a disciple of his Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami.

Harish was working at a store in Atlanta, Ga USA and as the sun was setting at 8:01 pm March 22, 2009, he was robbed and shot, which instantly took his life. The emergency medical unit was contacted, but it was too late. The shot took his life instantly. The police and investigating detectives are looking for the men connected with the incident.

We have contacted his cousin brother in Mayapur and requested him to convey the new to his family. He leaves behind his elderly mother, and a younger brother. He had been the sole bread winner for his family. Being the eldest son in the family, he took a job to support his mother, and his brother’s education.

Harish was brought to Mayapur gurukula by his cousin brother in 1996, where he was accepted as a student and continued his studies until 2002. He served in Mayapur mentoring the youth and being a perfect role model. He is fondly remembered for his humility and his contagious smile. He came to the US in April of 2005 for the passing away of his Spiritual Master, and stayed on to render service in different temples in the US. He served in the Alachua temple as a pujari and a cook, then moved to California to continue with his studies, and finally moved to Atlanta, which became his home.

Harish never failed to keep Krsna in the center of his life. He always attended temple programs, and enjoyed being part of the kirtans and bhajans. He always kept his friends close and always reminding them of their spiritual life.

We will all miss him dearly.

We ask for your prayers for Harish, that he is gone to the Spiritual World, where the elements of this material world will not longer affect him.