Devotees thank Mr Ted Baillieu, Darpan Mittal and Nitin Gupta for their help in getting 500 K grant for the Albert Park Temple’s “Kitchen Project”.

Mr and Mrs Baillieu among 15,000 people who joined in at the ISKCON’s  41st Janmasthmi Celebrations.

 By: Richa Bishnoi

On 5th and 6th of September 2015, more than 15,000 people turned up over the two days of “Annual Janmasthmi” celebrations at Australia’s oldest Hindu Temple to celebrate birth of “Krishna”

Former Victorian Premier Hon. Ted Baillieu, Melbourne Fashion Festival’s Community Ambassador Mrs Robyn Baillieu, and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Ms Margaret Fitzherbert, were the notable people that joined the ISKCON’s 41st Janmasthmi Celebrations at Albert Park Hindu Temple.

Given a very warm reception by Mandir’s management and devotees, Mr Ted Baillieu was given a traditional welcome comprising of “Teeka” and “Garlanding” by Bhakta Das and Annirudha Das from the ISKCON management.

A quick tour of Temple was followed by a “prasadam”, and then Mr Ted Baillieu was escorted to the Temple’s auditorium where there was a large gathering assembled.  

The formal proceedings were beautifully compered by Mrs Roshni Sharma and Rashi Kapoor (Miss Australia National Finalist and AFL Focus Group Member). There were various cultural performances as well to keep the crowd entertained.

On behalf of the ISKCON devotes, the MCs – Mrs Roshni Sharma and Rashi Kapoor specially thanked – “Mr Ted Baillieu, Mr Darpan Mittal and Mr Nitin Gupta”, for their help in getting the 500 K grant sanctioned for the Temple’s upcoming Kitchen project. Mrs Roshni Sharma gave a brief overview of the various events and milestones that helped in securing the state government grant for the Temple.

In his speech Mr Ted Baillieu thanked the Victorian Indian and Hindu community for their overall contribution to Victoria and Australia. As has been the trend in past, Ted was mobbed by crowd with requests for photographs with them and their family. He did try his best to oblige as many people as was practically possible.

Some prominent names present during the celebrations were Mrs Namrata Kapoor (Art of Living Foundation), Dr Subash Sharma (Sahitya Sandhya), and Dr Manjula O’Connor (ACHRH).

Once again – Another great job accomplished by the ISKCON volunteers led by Bhakta Das, Aniruddha Das and all the Krishna devotees.

During the informal chit-chat about the upcoming Kitchen project of ISKCON, Mr Baillieu’s “Cooking Skills” came under lot of discussion. During a recent visit to SHINE Café in Glen Waverley, Mr Baillieu had shown his cooking skills, and the snap had gone viral on social media.

The ISKCON devotes said that they would love to see Mr Baillieu’s cooking skills at the upcoming Kitchen of ISKCON. Mr Baillieu did promise to show his cooking skills in Albert Park, once the new Kitchen comes into operation.