As we get ready to print FOLK news early in December, the Valley devotees are eagerly anticipating the arrival of their first three Brahman cows. These beautiful cows will be bred back to the original Gir strain. This new milking herd will grow to include forty members. You can read more about our Care For Cows Program on page 15.

Kesava and Manigriva are also planning a Holi – Festival of Colours – celebration for the northern Temple lawns on Sunday April the 27th. They have won the approval of the Surf Coast Shire Council, and Manigriva – in expectation of a large attendance – has already chisel-plowed an area of additional carparking. The devotees hope the Festival will become a yearly event.
While we will celebrate Holi in the mild Victorian Autumn, according to the purnimanta calculation of the lunar year Holi (Phalguni Purnima) is the last day of the Vedic year. Traditionally Holi heralds the beginning both of the New Year and (vasanta-mahotsava) of Spring.

The Festival of Colours is celebrated with special importance in Northern India because solemnises the love of Sri-Sri Radha-Krishna. The spraying of coloured powder recalls the loving sports between Lord Krishna and His topmost devotees. It is a festival that breathes an atmosphere of fun. People bury their hatchets with a warm embrace – throwing dry colours on friends and foe alike – and their worries to the wind.

At Hare Krishna Valley the Festival of Colours will include a Vedic Village that includes a sound-stage featuring Sri Prahlada & Band, prasadam distribution and body-painting. The Festival of Colours at the Valley is shaping up to be an exciting, fun-filled day. Be sure to watch out for more details in January when special VIPs will be confirmed.
In October the devotees catered at the Birregurra Weekend Festival and hosted the wedding of Bhaktin Sonia. Manigriva and our WWOOFers have begun summer vegetable plantings and are preparing for the fire season with their first round of mulching Spring grasses.

To get advance notice of upcoming events (we are planning retreats for February-March) keep an eye on the Valley’s new-look blog at https://www.harekrishnavalley.com.au. Or check the Melbourne Temple noticeboards and its website at harekrishnamelbourne.com.au. At the Valley website you can get a glimpse of the farm or book accommodation. If you are interested in staying for a few days or helping to develop Hare Krishna Valley, you can also contact Kesava Dasa on 0405-577-453 or keshava.tkg@pamho.net.