As you all know, Christmas is a time to be together, a moment to think about family, and a day to celebrate with friends! There are Christmas Miracles, and there are jolly times, but the most prominent aspect about Christmas is enjoying!! Keeping the same christmas spirit, Stonegate celebrated it’s very own Christmas Meet!!

Now, Totally opposite from the solemn station, there was an activity where you could be yourselves! THE MOST FUN STATION(from a kids’ perspective)! THE BOUNCY HOUSE!!

Well, the bouncy house was pretty big, and a lot of fun! It was the main KIDS attraction, with a lot of screaming(fun), and jumping!

The last Station, A Christmas Spirited one, 

SANTA PHOTOSHOOT! Every family in the community has the opportunity to take a photo with Santa, and a lot of kids also took personal photos with Santa! One Memorable photo, was one with Santa Claus, and Stonegates very own Basketball Boyz! This photoshoot was a great pleasure, as many people got into the Christmas spirit! 

As for Stonegate, they really blew the roof off with this spectacular holiday event! Keeping everyone in the christmas mood, the events committee took great enjoyment into hosting this event for everyone to enjoy!

As it is always said, a great community is the sign of a great friendship. A Christmas story, Stonegate has an everlasting friendship! A great Holiday from our community, wishing yours a merry Christmas!

Living The Christmas Dream!  

You travel around the world for days and return home after long tours. You tried and tested a variety of tasty food at different places and enjoyed it as well. Still Everyone craves for home food after returning home? .

All of us have experienced this urge for home food. Agree or not, home food is our need, not only for taste buds but also for our souls. Purnima Karhade from Dallas is satisfying this demand, through her venture – Soul Foods India LLC.

Soul Foods India is an authorized distributor of Soham Udyog for the Dallas and distributes its products across the US.

Soul Foods Journey – 

The journey was not that simple. The main challenge was bringing fresh food from India and its shipping to the US. For this, Purnima is supported by her own husband, an experienced IT professional. A lot of this tedious task is handled by her husband and that’s without a doubt a huge support for Purnima.

 But, the biggest challenge was yet to come. Arriving during last year’s Diwali, a Covid challenge was mounting across the world. Many Diwali orders were placed and containers from India were not reached within time. Diwali was around the corner and Purnima had absolutely nothing to deliver to customers.

“It was the toughest situation for Soul Foods. People were calling us repeatedly and we were unable to serve them. The Supply Chain issue was out of our control. Even in these odd times, our customers supported us, believed in us. Somehow, products reached us on the exact Diwali day. We could deliver some and many went to the dustbin as we could not deliver,” Purnima recalls those days, as her emotions burst out.

“Key to success is open communication with your customers. There may be some odds during the course, but if you are clear with your customers, win their trust and that makes many things simple. Transparency and honesty are the two most important values for us,” says Karhade while concluding.

With the dedication to work and quality service for customers, Soul Foods India LLC is marching ahead with leaps and bounds. No doubt, great success is around the corner !!

As per the news flash, the City of Irving is seeking young and aspiring writers to participate in an essay contest in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

During his life, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has inspired generations with his words and voice as an activist for equality. The essay contestants are encouraged to use inspiration from Dr. King with the theme, “Reaching the Mountain Top.” The essay should be no more than one page or 500 words. Essays will be accepted through the city website from Dec. 8-Jan. 4.

The essays will be judged based on clarity, grammar and how well the theme is developed based on the writer’s age. The contest age categories are:

• Grades 3-5
• Grades 6-8
• Grades 9-12

The contest winners will read their winning essays during the observance that will take place at 6 p.m. Jan. 16 at Carpenter Performance Hall in the Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd.

For more information, visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Observance page or call (972) 721-2501.

Govardhan puja, one of the biggest festivals in the month of Kartik, observed on Shukla paksha pratipad, is celebrated with great jubilation in Radha-Kalachandji temple in Dallas on November 5^th Friday.Puja Celebration kicked off with the Hare Krishna Mahamantra

                                                                           Hare Krishna Hare Krishna , Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

                                                                                 Hare Rama Hare Rama , Rama Rama Hare Hare  

Where everyone was chanting and singing the Mahamantra and able to express their devotion to the Sri Sri Radha-KalaChandji to please the lord and get his Anubhuti on this auspicious day.

Hare Krishna Mahamantra Kirtan was followed by splendid Abhishek ceremony. It is believed  that by performing Abhikesham, the devotees and offeror cleanse and purify their own minds and impurity of soul and thus surrenders to the lotus feet of lord Krishna.

Soon after the awaited “Govardhan Puja” Started, and everyone was immersed in the devotion of “Giriraj Govardhan“ by offering Puja and chanting Hare Krishna Mantras. The main hall where Srila Prabhupada Murthi is also situated is well decorated and prepared for the celebration.

This Blissful celebration and worshiping program concluded with the sit down bhajans of Hare Krishna Mahamantra and then all the devotees offer ghee lamps in the evening and sing the beautiful Damodarastakam, which created a transcendental atmosphere in temple.

Later all the devotees took Prasadam . The whole atmosphere was filled with devotion, glory of supreme lord Krishna and divinity. Little kids’ devotees were offering the lamp to offer puja to all the devotees was good to see the Krishna Lila and his blessings to the new generation.

How Govardhan Puja started?

Govardhan puja, one of the biggest festivals in the month of Kartik, observed on Shukla paksha pratipad . The glories of Govardhan are endless and the importance of his worship was established by Krishna himself. It is said that once when the Vrijavasis were preparing for the yajna to be performed for the pleasure of lord Indra, to appease him and be blessed with sufficient rain, the young Krishna questioned the ritual and proclaimed that the worship of lord Indra was unnecessary as it was his responsibility to provide the required amount of rain to all the inhabitants of the world. Instead, they should worship mother cow and Giriraj Govardhan, as they are truly the sustainers of all the cowherds in Vrindavan.All Vrajwasis then assembled in front of the hill and performed puja to mother cow and Govardhan hill and offered all the bhoga to him. However, Indra was greatly enraged by this and immediately he ordered his Samvartaka clouds to go and devastate entire Vraj and inundate it with water. The wrath of lord Indra struck fear in the hearts of the Vrajvasis and therefore they took shelter of Krishna and prayed to him to protect them from the torrents of rain being sent by Indra. Seeing the plee of the Vrajavasis Krishna immediately lifted Govardhan hill and held it up for seven days, providing all the residents of Vraja protection from the downpour. Thereafter, when Indra understands the supremacy of Krishna and therefore came and asked for forgiveness, offering many prayers in glorification. In this way Shri Krishna himself established the worship of Giriraj Govardhan and tame the ego of Indra.

Significance of Kartik Month –

Kartik is the eighth month of the Hindu calendar, which usually overlaps with October or November in the Gregorian calendar. The month is considered one of the holiest months and it is believed that it is the month of awakening the soul with meditation and celebration. Observing fasts in the month is glorified in the Puranas. Padma Purana describes Kartik month as Krishna’s favorite month. People observe fast in this month to discard all evil deeds and adopt a pure way of life. Karwa Chauth, Ahoi Ashtami, Rama Ekadashi, Dhanteras, Narak Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja, Gowardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj, Chhath Puja and Tulsi Vivah, are some of the festivals celebrated in Kartik month.

Nityananda das – Ardent Devotee of Krishna, the Yogi, the president of Radha-Kalachandji temple –

Nityananda das serves as the Chairperson for the North American GBC Executive Team, which oversees all ISKCON temples across North America.  He also serves as GBC of five states in the United States of America and serves as Temple President of the flourishing Dallas Hare Krishna Centre (ISKCON Dallas). Under able leadership of Nityananda das Radha-Kalachandji temple carries out several initiatives and programs to take Dallas devotees on the path of Krishna bhakti and setting up a Krishna conscious path for the future generations.