Giving Thanks

Sunday, October 11th, 2026

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Our venue for meetings with Hare Krishna leaders, the Canad Inn was packed with family and communities for dinner sake. Of course, it is Thanksgiving weekend for Canada. The pumpkin pies are devoured and more tragically, the turkeys. People appear to have a happy time with each other in the dining room section, while we, the Krishnaites have mixed feelings in our wrap up and departing gestures. We put a closure to our meetings with a cake to honour our splendid time with each other over the weekend. And that cake bore the insignia of 60 on it, a demarcation to that many years of ISKCON existence since signing the official papers in New York City in 1966.

History is fun and it is real.

I started thinking about the Thanksgiving origins in Canada and how the date differs in America. English explorer Martin Frobisher held a dinner for gratitude in Newfoundland in 1578 expressing thanks over a safe journey from Europe and that occurred before the first feast in Plymouth in 1621, the U.S.

One thing I always liked about religious folks is that in their cultures an expression of gratitude was a big component in life. In our Krishna Consciousness, when it comes to eating prasadam, it is always a big deal, especially when we are conscious about it. It always helps to recite that beautiful prayer authored by Bhaktivinod Thakur. The words and the delivery are an expression of gratitude. And I want to thank Krishna for steering me away from turkeys. The last one I ate was in 1972. I never looked back, and I joyfully contemplated on how turkeys are liberated as a result of my decision to abstain.

Today was Shakti's birthday. She is in Hamilton.

MAY THE SOURCE BE WITH YOU

10,257 FOOTSTEPS