WINNING IN WINNIPEG

Bhaktimarga Swami
3 days ago
2 min read

Friday, August 15th, 2025

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Porter Airlines brought me to Winnipeg, the exact centre and heartbeat of the North American continent (check it out). I’m in this fine city to celebrate the birthday of Krishna, which is tomorrow. My assistant, Nityananda, put out a Happy Janmastami message on Instagram reels.

In conjunction with my visit, we decided to perform some of those initiations for four deserving people. Two of them have already received their first – Visvambhar, the president of ISKCON Manitoba, and Karuna Avatar from the northern region, Thompson, Manitoba. A South Indian gentleman, Saravanan, received the name Samsiddhi (perfection) and our dear Krishnapriya, student of Bhakti Academy, received the name Krishna Loka (God’s abode). The second name added at initiation is dasa (for males) or dasi (for females). Thus, our name refers to ‘servant’.

The essential feature to our whole devotional culture is service, after all. My service to these good souls is to function as a teacher or guide. Also, in the capacity as a blesser, I render service.

While community members are all excited scurrying about getting decorations together and getting ready for the big event tomorrow, I am feeling thoroughly great about being here. One year ago, my travel plans became frustrated, and the airlines then brought me to Winnipeg for a day before moving on. That day was the day prominent donors of the project were having a showing of the building we are now in, so I joined in.

One year later, we now have the opening of a glorious project, which is tomorrow.