ISKCON India (Bureau) Executive Committee Letter on the Issue of COVID-19

Dear Maharaja and Prabhus,

Dandavat Pranams. Jaya Srila Prabhupada.

Please find below the letter from Bureau EC on the issue of COVID-19.

The EC is also monitoring the situation and will take a call shortly on the IIAC and Bureau meetings scheduled to take place in Mumbai.

Kindly note that Haryana government has banned any type of gathering which has 200 people or above, similar bans are coming in other states as well.

Your servant,
Yudhsitir Govinda Das

———

Dear Devotees,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

The Executive Committee of the Bureau met yesterday via Skype to discuss ISKCON’s response to COVID-19.

Based on the health advisory issued by the Government of India, our consultation with the doctors from Bhaktivedanta Hospital and the recommendations of the GBC Executive Committee, it is was decided that all the temples and centers of ISKCON India avoid any form of mass gathering (Sunday programs, Rath Yatras, festivals, etc) until further notice in order to protect the health of the devotees and other worshipers.

We are happy to note the pro-active measures taken by many of the ISKCON centers in this regard.

All the centers are requested to:

– Educate their resident members on how to identify the symptoms of COVID-19

– Provide immediate medical assistance to anyone showing symptoms of flu

– Implement the health measures recommended by the doctors and government agencies

– Avoid traveling (unless it is an emergency)

– Provide sanitizers/hand-wash facility at the temple and ashram entrances

– Regularly clean with disinfectant the temple hall, kitchen and other areas where physical contact is possible

You may also visit the website of Indian Government’s Ministry of Health at https://www.mohfw.gov.in/ to keep yourself updated on the latest developments and recommendations on best practices.

Thanking you for your cooperation.

Your servants,
Gopal Krishna Goswami
Basu Ghosh Das
Bhaktarupa Das
Braja Hari Das

ISKCON India (Bureau) Executive Committee