First kirtans by Srila Prabhupada in Tompkins Square Park, New York 1966

On October 9, 1966, Srila Prabhupada and his followers sat beneath an elm tree in Thompkins Square Park, New York and held the first outdoor kirtan outside of India. This particular event is recognized as the founding of the Hare Krishna movement in the United States. As a result of this legendary event, that very elm tree is acknowledged today as the Hare Krishna tree and in 2015 New York City officials installed a permanent plaque commemorating Srila Prabhupada and his kirtan.

This was just the beginning of Srila Prabhupada’s mission to share kirtan. In fact, the world wide practice of Kirtan that we see today is all thanks to Prabhupada, along with his dedicated followers, who worked tirelessly in their service to humanity. Prabhupada circled the globe 14 times over to share this sacred practice, and introduced kirtan in all seven continents! (yes that's correct, seven continents! In 2016 Hare Krishna kirtan was chanted in Antarctica).


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