Of all the cities in the USA, New York is a melting pot of about 3.1 million people. Of this the Indian diaspora in New York City is the largest of any metropolitan region in the US. Besides NYC, New Jersey is where most of this population is located. It is this large Indian community that Nityanand Charan Das is looking forward to associating with while on his trip to New York November 11 – 21, 2024. Nityanandji’s main focus of the trip is to be able to serve and connect with the Indian community in the New York and New Jersey areas. “Many of them are looking for a platform where they can come, experience and practice their culture, where they can stay connected and stay rooted in their culture. I want to prepare that avenue for either the individual or families, whoever it may be. The motive is to serve,” he says.
According to Nityanandji, Srila Swami Prabhupada, who started ISKON in New York had mentioned that as Mumbai is the most important city in India, New York is the most important city in the world. Among all the states in the US, the maximum number of Indians stay in the New York metropolitan area. Also, when Indians go abroad, they feel a deep connection to their culture and miss it. “So I’m just trying to go there every now and then, connect the Indian community to our sacred teachings from the Gita, from the Mahabharat and give them that spiritual connect and the spiritual foundation they are looking for,” says Nityanand Charan Das ji.
Just as he has created a community of like-minded individuals in Mumbai, Nityanandji plans to have similar initiatives in New York. “I’m trying to create that community of like-minded individuals who are aspiring to walk this path and trying to help them in some way. It’s a very stressful life in New York, so this will be a good oasis,” he says.
The ISKON Bhakti Center on 25 1st avenue is a five storied building on New York’s Lower East Side. Besides kirtans, talks and yoga which are held in the building, the third floor of the building is home to the Radha Krishna temple. “Most people are not aware that this temple exists. So we want to create that awareness,” says Nityanandji.
Plans are to also start a food distribution programme. This will be scientific sacred food prepared with fresh ingredients. The food will first be offered to God in the temple and then the prasad will be distributed amongst the people. The plan is to get a vehicle and go from place to place and distribute the food in areas where there are groups of people. “Our goal is not just to provide food, but to provide scientific food which doesn’t just satisfy the hunger of the body but also satisfies the hunger of the soul which can calm the mind. That is the impact spiritual food can have. We want to help the body, soul and mind,” says Nityanandji.
Nityanandji has been visiting New York since last year. This is his third trip to the city. Ideally he would like to visit the US at least thrice a year. “I will try to go in April and September. Let’s see how this trip in November works out,” he says.