Dear friends of Goloka Dhama,

The new year has just started, but before 2025 disappears into distant memory, let us reflect on some of the highlights of the past year and share some of the highlights to come this year.

In 2025 Goloka Dhama was not only filled with the sound of rustling trees and bird song, but also with the sound of hammering, buzzing saws and cement mixers. But this was not all just noise, some big projects saw their completion.

The pujaris now have a shiny new kitchen for their services to Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan, and guests can now also relax in our new prasadam hall, with a bigger and better Maha cafe where the temple shop used to be. Our Tulasi plants also received a new and improved home and are happy and healthy in it. And the highlight was, of course, the restoration of the deities by Taralaksi Mataji! (We reported on this in detail in the last newsletter.)

The Workaway volunteering program was restarted last September. Since then, we have had 3 volunteers from China and Germany, and 3 more came in January. The project is giving these young people the possibility to experience bhakti in practice with the support of the temple devotees and their service to Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan. Here is some feedback from one of the workaways.

“Through experiences in GD, I learned the meaning of serving with joy and devotion. The books about Krishna, lectures and discussions, and the activities here all helped me gain a new understanding of our existence and the world, leading me to rethink carefully how to live this life with the greatest joy and meaning as well as the role our beliefs play in shaping our thoughts and guiding our behaviours. The spiritual growth I have experienced here is beyond words!

Thank you for guiding me on my journey of self-exploration! Thank you for inspiring me by being who you are! Thank you for teaching me to act with pure devotion and love! Hare Krishna!” Jia, China

The Erasmus project has been hosting four young devotees from Ukraine and will do so until May 2026. This gave them a possibility to settle down a bit in Germany. They have become a valuable part of this community, bringing a new fresh energy with a strong service attitude.

We also have some more building projects in the pipeline. The Deity outfit room and front pujari room are eagerly awaiting their turn for a revamp. So too the old Tulasi room inside the temple. As was mentioned in the November newsletter, the Shiva shrine project is also awaking from its hibernation. The wood for the Yagna shala is being chosen.

So, that’s it, dear friends. We have a lot ahead of us and we don’t know how it is all going to go. But as Krishna says to Arjuna, “In this endeavour there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.” (BG 2.40). Let the adventure start!

Your servant, Kamala-sita dasi, for and on behalf of Goloka Dhama

• 28th-31st January 2026 Nityananda Trayodasi and Vyasapuja of HH Sacinandana Swami