Bhakti Kids, A Congregational Development Ministry, has published a new book for children

"Krishna - My Best Friend" is an enchanting children's book by Gourangi Gandharvika Devi Dasi and Acintyapriya Davi Dasi, published by Bhakti Kids.

on Jul 06, 2023

Bhakti Kids, a Congregational Development Ministry, has published a new book for children | Frontlist

"Krishna - My Best Friend" is a new book for children written by Gourangi Gandharvika Devi Dasi and Acintyapriya Davi Dasi and published by the Congregational Development Ministry - Bhakti Kids. Their goal in publishing this book is to assist children form a personal relationship with Krishna, perceiving Him as their best friend rather than approaching Him solely with awe and reverence.

The Bhakti Kids initiative is driven by a lofty goal: to provide a comprehensive Krishna Consciousness curriculum for children aged five to twelve. "Krishna- My Best Friend" is one of their projects that looks into fascinating facts about Krishna, such as His pets, a glimpse into His daily life in Vrindavana, His friends, why He wears a peacock feather, and much more, in order to get to know Him. The book's fascinating images appeal to children of all ages, and it features a variety of entertaining activities that cater to various interests, guaranteeing that there is something for every youngster.

We spoke with co-author Gourangi, who was eager to provide some background on the work. Gourangi was blessed with a beautiful childhood in Krishna awareness, guided by her spiritual guru, parents, and other devotees in her life. "I've always wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl," she explained, "which led me to pursue a bachelor's degree in primary education." Now, armed with these teachings and fuelled by the inspiration obtained from Krishna consciousness, as well as the support and blessings of my spiritual master, instructors, parents, and Vaikuntha children, my objective in life is to assist children in making the decision to be Krishna's devotee and join the movement."

She is certain that Krishna Consciousness can be enjoyable, and children enjoy having fun! They can feel the enjoyment and fun of bhakti by involving them in Krishna-related stories and activities and making Him a part of their daily lives. She adds that another motivation for publishing Krishna Consciousness children's books is to provide youngsters with positive Krishna Consciousness experiences and memories.

The title "Krishna - My Best Friend" was chosen by Acintyapriya and Gourangi because it effectively conveys the primary message they want to communicate. The emphasis throughout the book is that Krishna is not just the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but also our eternal closest friend, filled with boundless love for us.

"One aspect I absolutely love is the in-depth exploration of Krishna," Gourangi said, referring to HH Indradyumna Swami's lecture series on Sri Vrindavana Dham and the teachings of our Acharyas. 'Krishna's Nature Scavenger Hunt' is one of my top favourite hobbies. It invites children to go on a nature stroll, allowing them to see Krishna everywhere. They get to explore the natural environment in search of various items such as leaves to decorate Krishna's hair or sticks for Krishna to play with."

The book has received overwhelmingly good feedback. Many enthusiasts have approached Gourangi, expressing their delight for the book or sharing how their youngsters have fallen in love with it.

"Because this is our second book published by the Congregational Development Ministry - Bhakti Kids, parents and children have been eagerly awaiting its arrival," she explained. We've already delivered over 1,200 copies in just two months, and demand is increasing."

The Bhakti Kids recognise children's strong appreciation for festivals, since these rare occasions provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse themselves in Krishna consciousness. They are creating a series of 12 books concentrating on significant festivals such as Radhastami, Gaura Purnima, and Narasimha Chaturdasi for this purpose. "Krishna - My Best Friend" is the first book in a 12-part series.

Gourangi stated about the Bhakti Kids' intentions, "The Bhakti Kids facilitates children's programmes during Kartik, Purusottama Month, and other themes." We intend to hold programmes on a more frequent basis. In the future, we hope to offer online courses for youngsters based on the content of our books."

The first Bhakti Kids book, "Becoming Your Devotee," written by Gourangi, is already being used as a curriculum in numerous children's programmes and schools around the world. It is a workbook and activity book that teaches the practice of Krishna Consciousness.

Bhakti Kids' aim is to nourish children's bhakti seeds by engaging them in exciting Krishna-conscious experiences, as well as to provide a one-stop source of information, programmes, and training to enable devotees serving children all over the world.

Bhakti Kids ask for your blessings so that they can inspire many youngsters all around the world with Krishna Consciousness. They invite you to obtain these publications, which are intended to plant the bhakti seed within your children. Furthermore, they would like to urge you to use these resources in your community by initiating children's programmes or supplementing current programmes.