On 14 November 1977, in the holy town of Vrindavan, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada left this world while his disciples chanted the Holy Names of Krishna around him. Every year, on the corresponding lunar date during the month of Kartik, devotees in ISKCON temples around the world observe his disappearance day. This year, we are observing this festival on 13th November 2026.

It is a day of mixed feelings. There is sorrow at the loss of his physical presence, and there is deep gratitude for everything he gave. In the Vaishnava tradition, the passing of a pure devotee is not called a death. It is called a disappearance, because such a soul simply leaves our sight and returns to the Lord's service in the spiritual world. Lord Krishna explains in the Bhagavad-gita (Bg. 4.9) that one who understands the transcendental nature of His appearance and activities does not take birth again after leaving the body, but comes to Him. A pure devotee who has dedicated his entire life to Krishna goes to Krishna.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura expressed this in a short English poem that Srila Prabhupada himself quoted on more than one occasion. It begins: "He reasons ill who tells that Vaishnavas die." The poem goes on to explain that a Vaishnava lives on in sound, through his words and teachings, and that his followers continue to feel his presence through them.

At ISKCON Bhubaneswar, the devotees share various devotional offerings to Srila Prabhupada. There is a huge kirtan for the celebration and maha-abhishek of deities of Srila Prabhupada. All the devotees, they usually fast until noon and then honour a feast offered to Srila Prabhupada.

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