SLC Urban article

Day 60 – Visit the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork.
By Andrew Stone • May 24th, 2010


While this is not in Salt Lake City, it is a close drive for all of us and a trip worth taking on many levels. Historical information, cultural information and more. The Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple is a beautiful place tucked away in Spanish Fork. Now tell me that you expected to find a Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork.

There is a wonderful article on Utah.com about the building of this temple and how a Hare Krishna Temple came to be built in Utah. Here is a short quote from the full article:

While the temple is a first for Utah, it is part of a growing worldwide movement that has placed temples in cities from Stockholm to Sao Paulo, and Miami to Mayapur. The Krishnas do not proselytize but the invite everyone to their weekly services and vegetarian feasts, as well as the annual LlamaFest in nearby Spanish Fork. They also exude amity with their peaceful outlook, karmic good will, and ohm-ing happiness.

Located at 8628 South Main Street Spanish Fork UT 84660, the Temple hosts seasonal festivals, weddings, receptions, and other weekly services for prayer and meditation. The Holi Festival or, Fetival of Colors, is anxiously awaited every year.

While visiting the grounds the Lotus Temple is certainly the centerpiece of your visit and is absolutely beautiful. There is always something going on and I highly suggest that you visit their website HERE for more information and a full calendar of exciting and beautiful events. The Llama Festival is coming up on July 16th.

If you're hungry and vegetarian is your thing the Temple also serves a vegetarian buffet everyday from 11am – 7pm.

Experience the traditional foods and spices of the world’s most diverse cuisine, but with a difference…….the entire buffet is blessed (every day) by Lord Krishna! Twice daily food freshly prepared food is taken from the buffet and offered to Krishna. When it is returned to the buffet, it is no longer bhog (physical food only) but is prasadam (blessed food). In that way, in addition to being filling, it has an uplifting effect on those who eat it. Join us for our specialties, which change daily…..


About 365 Things To Do In Salt Lake City: This series features 365 wonderful things you can do in Salt Lake City, one day at a time, they may be year long activities or single day adventures. If you have something you want us to feature in this series always feel free contact me and let me know. Follow 365 Things To Do on Facebook by clicking HERE

True Colors

Artistic video of the Colors Fest. Sound track, "True Colors."

The BAND for Holi

Chanting the Maha Mantra is the most important feature of the Holi Festival here in Spanish Fork. After the bonfire is lit, the Holika effigy begins to burn, and the colors go up, thousands of people are full of good cheer and excitement. Someone said, "The colors only last two minutes, but it's the best two minutes of your life!" Channeling al that energy is the service of Krishna's mantra rock band. Last year the festival goers danced for hours after the throwing of the colors, and this year we are going to do it twice.

Thus we've arranged for several of the very best kirtan leaders from North America to be on hand to lead the chanting.

There is our own Jai Krishna from Orem, who is a local veteran.

Just off an Indian tour where he played before 45,000 people in the Punjab, the famous lead guitarist & vocalist TK (Titiksava Karunika ) will fly in from San Diego. You can hear the samples of his many albums by visiting www.namrock.com.

Govinda Dhatta will fly in from Los Angeles. He is Los Angeles' most dynamic kirtan leader & for years led the kirtan in front of the main cart at the Los Angeles Rathayatra festival on Venice Beach. He picks up a little extra change by occasionally playing guitar for "The Fifth Dimensions" He kindly came last year and led explosive kirtans.

Nam Ras will fly in from New York. Nam Ras is new generation Indian descent, just graduated from University and working as a brahmachari at 26 Second Avenue. Caru saw him lead kirtan in North Carolina at a Pandava Sena retreat & resolved on the spot to bring him.

Gangamatri Das, another vocalist and musician who has an album to his credit, is flying in from Minneapolis.

Local musicians who have kindly agreed to form the band are, Curt Gordon, lead guitar, Troy Peery, bass guitar, Josh Francis, keyboards & trumpet, Zack Perry, drums, RB Graves percusssion, & Dan Nelson saxaphone. Jack Arnott of asssistance Audio is doing the sound.

Everyone is flying in early enough to rehearse the night before the festival at 7 pm in the log ashram building

Crowd__Temple_HoliThere is no doubt the chanting this year will be EPIC. If you are coming to the festival bring your dancing shoes and singing voices & PLAN TO LEAVE EVERY OUNCE OF ENERGY ON THE FIELD!

Krishnas Use Mass Media

This is the link to an article which appeared yesterday, Jan. 14, in the Provo Daily Herald.
"We already receive around 50,000 visitors a year for festivals, tours, school field trips, yoga classes, and our Sunday services, but we wanted to do more for people who can not make it to the temple."
http://heraldextra.com/news/local/south/spanish-fork/article_18773d17-59aa-57bb-bd7f-1acd94e1e310.html

Provo Daily Herald on Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple

Ask any Spanish Fork resident and they will be able to point you in the direction of one of the most unique buildings in town and possibly in the whole state. Perched on a hill just south of downtown Spanish Fork stands the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple. Completed in 2001, the Krishna Indian Temple certainly stands out among the surrounding rural fields. Read More...