About

What is New Braj?

 

In 1996, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja transformed the small town of Badger, California into New Braj. He installed Giriraja Govardhana, Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda, and inaugurated the annual New Braj Harikatha Festival. He also inspired the devotees to start the New Braj Gurukula. By his mercy, he made “Badger into Braj.” He would look at the mountains and see Govardhana, the creek and see the Yamuna river, and hear the peacocks cooing and say, “We are in Vrndavana.” Like so many devotees all over the world, we are so fortunate that Srila Gurudeva came and showered us with his mercy.

Starting in the early 1980s, devotees began moving to Badger because they were searching for a conducive, natural environment to raise devotional children and practice bhakti. The New Braj community still follows this ideal. Under Gurudeva’s guidance, we try to make New Braj a better and better place for becoming devotees of Sri Radha Krsna Yugala. Every day, devotees gather at the Radha Govinda Mandira to visit Srila Gurudeva’s bhajan kuti and samadhi, worship Thakurji with arati, and then honor Their prasad.

Along with our daily worship of Thakurji and celebrations of holy days, the local devotees take care of the temple cows and gardens. The gardens and orchards provide so many beautiful offerings! The children attend Gurukula and like to get treats for reciting the Srimad Bhagavatam

Here in New Braj, we owe everything to our beloved Spiritual Masters, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja, and many other exalted vaisnavas. We pray that they keep us at their lotus feet and that we may somehow please them with our endeavors.

Come visit New Braj and join in our Ratha-Yatra, Govardhana Pujas, and many other special occasions like Janmastami and Radhastami, and especially our annual Harikatha Festival! We hope you will feel like part of the family and come again and again.