RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat NYC event LIVE: Bhagwat set to speak at Madison Square Garden today

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat visited the ISKCON temple in New York during his ongoing US tour on Friday and penned a heartfelt tribute to the organisation for presenting the world with the gift of ‘Sri Krishna consciousness’.

He visited the ISKCON temple in New York on Friday during his ongoing US tour and participated in a food distribution initiative for homeless people, stressing that Krishna consciousness can help overcome conflicts and divisions in the world.

Speaking to ANI on the significance of the visit of Bhagwat, Gauranga Das, Governing Body Commissioner of ISKCON, said, “In 1966, Swami Prabhupada officially founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). We are standing at 26 2nd Avenue, the same place from where ISKCON began, and today we have 1300 temples across 120 countries. Swami Prabhupada is given the credit of taking Hindu Sanatana Dharma to every corner of the world, and it all began here. It was a historic day when RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat arrived here… He told us how we can work together for global peace and harmony.”

He also shared the message by the RSS Chief, which said, “An inspiring venue which brought a really matchless gift of Sri Krishna consciousness to the world. I am humbled and surcharged with the feeling of pure sattvic love towards he who resides in everybody and everything. Heartiest thanks to all who arranged this inspiring event for me.”

The Hindu American Foundation has urged New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani to uphold his sworn duty to protect all New Yorkers, including those attending the event at Madison Square Garden and guarantee everyone’s safety and civil rights.

“If you’re attending: Be civil, respect everyone’s right to assemble, protest, and express their views,” the HAF said.

The Hindus for Human Rights and other like-minded organisations have planned protests outside Madison Square Garden on Saturday, coinciding with the event featuring the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

“Mohan Bhagwat does not represent Hindus. He leads an extremist Hindu nationalist movement that has fuelled violence, exclusion and fear for minority communities,” said Sravya Tadepalli, Deputy Executive Director of Hindus for Human Rights.

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF), a US-based non-profit, has warned of attempts to disrupt and cancel the Universal Oneness Celebrations, featuring RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, scheduled for Saturday at the Infosys Theatre at Madison Square Garden.

Ahead of the event, New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani said that it was “incredibly troubling” to see the rise of a movement in India that was based on what he called an “exclusionary vision”.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Mamdani stressed his opposition to the rally but pointed out that the city’s government likely did not have the jurisdiction to cancel a private event.

“I also stand here as the first Indian American mayor in our city’s history. My mother’s family is all still in India. The vision of India that I was taught by my family and the one that I grew up being very familiar with was of a pluralistic society, of a secular republic, that believed in the belonging of each and every person who was from India.”

“It has been incredibly troubling to see the rise of a movement that is predicated on an exclusionary vision of any country, frankly. So it is one that I find myself in deep opposition to,” he said.

Hours ahead of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s highly anticipated address in New York City, diaspora leaders and event organisers have strongly defended the ‘Universal Oneness Celebrations’ in New York, emphasising the message of pluralism, community integration and open dialogue.

Bhagwat is scheduled to address an audience on August 29 at the Infosys Theatre at Madison Square Garden during a programme titled ‘Universal Oneness Celebrations’.He arrived in New York on Tuesday as part of a three-nation outreach visit spanning the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, marking the organisation’s centenary year.

Tejal Shah, President of the World Hindu Council of America (Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America), told news agency ANI, “This is an event giving out the message of plurality, unity in diversity, and the integration of the entire community coming together and celebrating not only the festival of Raksha Bandhan, but also the relationship that each community member will have with one another. As a result, we can make the world a better place tomorrow. The loud and clear message is: come forward, put the differences aside, let’s work together for humanity, and let’s work together for a better tomorrow.”

Days after calling on the US government to consider “targeted sanctions” against RSS and revoke the visa issued to Mohan Bhagwat, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Chair Asif Mahmood on Saturday said he is “open” to sitting down with the RSS chief and has talked to “bring more awareness.”

Images of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat were projected on billboards in the heart of Times Square ahead of his address to members of the Indian diaspora at Madison Square Garden here.

Bhagwat arrived in the US on Tuesday as part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) centenary-year global outreach programme. His outreach tour also includes Canada and the UK.

No, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is already in the US. He visited the ISKON temple in New York on Friday.
“In today’s world, there are so many conflicts, so many dualities. The only thing that unites is consciousness. That consciousness is Krishna Consciousness – we are one, and we have been having it through these dualities of this world with the strong understanding that though there are so many diversities, dualities, conflicts, really it is all Krishna…Everything is Krishna – if that world reaches every heart, the world will definitely be a better world; it will not be the material world we see today; it will be a heavenly abode for every human being,” he said.

Apart from Mohan Bhagwat’s speech, the event will feature a cultural program with performances, music, and artistic expressions, according to the event website.

“Through performance and creative expression, attendees will experience — not merely hear — what it means to hold all of creation as one,” it said.

RSS chief Bhagwat is scheduled to speak at the Madison Square Garden in New York City during an event called ‘Universal Oneness Celebrations’ on August 29 between 2 pm to 5:30 pm (ET). The event is being organised by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) forum.