July 20, 2026
A memory of the historic event at Ohio State University in 1969 where Srila Prabhupada and poet Allen Ginsberg shared the stage, attracting thousands of youth to the Hare Krishna movement.
A Meeting of Hearts in Ohio
We put posters all over the Ohio State University campus: Srila Prabhupada appearing with Allen Ginsberg. I was in the room when Srila Prabhupada was talking to Sriman Allen Ginsberg before the event. I was shocked at how humble Srila Prabhupada was, asking Ginsberg's opinion on the venue. It was amazing.
About 2,000 midwest teenagers showed up, mostly to hear from the bohemian Allen. He gave a talk, and then Srila Prabhupada spoke.
About 2,000 midwest teenagers showed up, mostly to hear from the bohemian Allen. He gave a talk, and then Srila Prabhupada spoke.
The Electric Kirtan
Then the most amazing kirtan began. As the audience started to catch on to the magical maha mantra, they began to chant. Not only chant, they all chanted like enthusiastic devotees. As the devotees stood up on the stage around Srila Prabhupada and started to dance, some of the audience also started dancing. Then Srila Prabhupada stood up on his box-like Vyasasana and was dancing, throwing flowers to the crowd. It was so wild, so blissful.
Allen Ginsberg grabbed his microphone during the kirtan and exclaimed, "I've never seen so many people jumping out of their skins before!" The whole room was electric. One devotee whose husband was in that audience recalled that he thought Srila Prabhupada was glowing.
By Chintamani dasi
Allen Ginsberg grabbed his microphone during the kirtan and exclaimed, "I've never seen so many people jumping out of their skins before!" The whole room was electric. One devotee whose husband was in that audience recalled that he thought Srila Prabhupada was glowing.
By Chintamani dasi