Bhakta Das (center) with Tom McIntosh, a member of the Victorian Parliament representing the Minister of Multiculturalism, and Her Excellency Professor Margaret Gardner, Governor of Victoria, Australia.
Bhakta Dasa, a senior representative of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Victoria, Australia, has been honored at the 2025 Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence for his longstanding service to interfaith engagement and multicultural collaboration.
Bhakta Dasa was nominated by a member of Victoria’s multicultural community for his more than 15 years of dedicated service representing ISKCON in various interfaith initiatives and administrative roles. The award acknowledges both his personal contributions and the enduring role of the Hare Krishna movement in strengthening multicultural life in the state of Victoria.
“For five years, I had the privilege of serving as the Chairperson of the Faith Communities Council of Victoria—the state’s leading interfaith body working directly with government,” Bhakta Dasa said. “In that role, I engaged in discussions and collaborative efforts aimed at strengthening social cohesion, addressing religious intolerance, and providing informed representation to both local and federal government agencies.”
Now in its 24th year, the Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence are coordinated by the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC). The annual awards celebrate individuals and organizations who advance diversity and inclusion, and who help Victorians from migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeker backgrounds participate fully in community life.
Fourteen award categories were open for nomination this year, reflecting the many ways multicultural communities enrich Victoria’s social, cultural, and civic fabric. The 2025 award recipients included community leaders, artists, educators, faith representatives, and public servants whose work has had a lasting impact across the state.
Bhakta Dasa was among several multicultural champions honored at the ceremony, held in early December. His recognition highlights ISKCON’s continued engagement with civic institutions and interfaith platforms in Australia, and its commitment to fostering harmony, dialogue, and service within a pluralistic society.
Reflecting on the honor, Bhakta Dasa emphasized his appreciation of his spiritual master, “On behalf of ISKCON, I was honored to accept this recognition and offer my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the Founder-Ācārya of ISKCON, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Śrīla Prabhupāda.”
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