2024-12-31-accounts

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SankirtanFest Project Management Office
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Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

Website: www.sankirtanfest.org Email: [e-mail] �

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

Opening letter from SankirtanFest’s Project Management office (‘PMO’)	3
Objectives and activities	5
Achievements and performance	6
Financial review	7
Structure, governance, and management	9
Reference and administrative details	10
Name of PMO members	11
Declarations	13

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Opening letter from SankirtanFest’s Project Management office (‘PMO’)

Dear devotee,

We hope this finds you well and under Lord Krishna’s grace. We trust that you are reading this because SankirtanFest has, in some shape or form, assisted you in your journey towards the Lotus Feet. May our service to you be impactful and effective and we thank you wholeheartedly for your support. If this is the first time you are reading about SankirtanFest, we welcome you and please do get in touch should you have any queries at: [e-mail], or please do visit our website for insights into our work at: www.sankirtanfest.org.

How it all started

One afternoon in January 2022 - two years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic - six community members received a call from a fellow community member. The community member was excited to speak to them and share their vision for the UK Sankirtan community. They wanted the UK to experience and benefit spiritually from a first of its kind event: a national Ashtaprahar Sankirtan Music Festival in 2022. From that initial impassioned phone call, they were all fully onboard, engaged, and committed to make this event a success and assist in propagating the principles ordained by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. So, on 17 January 2022, they hosted their very first Sankirtan community 'Town Hall' and with Lord Krishna's grace and blessings; as well as the utmost support from the UK Sankirtan community: 'SankirtanFest' was born.

Our purpose

SankirtanFest is a not-for-profit, charitable organisation and our purpose is to advance the Hindu religion in the UK through the medium of Sankirtan. A spiritual artform that originates back to 15th century Bengal, when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ('Mahaprabhu' - who is revered as a Saint in the Sankirtan community) took part in Sankirtan on the streets of Bengal, and reconnected the masses to their love and devotion for Lord Krishna.

Through the grace of Lord Krishna, his blessings, and taking Mahaprabhu's principles as our 'modus operandi' - through our events and activities - we want to, for the benefit of the public:

• Propagate Mahaprabhu's principles involving the utmost devotion to Lord Krishna, the respect of all living beings, and to accept all peoples irrespective of caste, creed, gender, sexual orientation, and social standing.

• Propagate Mahaprabhu's Sankirtan movement through Sankirtan festivals and activities, such as:

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• Ashtaprahar, Mahasankirtan;

• Uday Astha Mahasankirtan; and

• Dance, drama, music, recitations, talks, and debates.

• Encourage and assist with the development of Sankirtan artists and the artform in general.

• Introduce Sankirtan devotees to key ‘flavours’ of Sankirtan during music festivals and events, such as: traditional UK groups, groups from Bengal (West Bengal and Bangladesh), as well as contemporary and modern forms of Sankirtan and youth Sankirtan.

• Develop the future Sankirtan community through hosting Sankirtan based workshops to further the Sankirtan artform. But in addition, we also want to host Sankirtan festival management workshops to ensure future generations have the capability, know-how, and confidence to deliver Sankirtan festivals themselves

• Promote the wellbeing aspects associated with partaking in Sankirtan.

• Ensure that those in need (especially the homeless) in close proximity to our events, do not go without food and we will be distributing wholesome prasadam to them

• Encourage and engage the youth of the community to come forward and partake in projects, which not only helps SankirtanFest be progressive and innovative, but provides an avenue of support for disadvantaged youth.

Annual report

This report summarises the achievements of SankirtanFest for the financial year and its financial position. We thank you for your time and patience and we hope to continue our seva to you.

In your humble service,

SankirtanFest PMO.

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Objectives and activities

	SOPR reference
Summary of the purposes of SankirtanFest as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	To advance the hindu religion for the benefit of the public by means of the Sankirtan artform.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts	Para 1.17 and 1.19	The main activity for SankirtanFest in financial year 2022 was organising, managing, and hosting a large scale Ashtapahar Sankirtan festival in London which included a 24 hour non-stop Sankirtan marathon. A first of its kind event in the UK. The festival was open to all members of the public. Through the delivery of this festival, SankirtanFest was able to deliver against its public benefit mandate to propagate the hindu religion through the Sankirtan artform for the benefit of the public. This was also the financial year that SankirtanFest commenced its voluntary work to help food banks meet their objectives and feed those in need. Our Seva Crew (volunteers) attended food bank distributions premises on a quarterly basis.
Statement confirming whether the PMO (members of which are also trustees) have had regard to the guidance issued by SankirtanFest on public benefit	Para 1.18	PMO confirm that they have regard to the guidance issued by SankirtanFest on public benefit.

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Achievements and performance

	SORP reference
Summary of main achievements of SankirtanFest, identifying the difference SankirtanFest’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	The main achievements of SankirtanFest in the financial year includes the successful delivery of: ● “SankirtanFest Raas Lila”, a grand Sankirtan event held at the beautiful Oshwal Centre in Potters bar, showcasing and inspiring the community to think bold for the future and serving the community from Portsmouth to Edinburgh.. ● Purchase of Project Mangal exhibition stand and delivering c. 200 presentations covering c. 2,000 devotees that attended Rass Lila, covering the concept of Project Managal, why the community needs it, and what the community can achieve by working in unity. ● Commencement of Mangal Unplugged initiative, which looks to host intimate kirtan gatherings, around the UK.. Youth involvement also saw a significant increase, with the Seva Crew (volunteers) continuing to comprise > c. 70% within the youth demographic.

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SankirtanFest also continued to arrange for the successful attendance of specialist Sankirtan groups from India. This enabled disadvantaged groups within the UK community to experience the beautiful Sankirtan that would have been sung during the time of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu; otherwise not possible to them to experience in-person.

Financial review

Financial review
	SORP reference
Review of SankirtanFest’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	SankirtanFest’s receipts for the year was: £93,000 and its expenditure for the year was £88,000 rounded to the nearest £1,000.. New reserves generated of £6,518 from Project Mangal activity and fully ring fenced for Project Mangal. All receipts were generated from public donations and SankirtanFest PMO would like to extend its thanks to all supporters for making the first of its kind for the UK Ashtaprahar Sankirtan possible.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	SankirtanFest has in place a policy of holding reserves, where possible, in its bank account to apply to future activities and initiatives of SankirtanFest.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£10,249
Reasons for holding zero	Para 1.22	The reserves were exhausted

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reserves		in the delivery of the Raas Lila event where the event was held in beautiful grounds, setting the scene for Project Mangal and inspiring the community to think bold. In the light of this, PMO consider utilisation of reserves to be a strategic investment towards meeting the charity’s core objects.
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	Not applicable
Explanation of any uncertainties about SankirtanFest continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	There are no uncertainties that PMO have identified in relation to SankirtanFest continuing as a going concern.

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Website. www.sankirtanfest.o Email." sankirtanfes tnail.com SankirtanFest CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIANO AND WALES Evet)ts Society iu Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forthe perlod To 0110112024 3111212024 Section A Receipts and payments Restrided nds Endov•Trnt funds nds Total fvnd$ Last year lolts reareJ¢ e re•re51¢ A1 Recelpts Proieci Ntsngal Festiwls 18 4918 73￿81 11.1S0 Sub to¢al(Gross income for ARI ,1$0 an Inves ses. Isee tal￿e Sub tolal 518 nts 13$9 17,12 503 $$M07 FeSts￿l$ 17.125 Sub toial A4 Osset and Investrrnt Sub total 87.125 88A84 910 Net of receiMs/(payment$) A5 Trabsfers bets*en frjnds Cash lunds last ￿ar end Cash fund5 this yearend 91 976

Website. www.sankirtanfest.o Email." sankirtanfes tnail.com SankirtanFest Section B Statement of assets and liabilrties at the end of the period Llnrestricted Restricted funds funds EndovmEnt nds Categorles )r￿[￿st£ to nparslE B1 Cash fund5 Ca$h 075 9￿74 Totsl cash fund5 675 874 UnrESirlthd funds n•rnst£ Re¥triGted funds to nèarestE funds Delai15 Detai15 IoF•kna 83 Investment assets rertw IoF4knarfr B4 Assets relained forthe hdtity'5 415¢ Whw due Details B5 Liabilitses Swd ty orn Orth￿ tr￿tee& on Surotura Print Name Date of roval Amit C*v 3111012025 10

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Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ The Sankirtan Event Society members of

On accounts for the year ended Set out on pages	31st December 2024	Charity no (if any)	1199114
	Above

• I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 /12 /2024 .

• Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

• accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or

• the accounts do not accord with the accounting records

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

• Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Date: 19/11/2025 Signed: Name: Tom Wilcox Relevant professional FCIE qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: Counterculture Partnership LLP

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23 St Leonards Road

Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex TN40 1HH

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

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Structure, governance, and management

	SORP reference
Type of governing document	Para 1.25	Constitution
How is SankirtanFest constituted?	Para 1.25	Unincorporated Charity
PMO selection method including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more PMO	Para 1.25	PMO are selected on the basis of their passion for the furtherance of Sankirtan and SankirtanFest, as well as their capability to assist with the management of large scale Sankirtan projects.

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Reference and administrative details

Charity name	The Sankirtan Events Society (UK)
Other name the charity uses	SankirtanFest
Registered charity number	1199114
Charity’s principal address	68 Avenue Road, Birmingham, B14 7TG

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Name of PMO members

Name of PMO members
Name of PMO member	Dates in office
Amit Dev	January 2022 - not resigned in FY
Gitoshri Purkayastha	January 2023 - not resigned in FY
Mita Dey-Singh	January 2023 - not resigned in FY
Nandita Chakavarty	January 2023 - resigned in FY
Raj Das	January 2022 - not resigned in FY
Shilpi Baidya	January 2022 - not resigned in FY

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Corporate trustees and those holding title to property belonging to SankirtanFest

● Not applicable

Funds held as custodian trustes on behalf of others

Not applicable

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Declarations

PMO declare that they have approved the PMO report above.

Signed by SankirtanFest PMO:

Amit Dev, PMO Member and Trustee

Signature:

Gitoshri Purkayastha, PMO Member and Trustee

Signature:

Mita Dey-Singh, PMO Member and Trustee

Signature:

Raj Das, PMO Member and Trustee

Signature:

Shilpi Baidya, PMO Member and Trustee Signature:

Date: 31 October 2025

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