This Sunday the Hare Krishna community are inviting the public to come and visit their beautiful island of Inish Rath and enjoy a day of festivities.
The Open Day, to be held on Sunday 5th August, will be a day of festivities and fun on Inisrath Island which is located on Upper Lough Erne.
The island, owned by the Hare Krishna community, is a beautiful 22 acre island on a Lough Erne nature reserve.
Martin Davis, one of the organisers of the Open Day and a member of the Hare Krishna community here in Fermanagh explains that this year is particularly special as it marks the 21st Anniversary of the opening of the Hare Krishna temple on Inish Rath island.
Martin explains that a marquee will be erected for the Open Day in which there will be music and dance throughout the day. "There will be some Indian music being played and there will also be demonstrations of traditional Vedic dance by dance experts," says Martin.
"There will also be a couple of plays and comical 'skits' being acted out by members of the community."
Martin explains that there are between 50 - 60 members of the Hare Krishna community living in Fermanagh with between 10 - 15 living full-time on the island.
There is always somebody living on the island as ceremonies start in the Temple, each day of the year, at 4.30am and continue until 9.00pm.
There are seven Vedic (a word derived from sandscript meaning 'knowledge') ceremonies every day, 365 days a year in the Temple.
A common misconception about the Hare Krishna community is that they all wear the full length robes and all live a monastic existence. Martin explains that members of the community now come from all walks of life. They are financially self-reliant, and include business people, who live in ordinary rural and urban communities.
"One couple run a small cafe while I run an art gallery" says Martin. "There is a tendency to wear everyday, normal clothes during daily life. It's only monastic members who wear the robes all the time."
"We still practice the same ways in the temple, but some of us only visit the island / temple at the weekends.
Ferry crossings from 1.00pm. Follow the signs from the road linking Derrylin and Lisnaskea (the B127). Ferry and admission: 4 euro / £3 sterling adults or 3 euro / £2 sterling for a child.
