Submitted by: World Holy Name Committee
1. Please write a summary of your achievements during 2019.
World Holy Name Festival 2019 was the biggest so far. We celebrated from Sept. 17 – 24, 2019, and focused, as usual, on glorifying Srila Prabhupada as the Global Ambassador of the Holy Name. We provided ISKCON centers with resources from our website including a poster. We gave personal guidance. We established new coordinators for Africa, Australia, New Zealand and India Youth.
2. What educational initiatives were done?
Ekalavya Das made presentations to the India Continental Committee (ICC) and the Western India Divisional Council (WIDC). The topics of the presentations were:
* Best Practices for World Holy Name Festival
* Empowering Youth
3. Scores:
We received 81 reports from centers in 14 different countries. This is the tip of the iceberg as additional centers celebrated the event, yet don’t send reports. Last year, we received 61 reports.
Centers reporting in 2019
· India: 55 centers
· USA: 11 centers
· Africa: 8 centers.
· Australia: 2 centers
· New Zealand, Germany, Hungry, Nepal, Damodardesh, Bangladesh, Russia, UK, Holland, Philippines
Highlights: Interfaith Gathering in Rohini Delhi, which garnered substantial good will and media coverage.
Photos and videos are available on our website,
4. Please share your vision for activities for 2020.
We are now compiling the best photos from WHNF 2019 from each center, with captions. These will be available on a web portal soon, before the 2020 AGM in Mayapur.
Dates for World Holy Name Festival 2020:
31 August: Bhaktivinode Thakur’s Appearance Day 9 September: Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in America.
We plan to involve more countries and coordinators.
We are planning a more unified global festival. Devotees around the world celebrate the same events on the same days. In between events, devotees can go for harinam sankirtan, kirtan mela, dramas, seminars, interfaith gatherings, etc.
* 31 August 2020: Bhaktivinode Thakur’s Appearance Day:
o 6 PM to 9 PM: Bhajan Sandya of Songs of Bhaktivinode Thakur
* 1 Sept. 2020: Haridas Thakur Disappearance Day:
o 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM: 16 Hours Chanting Japa
* 9 Sept. 2020: Srila Prabhupada’s Arrival In USA
o Global Kirtan Connect: Kirtan leaders from around the world take turns leading kirtan for a 24 hour period, moving from time zone to time zone. Everything broadcast live on Mayapur.tv, so everyone will be able to participate.
o 108 Kirtan Mala: Each center to conduct 108 kirtans in their community in different locations, simultaneously.
5. Recommendations
1. Form a committee in each center. It is not a one person job. Each committee member can take charge of one event.
2. Budget for the festival. ISKCON Pune, India budgets Rs. 2,00,000 /- (Approx USD $2,800). Temple has to feed prasadam at each gathering. Decorations. Transport. Sound System. Usually, whole 2 lakhs is not spent.
3. Outreach at schools: Devotees teach school children to chant and distribute japa malas. Teachers can avail of Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Please visit our website for more information. http://worldholyname.org/
Thank you very much for giving us this opportunity to serve. Your servants,
HH Lokanath Swami HH Janananda Goswami Ekalavya Das