BATB Reports

– ISKCON Ministry of Education, 2025

– ISKCON Sridham Mayapur, 2025

– ISKCON Chattarpur, India, 2025

– ISKCON Moscow (Sri Sri Dayal Nitai Sacisuta temple), Russia, 2025

– ISKCON Latvia & Lithuania 2025

– ISKCON Punjabi Bagh, 2025

– ISKCON Delhi, 2025

– ISKCON Germany & Switzerland, 2025

The Srila Prabhupada Book Reading Festival was celebrated with heartfelt enthusiasm and devotion in Mayapur, the international headquarters of ISKCON. This festival, dedicated to the study and glorification of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada’s books, became a source of inspiration for devotees across languages, cultures, and generations.

A unique feature of the festival was the special stands set up with Srila Prabhupada’s books on his altar, symbolically placing his transcendental teachings at the very heart of the celebration. The sight of Prabhupada’s altar adorned with his works reminded everyone that his vani—his divine instructions—remains the guiding force for ISKCON worldwide.

To extend the reach of the festival, short daily videos were broadcast through Mayapur’s official WhatsApp and Telegram channels. These implementations were announced in Bengali, Hindi, English and Russian and created a wonderful atmosphere for the event.

A detailed schedule was prepared for the temple lectures, with specific books and topics assigned to different speakers. This allowed devotees to engage deeply with Prabhupada’s works during the morning temple classes. The systematic approach ensured that participants could relish a broad spectrum of Prabhupada’s writings, from introductory texts to profound philosophical works.

The festival also extended beyond the temple into the homes of devotees. During home programs, participants joyfully shared their own realizations and personal experiences from reading Prabhupada’s books. These intimate gatherings created a warm and uplifting atmosphere, where devotees inspired one another to cultivate regular reading habits. Many reported that the discussions deepened their appreciation of Srila Prabhupada’s compassion and wisdom, while also strengthening their determination to apply his teachings in daily life.

At the conclusion of the Mayapur Festival, Srila Prabhupada’s message began to resound: that he lives forever in his books, and through their reading and dissemination, his mission continues to flourish around the world.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

From September 7th to 13th, the Hare Krishna Center (Lohvan Dham) in Chhatarpur hosted the Srila Prabhupada Book Reading Festival, a week-long celebration dedicated to honoring the teachings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. More than 50 devotees participated with heartfelt devotion, immersing themselves in the wisdom of Srila Prabhupada’s transcendental writings.

One of the highlights of the festival was the collective reading of Srila Prabhupada’s small books, which filled the atmosphere with enthusiasm and spiritual energy. Devotees relished his instructions and shared personal realizations, creating a vibrant culture of learning and devotion.

The event also featured beautiful altar decorations, where Srila Prabhupada’s books were placed alongside flowers and ornaments on both his personal altar and the Deities’ altar. The thoughtful arrangements emphasized the centrality of Srila Prabhupada’s vani (divine instructions) in the lives of practitioners.

Participation was widespread, with men, women, and children all joining in. The collective reading fostered unity and deepened the community’s appreciation for the spiritual treasures that Srila Prabhupada gifted to the world.

Devotees reflected on the readings in group discussions, adding further depth to the experience. Many expressed renewed inspiration to make regular study of Srila Prabhupada’s books a part of their daily spiritual practice.

The week-long celebration concluded with a strong sense of fulfillment and gratitude. The festival not only glorified the legacy of Srila Prabhupada but also strengthened the commitment of devotees to live by his teachings.

“The festival was a spiritually uplifting journey for everyone who attended,” said one of the participants.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

The daily six-hour study of Srila Prabhupada’s books began with the darshan of the Deities, with small books of Srila Prabhupada placed on the altar. Every day, for new guests, a message from GBC Chairman HG Govardhan Prabhu was broadcast, explaining the mission, goals, and purpose of the project, as well as the opportunities for everyone to participate in this event.

While studying “The Path of Perfection”, guests discussed what the road to happiness is, what true happiness means, and what obstacles may stand in the way of reaching it.

Reading “Teachings of Lord Kapila”, temple visitors became acquainted with the philosophy of Sankhya and its practical application as presented by Srila Prabhupada within ISKCON.

One of the days became truly “International.” Guests from India and traveling devotees visiting different ISKCON temples joined the program. They participated in kirtan, recited verses, and read commentaries from the “Bhagavad-gita.”

On the concluding day, after kirtan, devotees read from “Beyond Birth and Death” and “The Nectar of Instruction.” Inspired by the discussions, many guests eagerly acquired Srila Prabhupada’s books.

The sincerity and openness of all participants turned the International Week “Books Are the Basis 2025” into a true yajna of dedication to Srila Prabhupada’s books. The organizers are already working on a plan to further develop and improve next year’s “Books Are the Basis Week.”

Srila Prabhupada ki jay!

Books are the basis, purity is the strength, preaching is the essence, and practicality is the principle. Srila Prabhupada gave these four pillars of ISKCON, and devotees in Latvia and Lithuania honoured them during the recent “Books Are the Basis” week.

In more than five temples and centres, Prabhupada’s books were placed on decorated altars, aratis were offered, and devotees spoke about the importance of studying and sharing his teachings. During Srimad-Bhagavatam classes, devotees gave 15–20 minute presentations on Prabhupada’s works.

In Vilnius, Lithuania, a two-day festival at the Dvaraka Centre gathered devotees from across the country and even from Germany. Maha-arati was offered to Srila Prabhupada and his books, while speakers stressed the importance of accepting his message deeply in the heart.

HH Bhakti Chaitanya Swami, GBC for the region, joined online. He spoke movingly about Prabhupada’s voyage on the Jaladuta, his poem, the role of his books, and the importance of unity among devotees. Devotees asked heartfelt questions on remembering Prabhupada, rekindling faith, and balancing attachment to guru and Srila Prabhupada. Maharaj replied with compassion and clarity, guiding them on how to strengthen their connection through reading, service, and devotee relationships.

Vishvavasu Swami: “After the morning program lectures, devotees came up to me and shared their experiences. Some said that they had realized the depth and meaning of these books for the first time. Others said that understanding the message of these books had helped them make the right decision during a difficult time of rethinking their personal lives. Still others said that they would definitely reread Prabhupada’s books, inspired by these short reviews.”

The week reminded all participants of Srila Prabhupada’s central place in ISKCON and in their spiritual lives. Many felt as though their devotional service had been “restarted,” with fresh inspiration to continue Prabhupada’s mission for generations to come.

Srila Prabhupada ki jay!

In harmony with the worldwide observance of Books Are the Basis Week, ISKCON Punjabi Bagh joyfully celebrated Srila Prabhupada’s transcendental legacy through classes, collective readings, and community participation.

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Classes

Each day of the week, the morning Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam class was specially dedicated to the Glories of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Different speakers highlighted how Srila Prabhupada’s writings serve as the foundation of ISKCON, transforming lives and guiding devotees across the globe. These classes inspired the congregation to strengthen their daily practice of reading and to relish the wisdom contained in Prabhupada’s commentaries.

Bhagavad-gītā Classes

In the evenings, special sessions focused not only on the Bhagavad-gītā As It Is but also on Śrīla Prabhupāda’s other transcendental books. Different speakers emphasized how these works collectively form the very basis of ISKCON, presenting Vedic wisdom in a way that is practical, relevant, and transformative. These classes inspired the congregation to broaden their study of Prabhupāda’s writings and to apply his teachings more deeply in daily life.

Community Online Reading

To further extend the celebration, daily online reading sessions were organized from Monday, 8th September, to Saturday, 13th September between 6 PM and 7 PM IST on Zoom. Devotees collectively read Srila Prabhupada’s books, reflecting on his instructions and sharing realizations. The online format allowed many members of the congregation to participate from their homes, creating a warm sense of community and shared inspiration.

Conclusion

The week-long celebration at ISKCON Punjabi Bagh deepened devotee’s appreciation for Srila Prabhupada’s books as the very foundation of ISKCON. Through temple classes and online gatherings, participants were reminded of the timelessrelevance of Prabhupada’s vani, and many expressed renewed determination to make daily reading an integral part of their spiritual lives.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

ISKCON Punjabi Bagh, Books are the Basis Week Celebration

The Śrīla Prabhupāda Book Reading Festival was celebrated with heartfelt enthusiasm and devotion in ISKCON Delhi. Dedicated to the study and glorification of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books, the festival served as a source of inspiration for devotees across languages, cultures, and generations.

Highlights of the Festival

1. Central Focus on Prabhupāda’s Books
   A unique feature of the festival was the special stands set up with Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books on all the four altars. A separate altar was set up in the temple hall for Srila Prabhupada books. This symbolically placed his transcendental teachings at the very heart of the celebration, reminding everyone that his vāṇī—his divine instructions—remain the guiding force for ISKCON worldwide.
2. Structured Temple Lectures
   A detailed schedule was prepared for the morning temple classes, with specific books and topics assigned to different speakers. This systematic approach allowed devotees to relish a wide spectrum of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s works, ranging from introductory texts to profound philosophical writings.
3. Special Adhivaas ceremony and Pushpanjali was help in the temple hall.
   A special Adhivās ceremony on 6^th Sep, 2025 was held in the temple hall to sanctify the festival and invite divine blessings. This was followed by an offering of Pushpāñjali on the next day to Śrīla Prabhupāda Books, where devotees reverentially presented flowers as a gesture of gratitude and devotion. The entire atmosphere was filled with bhajans and the fragrance of flowers, creating a spiritually surcharged mood of reading books.
4. Home Programs & Personal Realizations
   The festival extended into the homes of devotees, where participants joyfully shared their realizations and personal experiences from reading Prabhupāda’s books. These intimate gatherings created a warm and uplifting mood, encouraging devotees to cultivate regular reading habits. Many testified that the discussions deepened their appreciation of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s compassion and wisdom while strengthening their resolve to apply his teachings in daily life.
5. Online zoom classes
   One of the most inspiring outcomes of the festival was the collective resolution by devotees to dedicate at least one hour daily to reading Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books. Special emphasis was placed on beginning with his small books, which are concise yet deeply impactful. Most participants preferred to observe this practice in the evening, when the mind is naturally more peaceful and receptive. This daily reading not only nourishes spiritual life but also strengthens the devotees’ connection with Śrīla Prabhupāda and his mission.

At the conclusion of the festival, one message strongly resonated with everyone:

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives forever in his books, and through their reading and distribution, his mission continues to flourish around the world.

All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!

Decoration of Books in all four altars in ISKCON New Delhi

This year’s global Books Are the Basis Week was celebrated with inspiring programs across Germany and Switzerland, highlighting the central role of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books in ISKCON’s mission.

ISKCON Köln marked the occasion with a special program on the anniversary of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s arrival in the USA, focusing on the importance of his books. After the lecture, around 40 small books were distributed to the participants. In addition, the Cologne community organized a three-part online seminar on the Systematic Study of Vedic Scriptures. Devotees gathered to explore three of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s small books.

ISKCON Berlin integrated the Books Are the Basis theme into their Saturday Festival celebrations. They also launched a new online study group, meeting every Tuesday morning at 6:30 a.m. for collective reading of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books.

ISKCON Simhachalam highlighted the week by introducing Śrīla Prabhupāda’s small books during their daily Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam classes, encouraging devotees to become familiar with these concise yet powerful works.

ISKCON Zurich dedicated their Sunday Festival class to Bhadra Purnima, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and the importance of Prabhupāda’s books. During the week, they also held a morning seminar on book distribution, focusing on how to share Śrīla Prabhupāda’s most essential titles effectively and in the evenings, they gathered to read some of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books.

Across all these events, devotees were reminded of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instruction that “Books are the basis”—serving as the foundation of both personal practice and ISKCON’s worldwide outreach. The week strengthened commitment to study and live by these teachings, ensuring that Prabhupāda’s wisdom continues transforming lives.