BATB Reports

Srila Prabhupada Book Reading Festival Enlivens Devotees in Mayapur, 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!