The festival of chanting “Hare Krishna” mahamantra.
The celebration was launched back in 1996 by ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission, as one of many ways to celebrate ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada’s Centennial, or the 100th year since his birth.
Back then, it was just World Holy Name Day, and was held annually on September 26th, to commemorate the day in 1965 when Srila Prabhupada arrived in the USA, bringing with him the chanting of the Holy Names of Krishna.
Finally, in 2008, feeling that one day wasn’t enough to glorify the Holy Names of God, they lengthened it to World Holy Name Week, and it has been held for one week annually ever since.
While its scheduling changes every year according to the lunar calendar, each World Holy Name Week is always packed with special days related to the Holy Name.
World holy name festival is celebrated from 28th Sept to 2nd Oct all over the world by ISKCON Temples. This holy name will not only bring global peace and harmony, but whoever takes part will experience greatest joy and happiness in their lives. ISKCON Vallabh Vidyanagar has arranged Harinam Sankirtans in different parts of the city and we request all of you to take part in as many sankirtans as possible.
During this period, we wish to offer 108 crore Holy names on behalf of ISKCON Vallabh Vidyanagar. For achieving this target we need to chant 6.25 lac rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra in 10 days which implies that all of us together should chant around 62500 rounds everyday. We have around 3000 devotees chanting 16 rounds and if everyone chants just 5 more extra rounds we will be easily able to achieve the target. Also, this is a very nice opportunity to encourage devotees to increase their regular rounds and also we can introduce our neighbors, friends, relatives, colleagues, etc to the chanting of Hare Krishna Mahamantra. You can collect JAPATHON cards from temple Information centre. You can also collect cards for the programs which you are hosting or going as preacher.
Special gifts will be given for 108 devotees chanting maximum number of extra rounds during this period.
Infront of temple hall you will find 108 steps whereby you can inspire your friends, relatives, colleagues to chant Hare Krishna Mahamantra atleast 108 times during this World Holy Name Week Festival period.
Also, there are special DISCOUNT SALES offers available during this period. You can collect Hare Krishna Mahamantra stickers for pasting at different places or gifting to different people at low price and you can collect Harinam books and request your neighbors, friends and relatives to write Hare Krishna Mahamantra 108 times and submit it back to the temple and collect a special gift. You can get more information from Holyname counter.
On this occasion we have released a special DVD which contains Srila Prabhupada Japa recording and kirtans along with Vrindavan mellows, some lectures about chanting, wall papers, screen savers, etc. You can buy this DVD and gift to your friends, etc