ISKCON Kirtan Ministry Presents
World Holy Name Festival 2026 Global Competitions
Celebrating 60 Years of ISKCON Spreading the Holy Name Across the World
Three Competitions · One Mission
Let the Whole World Hear the Holy Name
As ISKCON celebrates 60 glorious years of spreading the Hare Krishna Mahā-mantra throughout the world, the ISKCON Kirtan Ministry invites children, youth, devotees, families and communities worldwide to participate in the World Holy Name Festival 2026 Global Competitions. Express your creativity, glorify Śrīla Prabhupāda and help carry forward his mission of spreading the Holy Name to every town and village.
Choose the one that is yours:
Drawing Competition
Students from Standard 3 to Standard 10
Two categories, each with its own theme. The artwork must be handmade.
Categories, themes and ideas2
Category A — Standard 3 to 4
Theme: Hare Krishna Mahā-mantra Kirtan
Participants may creatively depict:
- Devotees performing kirtan
- Children chanting Hare Krishna
- Harināma Saṅkīrtana on the streets
- Lord Caitanya and His associates performing Saṅkīrtana
- People joyfully chanting the Hare Krishna Mahā-mantra
- The Holy Name bringing happiness and unity to the world
Category B — Standard 5 to 10
Theme: 60 Years of ISKCON — Śrīla Prabhupāda Spreading the Holy Name Across the World
Participants may creatively depict:
- Śrīla Prabhupāda taking Krishna consciousness around the world
- The Hare Krishna Mahā-mantra reaching different countries and cultures
- ISKCON’s journey over the last 60 years
- Harināma Saṅkīrtana around the world
- Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mission of spreading the Holy Name in every town and village
Rules and guidelines7
- The artwork must be original and handmade by the participant.
- Participants may use crayons, colour pencils, sketch pens, poster colours, watercolours or other traditional drawing and painting mediums.
- Recommended paper size: A4 or A3.
- Good-quality drawing or chart paper is recommended.
- Digital drawings and AI-generated artwork will not be accepted.
- A clear, high-resolution photograph or scanned copy of the completed artwork must be uploaded.
- Participants should preserve the original artwork until the results are announced.
Judging criteria6
- Relevance to the theme
- Creativity
- Originality
- Artistic presentation
- Devotional message
- Overall impact
ISKCON 60 — Creative Video Competition
Open to everyone — youth, students, devotees, householders, professionals, content creators and well-wishers anywhere in the world
Create an inspiring short video glorifying Śrīla Prabhupāda, his contribution to the world, and 60 years of ISKCON spreading the Hare Krishna Mahā-mantra globally.
Theme: 60 Years of ISKCON Spreading the Holy Name Across the World
Themes and ideas13
Your entry may include:
- Creative acting
- Short dramatic performances
- Storytelling
- Single-person narration
- Poetry
- Spoken word
- Rap
- Devotional song
- Short documentary-style presentation
- Creative use of photographs and videos
- Narration combined with kirtan
- A presentation of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s contribution to the world
- A presentation showing how ISKCON and the Hare Krishna Mahā-mantra have spread globally during the last 60 years
The central message should be: What did Śrīla Prabhupāda give to the world, and how has ISKCON carried the Hare Krishna Mahā-mantra throughout the world over the last 60 years?
Rules and guidelines12
- Videos must be created in vertical Reel format — 9:16.
- Recommended resolution: 1080 × 1920 pixels — Full HD.
- Recommended video duration: 30–90 seconds.
- Videos should be recorded using a good-quality smartphone or camera.
- Good lighting, stable footage and clear audio are strongly recommended.
- Videos may be creatively and professionally edited.
- Text, subtitles, transitions, photographs, graphics and archival material may be used where appropriate.
- Individual as well as group entries are permitted.
- The principal creative work should be original to the participant or team.
- Participants must ensure they have permission to use any third-party photographs, music, videos or other material included in their submission.
- The presentation must remain respectful towards Śrīla Prabhupāda, ISKCON and the Vaiṣṇava community.
- Political, offensive, inappropriate or unrelated commercial content will not be accepted.
Judging criteria9
- Creativity
- Strength of message
- Glorification of Śrīla Prabhupāda
- Connection with the ISKCON 60 theme
- Storytelling
- Video and audio quality
- Editing and presentation
- Devotional impact
- Overall ability to inspire viewers
Best Harināma Saṅkīrtana Reel
Individual devotees, groups, ISKCON temples and centres, Nāmahaṭṭas, Bhakti-vṛkṣas, youth groups, congregations, Harināma teams, families and communities worldwide
Gather devotees, friends, families and communities and organise an enthusiastic Harināma Saṅkīrtana in your city. Capture the enthusiasm, happiness and transformative power of Harināma and create an inspiring Reel.
Themes and ideas13
Your entry may include:
- Hare Krishna banners
- Mahā-mantra boards and placards
- Flags
- Mṛdaṅgas
- Karatālas
- Traditional dress
- Creative Harināma formations
- Dancing
- Public participation
- Book distribution
- Prasādam distribution
- Different locations around the city
- Creative video transitions and presentations
The Hare Krishna Mahā-mantra and public Harināma Saṅkīrtana must remain the central focus of the video.
Rules and guidelines13
- The video must feature an actual Harināma Saṅkīrtana conducted in a public place.
- Videos must be created in vertical Reel format — 9:16.
- Recommended resolution: 1080 × 1920 pixels — Full HD.
- Recommended video duration: 30–60 seconds.
- Record using a good-quality smartphone or camera.
- Good lighting, clear audio and stable footage are recommended.
- Videos may be creatively edited.
- Multiple clips from the same Harināma programme may be used.
- The Hare Krishna Mahā-mantra should be clearly heard and/or visibly central to the presentation.
- Participants are encouraged to engage members of the public in chanting and dancing.
- The Harināma must be conducted respectfully and in accordance with applicable local regulations.
- Unsafe activities undertaken merely for the purpose of recording the video should be avoided.
- The presentation should maintain appropriate Vaiṣṇava standards.
Judging criteria9
- Enthusiasm of the Harināma
- Presentation of the Holy Name
- Public participation
- Creativity
- Devotional atmosphere
- Video and audio quality
- Editing and presentation
- Overall impact
- Ability to inspire others to organise Harināma
Prizes & Certificates
Chant · Create · Inspire · Share
World Holy Name Festival 2026 — 17–23 September 2026. Celebrating 60 Years of ISKCON, continuing Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mission of spreading the Hare Krishna Mahā-mantra in every town and village.