World Holy Name Festival

The aim of ISKCON’s World Holy Name Festival is to celebrate the holy names and share this treasure worldwide through innovative programs designed to encourage people of all faiths to participate and create auspiciousness globally.

Srila Prabhupada’s greatest desire was to spread the chanting of the Holy Names all over the world. To fulfil this desire, the Governing Body Commission (GBC) of ISKCON established World Holy Name Day during Srila Prabhupada’s Centennial in 1996, which along with many other Centennial programs was a tremendous success.

Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaja was in charge of World Holy Name Day. With his sad departure, the perpetuation of World Holy Name Day, came to Lokanath Swami Maharaja in 2006. Below is the GBC resolution:

That World Holy Name Day is made an annual program for all ISKCON centers. The observance of World Holy Name Day is to be held in connection with the anniversary observances of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in the USA Sept. 17, 1965 – (GBC resolution 2006).

On seeing the tremendous success and potential of this event, in 2008 the GBC resolved the ‘World Holy Name Day’ into ‘World Holy Name Week.’ The period starts on the appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and also includes the disappearance day of Srila Namacarya Haridas Thakura, Sri Visvarupa Mahotsava, acceptance of sannyasa by Srila Prabhupada and ends on the Vedic calendar date for Srila Prabhupada, the greatest ambassador of the holy names, arrival in Boston.

The intention is the performance of sankirtan in its many forms, including japa, all over the world by people of all faiths.