World Holyname Festival 2025: Global Devotees Celebrate the Transforming Power of Hare Krishna

Chinmayi Devi Dasi
Sep 20
5 min read

World Holyname Festival 2025: chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, experience inner peace, and honor Srila Prabhupada’s legacy.

The city plaza fell quiet for a moment — then the first chords rang out: a small drum, two karatals, and one clear voice calling the Maha-mantra. Within minutes, a circle formed: students, families, an old woman smiling with closed eyes, and curious passersby holding plates of steaming prasadam. What began as a song became a tide of joy, dissolving barriers of age, culture, and language.

This is the living heartbeat of the World Holyname Festival 2025, celebrated globally from September 17 to September 23. For one full week, devotees of Lord Krishna and seekers everywhere join in the collective chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, discovering for themselves the transforming power of Krishna’s name.

World Holyname Festival 2025: History & origin of the festival

The festival finds its roots in a historic voyage. On September 17, 1965, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada arrived in Boston after a grueling sea journey aboard the Jaladuta. Carrying little more than a few books, he brought with him the gift of Krishna consciousness and the sacred practice of chanting the Holy Name.

Decades later, as ISKCON spread worldwide, World Holyname Week was established to honor that arrival and to encourage everyone — from lifelong practitioners to curious newcomers — to experience the joy of chanting. What started as a day of remembrance has now blossomed into a global week-long celebration in which thousands of devotees flood streets, temples, and homes with the sound of the Maha-mantra.

Scriptural anchor — the timeless promise of the Holy Name

The foundation of this festival rests on a timeless teaching from the Caitanya-caritāmṛta:

“harer nāma harer nāma

harer nāmaiva kevalam

kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva

nāsty eva gatir anyathā” (Adi 17.21)

“In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the holy name of the Lord. There is no other way. There is no other way. There is no other way.”

This verse is more than poetry; it is a call to practice. In Kali-yuga — an age marked by stress, division, and confusion — the Holy Name shines as the simplest and most effective spiritual remedy. The festival is, therefore, not just an event but a living response to the needs of our time.

What is Krishna-naam jap?

At the heart of World Holyname Festival is the practice of Krishna-naam jap — the meditation of repeating the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra on beads (japa mala). Unlike public kirtan, which is collective and musical, japa is personal and meditative.

The mantra is:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

Traditionally, practitioners chant on a string of 108 beads, with one complete round being 108 repetitions of the mantra. Serious practitioners aim for 16 rounds daily, but beginners are encouraged to start with even one round — discovering the mantra’s rhythm and its soothing effect on the heart.

Chanting is not restricted by caste, creed, or nationality. It is a universal practice available to all, echoing Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s vision that the Holy Name be carried to every town and village.

Spiritual significance & stories of transformation

The transformative power of chanting is not theoretical. Devotees across generations testify how the Holy Name reshaped their lives — not only spiritually, but emotionally and socially.

A story from New York City streets: Arun, a young software engineer, recalls joining a Harinam while rushing home from work. “At first, I thought it was just music,” he says. “But when I repeated the mantra once, something shifted. I felt lighter. That night, instead of my usual stress, I had the best sleep in months.”
A lifelong devotee’s journey: For Ananda Mataji, a grandmother in Vrindavan, chanting has been her anchor for four decades. “I have seen sorrow, loss, and uncertainty,” she shares. “But when I hold my beads, I know I am not alone. The Holy Name carries me. It heals me.”

Such stories are the essence of World Holyname Week: living proof that chanting connects the soul to the Divine, offering peace in an often restless world.

The 7-day program blueprint (Sep 17–23)

Communities worldwide observe World Holyname Festival in vibrant, creative ways. Here’s a sample structure often followed:

Day 1 (Sep 17) — Remembrance & Dedication: Commemorate Srila Prabhupada’s arrival with readings from his journals, lectures, and prayers of gratitude.
Day 2 — Street Harinam & Outreach: Devotees take to public squares, chanting joyfully while distributing prasadam and literature.
Day 3 — Japathon: A collective goal-setting day where devotees aim to chant extra rounds of japa together, deepening their personal practice.
Day 4 — Youth & Community Engagement: Kirtan workshops, drama, art exhibitions, and interactive Q&A sessions for young people and seekers.
Day 5 — Seminars & Education: Classes on the philosophy of the Holy Name, testimonies of transformation, and teachings from Bhagavad-gita.
Day 6 — Global Kirtan Relay: Temples in different time zones host consecutive hours of kirtan, creating a 24-hour wave of chanting across continents.
Day 7 (Sep 23) — Grand Closing Festival: Large-scale sankirtan, cultural performances, and a feast of prasadam — closing the week with unity and joy.

Outreach & community impact

The festival is not confined to temples. Streets, marketplaces, and campuses become vibrant centers of spirituality. Outreach during World Holyname Week often includes:

Book distribution: Sharing Bhagavad-gita and Prabhupada’s writings with newcomers.
Prasadam sharing: Offering sanctified food as a tangible expression of love and devotion.
Friendly conversations: Devotees answer questions, explain chanting, and invite people to try one round on the spot.
Social media campaigns: Daily reels, testimonials, and live-streamed kirtans ensure the Holy Name reaches even digital audiences.

Through these efforts, the public not only hears the mantra but also encounters a community of compassion and joy.

How to begin chanting yourself

For those inspired by the festival, beginning the practice of chanting is simple:

Set aside a quiet space.
Hold a set of 108-bead japa mala.
Chant the mantra slowly on each bead:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
Focus on sound. If the mind wanders, gently bring it back.
Start small. Even one round a day can make a difference. Over time, increase as your heart desires.

For beginners, chanting along with a recording of kirtan can help maintain rhythm and mood.

Resources for seekers & devotees

Books: Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Sri Caitanya-caritāmṛta, and The Nectar of Devotion.
Music: ISKCON kirtan playlists available on YouTube and Spotify.
Local temples: ISKCON centers in most major cities host daily kirtan and classes.
Websites: iskcon.org and regional temple pages list World Holyname Week schedules.
Apps: “Hare Krishna Japa” counters and mantra apps help track daily chanting.

Conclusion — the festival of the future

As the world faces mounting challenges — stress, division, uncertainty — the Holy Name rises as a universal antidote. The World Holyname Festival 2025 (Sep 17–23) is more than a celebration; it is a gentle revolution of the heart.

Whether on a bustling street in New York, a quiet home in Delhi, or a park in Nairobi, one chant carries the same promise: peace, joy, and connection to the Divine. This week, let the sound of Hare Krishna echo not just in public squares but in your own heart.

Chant once. Chant daily. Chant with friends. And discover for yourself the transforming power of Krishna’s name.