ISKCON will celebrate its 50 years since its incorporation on the 13th of July, 1966 , throughout 2016. Experience from the Prabhupada Centennial celebration shows that such anniversaries increase the momentum of usual activities naturally and can be enhanced through planning. The Padayatra Worldwide Ministry started to work on its offering of 50 padayatras from Gaura Purnima 2014. To this day 18 padayatras have taken place, 10 are planned and 22 remain to be done by all of you.
Most of the following suggestions are based on the contents of the International briefing pack produced by the ISKCON50 international team. We invite all of you to carefully view the entire ISKCON50 International briefing pack (posted on the Padayatra website in 2 formats, Word and Adobe Reader). It will greatly inspire you to plan and organise your celebrations, not only those related to padayatra, but also those of your temple and yatra.
Padayatra, being always in contact with all sorts of publics, is a program that can easily fulfill all of the ISKCON50’s goals :
- To inspire a better and larger public appreciation for values and contributions of Krishna Consciousness
- To make Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON Founder-Acharya, more known and appreciated
- To unite and inspire devotees in celebration
- To get increased attention: media, government, interfaith communities, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders
- To enhance and improve ISKCON’s reputation
The chosen key public message – THE JOY OF DEVOTION – is already being spread and exemplified by padayatris chanting, dancing and serving togther in great bliss as they go from town to town and village to village. ‘Devotion to God, Compassion to All’ is ISKCON’s world contribution, it is the purpose, the solution; it is the lifeblood and mission of ISKCON.
Simple things to do to raise « padayatra consciousness »
- Post the annual Padayatra Newsletter (if you do not have a paper copy, download it from the Padayatra website) in a prominent place in your temple
- Read it yourself, and encourage others to do so
- Regularly visit the Padayatra website : padayatra.com
- Hold a Padayatra katha or a slide show session by using articles and photos of the website, stories from the newsletters, your personal experience of padayatra , and by inviting devotees who organised walks or participated in some.
Organise a padayatra, if you have not planned one already
– Padayatra is already included in the list of events proposed by the international ISKCON50 team : An international padayatra initiative exits through which your endeavours may be connected. For a modernised concept, centres may consider hosting ‘Fun Runs’, sponsored mountain treks or walks, or half-marathons as a form of non-competitive celebration.
- Encourage the organisers of World Holy Name Week to do it, partially or entirely, through a padayatra. In 2016, the World Holy Name Week will specially commemorate and bring attention to the first public harinam led by Srila Prabhupada 50 years ago in New York City.
- Choose the padayatra formula that will best fit your situation (time available, manpower, financial resources) : See file « Choose your padayatra)
- Talk to your local leaders (GBCs, temple presidents, festival organizers, etc), suggesting to include a padayatra in their 50th anniversary’s celebrations.
- Post an attractive poster advertising the goal of 50 padayatras.
- Keep the congregation informed through emails, articles in your local newsletter, and so on
50thize your padayatra
Include key ISKCON50 messages in speeches, display the World Exhibit and commemorative merchandise, screen the films, and position logos in artwork. Also consider special features focussed around 50th themes like plays about Srila Prabhupada or anniversary mementos.
- Use the materials that will be provided in coming months by the international team, including – logos, banners and posters ; exhibition material, theming, and media messages ; publication material – ISKCON50 magazine, films, and exhibit. Include the logo within all your invitations and posters, mention ISKCON50 in all interactions with stakeholders such as media, government, donors, and congregation
- Replace the showing of « Your ever well-wisher » with the Acharya Film being released in 2015. It will draw a lot of attention to Srila Prabhupada’s life and achievements. Another ISKCON movie is also planned and information will become available as it progresses
- Show the ‘Joy of Devotion’, a documentary project which is a visually compelling and educational film that conveys Srila Prabhupada’s key messages, the movement he built and how ISKCON continues to transform the lives of both its members and the people of the world. It will directly cover about 20 interviewees in 14 cities in 9 countries in 6 continents. This film will be perfect to showcase ISKCON throughout your 2016 initiatives.
- Display the exhibit encapsulating all the different aspects of our Krishna conscious culture. It will be made available to print out at your convenience.
- Make your own banners (Padayatra celebrates ISKCON 5Oth anniversary), fliers/brochures, with the help of the material provided by the ISKCON50 team.
- Get VIPs (local councillors, Indian business leaders, cultural ambassadors, favourable celebrities, and heads of relevant organisations) to come to your padayatra event.
- Disseminate educational materials that will enhance the understanding of ISKCON : fliers, brochures, and especially the ISKCON50 magazine. The ISKCON50 Magazine is a special commemorative magazine being produced especially for ISKCON50. It will highlight ISKCON’s major achievements over 50 years and also highlight stories and experiences from local centres around the world. Articles included in the magazine are – ‘The History of ISKCON’, ‘The Many Faces of ISKCON’, ‘Yoga and Kirtan’, ‘Science, Art and the Krishnas’, ‘A World of Festivals’. Make sure you order them timely.
- Increase your prasadam distribution on the road and during festivals
- Increase book distribution (with more Lilamritas on Srila Prabhupada) A target has been set to achieve 12 million books in 2016. Subscribe public libraries, interested community groups, and educational institutions.
- Distribute the special edition of Back To Godhead for the 50th anniversary.
- Launch or end your padayatra at one of these commemoration dates (or celebrate at any time of your walk):
- August 13, 2015 : the day that Srila Prabhupada left for America on the Jaladuta
- July 13, 2016 : incorporation of ISKCON
- Other dates connected to Srila Prabhupada : vyasa-puja day, day he visited your temple or yatra, etc
- Inform the media about the 50th anniversary theme of your padayatra and increase your media exposure : where possible appoint a padayatra media coordinator (could be your country’s communication coordinator). They will receive specific instructions in the form of media messages, statements, and press releases but also broader guidelines from the ISKCON Communications Ministry in order to effectively engage the media. The different media forms to consider are – television news channels, radio shows, newspapers, trends on social media, and other modes through the internet
- Hold Srila Prabhupada seminars, and sessions for sharing memories and realisations of Prabhupada.
- Hold various seminars for devotees during your walk :
Besides the outreach efforts, it is equally important to focus inward and cultivate our devotees’ sense of well-being and pride within their communities. During padayatra, you can enhance devotee care by replicating initiatives that are taking place within our international units focused on community, such as – Mayapur Congregational Development Ministry, Grihasta Vision Team, ISKCON Youth Ministry, Appreciation Event, etc
THE INTERNATIONAL TEAM
- The international team can provide advice on event checklists, budget templates, and organisational guidelines to assist local coordinators. Contact for more information.
- Composite advertising material for local customization, such as logos and posters.
- Standardised media releases, media messages, and engagement strategies.
- International website and social media exposure for local initiatives.
- Products are being developed to commemorate the anniversary and will be available for purchase. These items will be limited edition memorabilia and globally distributed.
International committe:
Anuttama dasa, Gauri dasa, Pancharatna dasa
Romapada dasa : info[AT]ISKCON50.org
www.ISKCON50.org | www.facebook.com/ISKCON50
Downloads : http://iskcon50.org/downloads/