Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to your Divine Grace.
With respect and gratitude, we are sending this offering on behalf of the devotees and congregation of ISKCON Türkiye. We do not present this as a record of accomplishment but as a small reflection of service that has been possible only by your mercy during 2025.
In this country, where the cultural and religious background is quite different from the tradition of bhakti, your teachings have nonetheless begun to take root – not through external force but through gradual contact through your books, through kirtan, and through personal association. In this way, your presence is being felt in a steady and meaningful manner.
At present, the yātrā consists of approximately 150 congregational devotees, with eight new devotees joining. Six devotees have successfully completed the ISKCON Disciples Course, and three devotees have taken initiation – two receiving first initiation, and one second initiation. These steps represent a growing commitment to the process you gave.
Regular programs continue to form the foundation of devotional life. During the year, hundreds of online morning programs were held, maintaining consistent participation. Onsite gatherings, though fewer, continue to support personal connection. Weekly Sunday programs were held in three cities: Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya, with steady attendance and ongoing engagement.
In addition, weekly kirtan programs in Istanbul, often organized at yoga studios have opened a natural connection with the broader spiritual community. These kirtans are received with appreciation and have become an accessible entry point for many individuals who are already seeking deeper meaning through yoga and meditation.
A significant development has been the launch of the Bhakta Program, which attracted approximately 100 participants, primarily from the yoga community. With little or no prior connection to ISKCON, these participants have begun a systematic study, completing the first module and progressing into the second. This has created a structured pathway for deeper engagement with devotional service and Vaiṣṇava philosophy.
Alongside this, weekly online satsaṅgas on the Bhagavad-gītā, reading groups focused on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Kṛṣṇa book, japa meditation gatherings, sattvic cooking classes, and seasonal retreat-style programs have all contributed to a steady cultivation of people interested in spiritual life. Educational content shared through digital platforms has also extended the reach of your teachings to a wider audience.
We observed all major Vaiṣṇava festivals here in our country, providing opportunities for devotees and guests to gather for kirtan, hearing, and prasādam in major cities.
Your books remain at the core of our efforts. Last year, 2,000 copies of the Kṛṣṇa book in Turkish, and 5,000 copies of a retranslated Bhagavad-gītā were printed and distributed. Through various programs, festivals, book fairs, and personal outreach, approximately 5,000 of your books were distributed throughout the year, each one carrying your message to a new life. Translation work continues, with plans to publish additional titles so that more people may come in contact with your teachings in their own language.
Prasādam distribution has also been an ongoing service. Through Food for Life Türkiye, regular programs were carried out in the country, serving both homeless individuals and low-income families. In addition, Govinda restaurant in Istanbul continues to distribute approximately fifty plates of prasādam daily, functioning as a sustainable and continuous outreach effort.
Another meaningful development has been the growing connection with the yoga and wellness community. Through kirtan, festivals, and lifestyle-based outreach, bhakti practices are increasingly recognized as an authentic dimension of spiritual life. This has brought many sincere individuals into closer contact with your teachings.
At the same time, growth takes place within certain limitations. Public outreach is naturally restricted, and expansion is gradual. Progress often depends on personal relationships, steady practice, and long-term engagement rather than large-scale visibility. Yet even within these conditions, a consistent and sincere development can be observed.
Śrīla Prabhupāda, whatever is taking place here is only possible because of your mercy. In this land, your presence is not loud, but it is steady. It grows quietly through books, through kirtan, through simple association. We do not see rapid expansion, but we see sincere transformation. We do not see large numbers, but we see hearts gradually opening. Whatever is taking place here is fragile but real, and for that we feel deeply indebted. We offer this small yātrā at your lotus feet not as something complete, but as something that is still becoming. If you so desire, let this effort continue. If you so desire, let it deepen. And if you so desire, may this land one day become a place where your teachings are naturally heard, understood, and lived. This is our offering to your lotus feet.
Your servants,
The devotees of ISKCON Türkiye