Hare Krishna Movement’s Heritage Fest Celebrates Culture, Values, and Young Talent
The festival was organized by SUMEDHASA, the cultural wing of the Hare Krishna Movement, with the objective of nurturing intelligence through culture and fostering ethical values through India’s timeless heritage
Hyderabad: Hare Krishna Movement, Hyderabad(HKM), successfully organized its Annual Heritage & Cultural Celebrations titled “Heritage Fest” at the Hare Krishna Golden Temple, Banjara Hills, witnessing enthusiastic participation from students, parents, and educators. The festival was organized by SUMEDHASA, the cultural wing of the Hare Krishna Movement, with the objective of nurturing intelligence through culture and fostering ethical values through India’s timeless heritage.
Heritage Fest is a flagship initiative of HKM that celebrates India’s timeless cultural, ethical, and spiritual traditions while providing a creative platform for young minds. Recognized as one of the largest cultural initiatives of its kind, the festival witnessed the enthusiastic participation of nearly 12,000 students from over 60 schools across Hyderabad, competing in multiple cultural and knowledge-based contests conducted over several months through qualifying, quarterfinal, semifinal, and final rounds.
A grand Prize Distribution Ceremony was held at the Hare Krishna Golden Temple and was graced by Chief Guest Harichandana Dasari, IAS, Collector & District Magistrate, Hyderabad District, and presided by His Grace Sri Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa Prabhuji , , (M.Tech IIT Madras) President, Hare Krishna Movement, Hyderabad and Regional President, Akshaya Patra Foundation (Telangana & AP).
The program commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp, followed by auspicious Vedic chants rendered by children, setting a spiritually uplifting tone for the event. Prize-winning students then enthralled the audience with a series of vibrant cultural performances, including classical and folk dances, vocal music, Gita shloka chanting, Vedic quiz presentations, painting, storytelling, rangoli, and colorful Puranic costume displays.
A special highlight of the evening was the folk dance performance by students of a Government School, which captivated the minds and hearts of everyone present and drew warm appreciation from the audience. Winners were felicitated with prizes, trophies, and certificates, with over 170 students being honored for their outstanding performances. Rolling Champions trophy were awarded to schools with the highest participation. The event witnessed the enthusiastic presence of school managements, parents, dignitaries, judges, and venue partners, all of whom were also duly honored for their valuable support in making the Heritage Fest a grand success.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Smt. Harichandana Dasari, IAS, appreciated the prize winners for exhibiting exceptional talent across a wide range of competitions. She encouraged teachers and school managements to actively support and promote such cultural initiatives, noting that they play a crucial role in the holistic development of students while nurturing leadership qualities and teamwork. The Collector also lauded the efforts of the Hare Krishna Movement in preserving and promoting the timeless heritage, culture, and values of India, especially among the younger generation.
Speaking on the occasion, Sri Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa Prabhuji (Mtech IIT Madras) stated that nearly 12,000 students from over 60 schools across Telangana participated in the Heritage Fest, which was conducted at seven venues across Hyderabad. He noted that the festival provided children an opportunity to build self-confidence, develop leadership qualities, and learn the value of teamwork. Alongside these life skills, students were also imparted with strong moral and cultural values rooted in India’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage. He emphasized that Heritage Fest is not merely a series of competitions but a meaningful initiative aimed at fostering holistic development in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world.
With overwhelming participation and positive feedback from parents and educators, HKM announced plans to expand Heritage Fest across Telangana in the coming year, reaffirming its commitment to cultural education and youth development.