Our significant initiatives
The ISKCON Mega Kitchen drive began in the year 2008, though its roots can be traced back to
2002. The need for a mega kitchen arose due to the growing scale of ISKCON's global
community and the yatras (pilgrimages) organized for devotees. ISKCON operates more than
1,100 temple centers worldwide, facilitating gatherings and yatras for devotees and
congregations traveling to various holy dhams.
Initially, the yatras began with small groups, starting with 100 to 200 devotees or fewer than
1,000 devotees. However, as the ISKCON community grew, so did the requirements for
prasadam (sanctified food), particularly focusing on its nutritional value. The number of
devotees traveling for yatras increased over time:
● By 2017–2018, the count reached 6,000 devotees.
● By 2023, ISKCON organized one of the largest gatherings, serving more than 10,000
devotees at Jagannath Puri Dham.
With this growing scale, the need for a mega kitchen equipped with advanced technology
became apparent. Modern systems, including cranes and large vessels, were introduced to
serve the community efficiently while maintaining high-quality standards.
January 2024 – Participated in the historic Shri Ram Mandir Inauguration at Ayodhya Dham, serving 10,000 devotees daily for over 1.5 months, with some days exceeding 20,000 meals served.
During the 9-day festival, the Mega Kitchen catered to 10,000 meals daily, accommodating a crowd of 15 to 20 lakh participants from around the globe.
At Shri Mayapur Dham, during the construction of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium, ISKCON Mega Kitchen served meals to over 12,000 devotees, including breakfast and lunch.
At Shri Prayagraj Dham, the Mega Kitchen will participate in this once-in-12-years event, which expects 6 to 10 crore devotees over a month-long festival. Starting from January 10, 2025, to February 10, 2025, the Mega Kitchen plans to serve over 20,000 meals daily.
These accomplishments showcase the unwavering dedication of ISKCON Mega Kitchen to serving the community with love and devotion. With the support of ISKCON temples and communities worldwide, the kitchen continues to expand its reach, ensuring every devotee is nourished with sanctified prasadam.
