Cultural conventions with thousands of participants are held in North America, Europe, India, Africa, and the Far East. These conventions are organized by sadhus and volunteers to provide a deeper understanding of the lessons of Bharatiya Sanskruti, or Indian culture. They involve lectures, interactive workshops, and recreational activities. To provide an authentic sense of Indian culture, the participants are encouraged to eat, dress, and speak traditionally. Many of these conventions are held at cultural complexes and mandirs to maximize the traditional effect of the environment. Participants leave these conventions with a better understanding of their own identity.
One such Cultural Convention was held in Jacksonville, Florida in 2007. The convention was attended by over 8,000 participants from North America, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The convention presented India’s cultural heritage in creative workshops utilizing advanced audio-visual methods. Pramukh Swami Maharaj attended the entire 10-day convention. His presence and message was clearly the prime attraction for the participants.