Religious leaders gather at ISKCON Temple for monthly interfaith collaboration

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh and ISKCON Naperville hosted the monthly Naperville Interfaith Leaders’ Association meeting in March.

For the last few months, NILA meetings have been held in one of the members’ worship places. For March, HSS hosted the meeting in the ISKCON temple on March 24, 2026.

This meeting was attended by leaders from 11 different faith traditions in a spirit of dialogue, respect, and shared purpose. The meeting highlighted Naperville’s commitment to fostering interfaith understanding and strengthening community bonds through ongoing collaboration.

After the introductions, Dr. Shiddesh Shevde, a volunteer from HSS, presented a brief overview of the planned events.

While touring the temple, the ISKCON temple priest gave a brief introduction of the founder and the deities within the temple. Members gained insights into ISKCON’s foundational Scriptures, the Bhagavad-Gita and the Bhagavatam, and their teachings and relevance.

Dr. Shiddesh Shevde presented the principles of Hindu philosophy.

HSS also hosted a photo exhibition, “Darshana — A Glimpse into the Hindu Civilization.” All the members of NILA enthusiastically learned about Hindu culture and civilization. A delicious vegetarian meal was served during the presentation.

Participants described the event as both educational and deeply meaningful.

Lynn Pries, president of NILA, highlighted the broader mission: “Our interfaith group brings together leaders from many traditions who are deeply committed to unity and removing barriers between people. We are especially mindful of religious sensitivity and strive to build understanding through experiences like this.”

The event exemplifies the importance of partnerships between organizations like HSS and ISKCON Temple Naperville in creating meaningful spaces for dialogue and engagement.

As Naperville continues to grow as a diverse and vibrant community, gatherings like the NILA interfaith meeting demonstrate how dialogue, education, and shared experiences can bring people together in meaningful and lasting ways.

Special thanks were extended to ISKCON Temple Naperville and HSS for hosting the event and to A3N Media for covering and amplifying the program.