Hakhel (Assemble!), October 2008

At the end of every seven years, at an appointed time, in the Festival of Sukkot [following] the year of Shemitah. When all Israel comes to appear before the Lord, your G-d, in the place He will choose, you shall read this Torah before all Israel, in their ears. Assemble the people: the men, the women, the children...—Deuteronomy 31:10-12.

In ancient Israel, every seventh year was a Shemitah ("sabbatical") year. For an entire year, the nation's economy came to a standstill as all farmers and agrarian workers abandoned their fields and flocked en masse to the study houses where for a full year they focused on their spiritual, rather than physical needs.

Now, at the onset of the eighth year (the first in the new seven-year cycle), the nation is ready to head back to the fields and orchards. But first, on the second day of the holiday of Sukkot, sixteen days into the new year, all gather in the Holy Temple for a dose of inspiration. Inspiration to tide them over for the next six years, most of whose time would be spent in business endeavors.

This event was known as Hakhel, "assemble!" It was the only event that required the attendance of every Jew, reminiscent of the historic moment when our nation stood at Mount Sinai, when every member of our nation was present when G-d lovingly gave us the Torah.

Once the entire nation had gathered, the king, situated on a specially constructed platform in the Temple's courtyard, was handed the Torah scroll that Moses himself had written. The king recited a blessing and then read aloud several portions from the Book of Deuteronomy, and then concluded with several more blessings.

http://shiratdevorah.blogspot.com/2008/09/hakhel-5769-year-of-unity.html

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Rambam further explains the details:

When did they read? At the close of the first festive day of the Festival of Sukkos, which is the beginning of the intermediate, semi-festive days of the festival, in the eighth year.

It is the king who reads in their hearing; and the reading took place in the Court of the Women....

How does he read? Trumpets are sounded throughout Yerushalayim to assemble the people and a large dais of wood is brought and set up in the middle of the Court of the Women. The king ascends and sits there so that they may hear his reading...

http://www.sichosinenglish.org/essays/36.htm

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The reading consisted of the following sections from the Book of Deuteronomy:

From the beginning of the book through Shema Yisrael (6:4);

The second paragraph of the Shema (11:13-21);

"You shall surely tithe" (14:22-27);

"When you have finish tithing" (26:12-15);

The section about appointing a king (17:14-20);

The blessings and curses (28:1-69).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakhel