Thunder Bay

To all our dear readers who have undoubtedly been noticing the recent drought of updates on our blog, our sincerest apologies. We have been experiencing much trouble lately with maintaining the pace we had previously established, but fear not. We will now resume with our regular updates, right from where we left off, so please continue to follow us on our journey of devotional service. With no further delay, we return to the point of our departure from Toronto.

Toronto’s annual event is an easy contender for the title of the summer’s most grand festival. It is only fitting, then, that Festival of India’s most grand drive of the summer should come along with it. You see, after Toronto’s festival concludes on Sunday night, FoI makes its way across the greater portion of Canada for Calgary’s festival the following Saturday, but not before dashing to the midway point of Thunder Bay, Ontario for a festival a mere two days later.

The moment the last of our festival equipment found its spot soundly in our truck and the bay doors were closed, we immediately made to move our vehicles from Centre Island back to the mainland. Without another look back, we set out diligently on a formidable, 20 hour drive to Thunder Bay. The prospect was overwhelming, but spirits were high among the crew. We were freshly fueled by delectable pasta prasadam graciously provided by the Krishna Culture Festival Tour’s own Jaya Sri Radhe, along with discussion of plenty of fond memories of the past week’s proceedings, and of course, diesel fuel in our vehicles. We were ready to undertake this daunting task.

Despite having these elements in our favor, the drive proved nonetheless to be long, tedious, and tiring as we  traversed the country roads late into the night. We thankfully had the chance to recover the following morning during a brief stop at the beautiful Serpent River, where we once again encountered the Krishna Culture Festival Tour who, as per usual, were delighted to feed our crew after we refreshed ourselves with a swim in the clear waters. The majority of the drive still loomed ahead of us, so we quickly departed to proceed on our mission.

Holding on to our last threads of wakefulness, we arrived at our destination coming on 3:00 am, eager to finally shut our eyes. We reopened them only a few hours later, as our equipment had to be set up in time for a festival that very evening. We were very thankful to watch the Krishna Culture Festival Tour bus arrive promptly after setup had begun, as their numbers were eager to offer their assistance. This accounted for a very quick setup, leaving plenty of time for recuperation and recreation before the festival was to commence.

The festival was a resounding success. Waves of people flooded the festival site (which, of course, was greatly preferential to rain flooding the site, a possibility some were concerned about when observing the grey skies; the weather was thankfully clear and cool). Wherever one looks, one can see crowds surrounding our informational exhibit panels, lining up for plates of prasadam, or enjoying cultural performances by varieties of talented artists. Festival of India only began facilitating this Thunder Bay event in 2010. Each year had seen great success, but 2012 had the largest turn out by far. Not bad for a Tuesday, right?

The day concluded with an efficient takedown by the combined forces of FoI and the Krishna Culture Festival Tour. The groups again parted ways. We then made preparations for our next drive – the one from Toronto to Thunder Bay was just a preview of what was to come! Check in soon for details of festival of India’s experience out west in Calgary!

(blog post credit – Devananda Das)

A slow, yet steady pace

Many of those who have been keeping up with our blog are, without doubt, disappointed lately. What was once a rapid progression of creative writing, never ceasing with it’s charm, has seemingly dwindled in the past two weeks. For the masses I will clarify; we are not dead!

The past two weeks have brought the Festival of India crew (writer(s) included) a massive ordeal of travel and labor. So much, in fact, that the luxury of calmly settling one’s self in a comfortable nook to scribe tales about our spoils of war, has been close to inconceivable. Many may take this as an excuse to the obvious slack on the part of the writing staff. However you take it, we sincerely apologize at our lack of passion to keep this blog afloat.

Fear not though, beloved followers! Soon the updates will flow like the divine waters of Mother Ganga. Prepare yourselves for the story updates you have all been eagerly waiting for. Send your good vibes, and motivate us to keep giving our narratives by subscribing to this blog, liking our facebook page, and signing up on http://www.festivalofindia.org for a tour DVD. Hare Krsna!

 

Toronto Rathayatra

Today’s update brings coverage of the highly anticipated Toronto Festival of India. Arguably the biggest Rathayatra of the summer left all who participated with bright smiles and spiritual vitality. It’s easy to say this festival was nothing short of a breathtaking success.

Our story starts at a local harbor overlooking an expansive lake. Fog horns could be heard in the distance as nearby sailors tied thick ropes to anchor their ships. There was a caw from an airborne pack of seagulls as we dismounted our vehicles to wait for the next cargo ship to arrive. Across the lake was the renowned “Centre Island” where the long awaited Festival of India would take place. When our transportation arrived we remounted and pulled the semi truck onto the vessel.  Before we knew it, we were making way gently towards our destination.

After disembarking the boat, we were greeted with a visual magnificence.  Massive fields with tastefully scattered trees took up the majority of the inner island, while the perimeter softened itself into a sandy beach with stone boulders littered like polka-dots. We drove ourselves to our setup zone and camped out for the night.

The morning welcomed us with a breakfast for champions. Madhuha Prabhu supplied us heartily with as much yogurt and granola as we could possibly manage. Perhaps several readers are not aware of the gravity that is suggested in regard to our mighty meal, so allow me to elaborate. Liberté Yogurt has been an FOI tradition since time immemorial. Only in the great land of Canada does this dynamic dairy treat reside. Quickly imagine the most excellent sweet you’ve ever consumed. Now imagine yourself throwing that sweet into the garbage and drowning yourself in the glory that is Liberté. This is how the Festival of India feels about Canadian yogurt, and no one can tell us otherwise.

Setup at the island was no joke. Everything we possessed would be constructed for the grand event. Not a single tent was left on our truck. Two days of hard labor and 20 containers of Liberté yogurt later, Centre Island was fully prepared for Lord Jagannatha’s arrival.

The following day Toronto’s annual 12 Hour Kirtan began. Every year this special event is held the day before the Yonge Street Rathayatra. Thunder claps of music could be heard blocks away from the kirtan that ensued within the temple room. Our own Kana Das and Narayana Das led powerful kirtans which resulted in various devotees rolling on the floor in ecstasy… Literally.

The next morning their lordships Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra were mounted onto their royal crafts. Hundreds upon hundreds of devotees from around the world showed up to pull these three massive carts down Yonge Street, the backbone of Toronto. Kirtans roared as local inhabitants watched the Rathayatra in complete marvel. The parade ended at that familiar dock where we had crossed three days earlier. Moments later a sea of vaisnavas filed onto passenger ships to make way to Centre Island.

When everyone departed from the ferry and onto the island they were greeted by dozens of rainbow colored tents sheltering a plethora of activities and entertainment. The first attraction was a stage dedicated to non-stop, live, Hare Krishna kirtan which lasted the duration of the festivities. Festival of India’s Devananda Das, like a one man army, controlled the sound for the kirtan stage the entirety of the event. His hands moved around the mixing board as if he had an extra set of limbs. Many came to watch the kirtan, while masses came to watch Devananda Das’s eight armed form execute sound production miracles.

Photo booth, cotton candy, apparel, free feast, and yoga classes were just the tip of the iceberg in this multilayered celebration. The center of the site was the main attraction. A massive tent with a second stage held the main performances. Manorama Prabhu’s Krishna Culture Youth Tour was present; they performed the majority of the entertainment.  Anapayani Dasi and her Bhaktikalalayam Dance Academy wowed audiences with their expertise in Bharatanatyam and Fusion dance styles. Other Bus Tour youth acted in a drama directed by Bhakti Marga Swami. At one point the entire KC Youth Tour, accompanied by FOI’s Nakula Das on mridanga, gathered on stage for a pulse pounding kirtan.

The event ended that evening. The Festival of India crew, along with major aid from the Krishna Culture Youth Tour, broke down the festival in record time. After only a few hours we were on the road and heading towards our next destination, Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Toronto has so far been our biggest festival this summer. It was a huge inspiration for the Festival of India crew. Thank you again for everything ISKCON Toronto!

My apologies go out to readers for this late update. Since the setup of Toronto it has been a marathon for the members of FOI. But fear not, this blog will continue to push forward through the clutches of Kaliyuga. Don’t forget to subscribe and spread the word of our blog. And remember, we love you all.

With Special Thanks To…

Along our journey there are times we struggle. Countless hours of travel along monotonous roads leave one exhausted and hungry. Upon arrival at a given destination, there is one thing the Festival of India team appreciates above all else: good old-fashioned hospitality. There’s nothing more rewarding than open arms waiting to hold us after days of travel.

One such embrace comes from Montreal’s own Magun Prabhu. Magun Prabhu has been taking care of our crew for countless years now. His gracious services have been, and always will be, greatly appreciated. As we left Montreal, Prabhu even stepped out of his way to make sure we had prasadam for the road. If Festival of India had an award ceremony dedicated to the most hospitable, Magun Prabhu would take the cake… and the trophy, obviously. Regrettably we can only afford the cake portion of the prize, but that’s okay. On Festival of India, we believe an edible award is an eligible reward.

A special mention goes out to Magun’s guns. Does someone have a band-aid? ‘Cause I believe someone is ripped.

Magun Prabhu and his wife donating prasadam for the road

Next amongst our highly recommended comes Japa Mala Devi Dasi. Scriptures describe how we have seven mothers in this form of life. Clearly the scriptures were mistaken.

After meeting Mataji it has become evident that there are not seven, but eight female guardians to which we (the humans of planet earth) possess. Though research has only recently discovered Japa Mala Devi Dasi, aka The 8^th Mother, we can safely say, “Well Scriptures, you tried. For that I give you a rap on the shoulder. Keep your chin up high and try harder next time”.

But in all seriousness… Mother Japa Mala has been yet another invaluable variable in our equation for hygienic and provisionary joy. Her unprecedented enthusiasm for serving the Festival of India volunteers knows no limits. Thank you again, Mother!

Mother Japa Mala serving prasadam to Tilak, Kana, and Devananda

What would a thank you letter be without appreciating the company behind our most beloved vehicles? Ford has been a key component in Festivals of India’s dress for success since its founding over 500 years ago. Okay, maybe that’s a stretch, but nonetheless, we’d be nothing without you, O Ford.

Staying on topic, recently one of our vehicles took quite a tumble. Driving down a Montreal speedway, a pothole caught one of our drivers by surprise. Barreling through this highway fissure had left several damages to our van, namely within its suspension. After wiping our tears, we brought the battered soldier to a most esteemed mechanic. Fortunately she made a full recovery. Unfortunately, though, Festival of India’s wallet did not. $1058 was spent to restore one of our favorite Fordcrafts.

Mechanics fixing our van

The Toronto Festival of India is right around the corner. Setup has already begun, details of which will be covered very, very soon. My suggestion to you in the meantime is to find your refresh button located near the top of your favorite browser and furiously attack your mouse until our next update comes out.

Jagannath Enters Montreal

Today Montreal welcomes the lord of the universe, Jagannatha Swami. At high noon His grand chariot, being pulled by loyal devotees, crawled down St. Laurant Street showering his mercy to all who witnessed his potent form. Kirtan led by various devotees spun surrounding onlookers into a jive they could not resist. Meanwhile expert book distributors and preachers infused the especially curious spectators with deeper knowledge of Krsna Consciousness.

The parade ended at the Festival of India site located in Jeanne-Mance Park. Once arrived, all wandering street participants who had been snatched by Lord Jagannatha’s awe were greeted with free prasadam, theatrical entertainment, and a wealth of knowledge to explore. Nearly 4000 locals from the area partook in Montreal’s 2 day Festival of the Chariots.

The FOI crew is very excited about the results of this event. So excited, in fact, we’re doing it. WE’RE HITTING THE ALL-CAPS KEY. ISN’T THIS EXCITING? IT LOOKS LIKE WE’RE SCREAMING WITH ENTHUSIASM AS OUR HEARTS RACE TO THE BEAT OF NEARBY MRIDANGA PLAYERS. Unfortunately my authorities have just have just taken away my all-caps privileges. But they didn’t say anything about exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say, Madhuha Prabhu along with all of his assistants had a great time chanting and participating within the festival. Jagannatha Swami Ki Jai (exclamation point)

When the sun set on day 1 of the celebrations a complication arose. What would happen to all of the site’s equipment overnight? To compensate for the obvious issue at hand, our youthful tent constructing protagonists took watch for the night.

A brisk wind rustled crew member Tilak Logan’s sikha as he patiently perched within the shadow of a rainbow colored tent. The clock had just struck 2:30am when he heard commotion coming from the prasadam booth. He held his hands up like binoculars and scanned the area. A crash followed by a faint blur startled Tilak as he cautiously paced towards the raucous. “Hey! What are you doing?!” Tilak yelled. The plunderer, without saying a word, broke into a sprint towards the stage area. Logan kept up close behind. Seeing his inevitable fate, the mysterious man changed his direction. He was now heading away from the site. Tilak shook his fist into the air as the would-be-thief cowered off into the distance. The Festival had been saved.

Next week we’ll be in Toronto, Ontario. Keep checking in for updates, and please let your friends and family know about our blog. Also, be sure to go to http://www.festivalofindia.org and look for our documentary DVD. You won’t regret it, I promise.

The Gallery section has been updated with some new photos of the festival. Your welcome.

Setup in Montreal

Today Festival of India (FOI) has successfully finished the festival setup for Montreal, Quebec! The task, though daunting at first, was seamlessly executed by the FOI crew members with accompaniment from the raw power of Ford. May the Ford be with you.

For those unaware, Festival of India leader, Madhuha Prabhu, has ingeniously designed the front most area of his tent bearing semi trailer into a small apartment to house his beloved volunteers. With the incorporation of custom designed bunk beds to save space, this studio has been accurately dubbed “The Bunk-House”.

It was 5:00am as the denizens of the bunk house slept. A loud boom followed by a steady rumble stirred their comfort. Madhuha Prabhu had fired up the beast and was making way to the Montreal festival site.

After the initial grumbles and mumbles from the groggy eyed boys, they were hard at work to knock out the service at hand. Teams of 2, each with specific tasks, made the entire process run like clockwork. Some wonderful contribution from the Montreal chefs kept them fueled, and before 6 hours passed the tents had all been raised.

The festivities will take place over the weekend. Stay tuned for more updates. Please remember to like our facebook page and subscribe via email, and it wouldn’t hurt to just go ahead and TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND HAVE EVER MET about this blog as well. No pressure.

Here are some shots of the setup

Blog!

Mark your calendars, because years from now today will be known as launch day for the official Festival of India blog! Endless information pertaining to everyone’s favorite traveling seva juggernaut awaits. Frequent stories, picture updates, personal quotes from touring members, and much much MUCH more await by simply following us via email and liking our facebook page. Thanks for checking us out and remember, Please chant Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!