Friday, July 4, 2008: Washington, DC, USA
Today's walk was partially a march. The fourth of July parade is an annual event all over America and by some great fortune, a Hare Krishna float, a mobile chariot resembling a temple, is hand pulled by enthusiastic members down Constitution Street. It is observed by millions of people, by personal presence or on television. For the last decade and a half, the Krishna Chariot is at the tail end of the parade, which is possibly the best spot in the march, as it leaves a lasting impression. Anuttama, the co-ordinator for our float, had me positioned in the middle and near the front of our procession group, where I flung two banners in the air while marching.
Since our float had such a unique spirit about it, as well as look, I could see that the chariot was a real crowd pleaser. I was quite amazed by the attendance, of the public, of ISKCON's stationary exhibits under the auspices of the Festival of India. People were particularly interested in kirtan (chanting) and the Bharat Natyam dance presentations.
It was also my good fortune to walk some distance to our site, very near to the Washington Capital building, with Hari Sauri, author of A Transcendental Diary . He told me of how in '76, the year of America's 200th anniversary, our Guru, who was accompanied by many devotees, looked admiringly at the Capital building's dome. At that time, he was considering that a similar structure could become a future temple in his choice location, Mayapur, India, the headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
14km
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