Sat. Nov. 22nd – Buenos Aires, Argentina
If I am not mistaken, today is the day of the anniversary where JF Kennedy was assassinated. I remember it well sitting in grade school when my teacher had excused himself from being called from the classroom, a very irregular thing. He came back to us five minutes later to announce, “President Kennedy has been shot!” Even though he was not our Prime Minister for Canada, Kennedy was a popular world leader. At receiving this news we were held in shock. Minutes later the teacher announced his death. It was the baby boomers 911 and our little cushiony world had been shaken.
Here in Buenos Aires more happily, the Chariot Festival rocked the city. A very bright-eyed and enthusiastic group of Jagannatha admirers turned up with drums, colorful attire, and baby strollers to soak in sun and fun. I was personally surprised over the three hours session leading the chant and not having lost my voice in the end.
Festival goers enjoyed the free vegetarian feast prepared by organizers at the Plaza Francia. Our hard-worked-at drama “The Jagannatha Story” seemed to draw in the crowd and hit some sentiments. One woman removed her sunglasses at the play’s climax revealing her smeared and dripping make-up mixed with tears. For the credits we brought onto the stage actors and back-up crew who danced to the sound of George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord.” Mahahari , the main co-coordinator tiredly popped into the temple late in the night when all was over regretting that people were asking for George’s music and books on his connection to the chanting, and more of that material had been made available on site. Otherwise, well done Mahahari.
10 Km
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