Surrey, British Columbia
Walk, Drive, Dance
Karuna and I started from Pitt Meadows. Led in his hand with a Rogers Samsung phone, Karuna had navigated us through pedestrian-friendly streets. The day began with drizzle from the sky as our walk included a long trek over the Golden Ears Bridge which arches over the Fraser River. Overcast it has been for one more morning. The both of us see this as mercy from Krishna. It's so much easier to trek in conditions that are moderate as we made our way to the home of Akrura in Surrey.
Kindness is what spurs you on and Akrura, a world traveller and bhakti-yoga teacher, is always good to me. For accommodation and now giving our CanWalk team a ride to Ashcroft, he demonstrates his good-heartedness. The event of the day is the Chariot Festival, a re-enactment of the big-draw celebrations held in Puri, India for centuries. In fact today, by lunar calendar, the anniversary of this colourful event falls on this very day.
Members of the Govardhana School Academy presented this great drama. And a special highlight for me was the garden-fresh food, prasadam. It's blessed. The program also involves a procession, so guess who had the opportunity to put on an extra two kilometres of walking?
Anyways, no problem! These legs are on a roll. I did have the good fortune to use different leg muscles when it came time to leading the kirtan chant and dance. It was obvious that some participants were not used to moving (in dance). Stiffness is a predominant feature of today, but for all those who attempted to thaw and loosen up for dancing, I honour them and respect the great effort. Effort is always devotional, especially when done for the Absolute, for Jagannath, the Incredible Force.
I want to thank Manu for his classical dance piece executed on the rustic stage by the side of a mountain slope overlooking a tranquil lake at Saranagati village.
May the Source be with you!
16 KM
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