Monday 3 July 2017

Saturday, July 1st, 2017

Ottawa, Ontario

Chanting, Walking at Canada Day

Fireworks exploded in the air to celebrate 150 years since the birth of Canada, as we know it, under that name.  The fireworks display and pyrotechnics show in the nation’s capital didn’t faze or excite me as much as the footwork and chanting did.  I was very much a part of that.

We calculated our party of chanters moved, in more or less a procession style, for nine kilometres. It sounded not too bad for the distance to and from the ISKCON Centre on Somerset Street. https://instagram.com/p/BWCOfo6FMRV/

Usually our group of bhakti-yogis have a station with a stage to operate from.  This year, however, we were discouraged from setting up near the war memorial due to the extra-dense crowds, as well as terrorist threats.  Security was very much stepped up this year.

What I saw, though, were happy crowds.  People especially lit-up upon seeing and hearing the chanting party, at least those whom we accessed.  The demographic make-up of Ottawa is very diverse, like many larger Canadian cities.

Our Indigenous People had a chat with the Prime Minister about the past–what is referred to as a genocide history.  Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, were out there meeting the public.  I would have loved it if the couple could have danced and sung with us.

In one way, Prince Charles is a champion by speaking out against food production techniques of today.  He is known to say, “For every pound of beef produced in the industrial system, it takes two thousand gallons of water.”  He has also called for people to lower their beef and meat intake.  Pretty progressive for a member of the royal family.

May the Source be with you!


9 km


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