Thursday 20 February 2020

Saturday, February 15th, 2020


Mayapura, India

Elephant On the Loose

Every Saturday night in Mayapura, there is what's called the Hati Fest which is when the two elephants, Vishnupriya and Laksmipriya, have their procession through the crowds.  Saturday night is a busy night, drawing pilgrims from all over Bengal and the world.  https://www.instagram.com/p/B8lWnTSgelX/?igshid=x1fj5vz3w6pk

It was during these last two days, at the ILS event, when I felt like an elephant in a crowd of multitudes.  There is this massive banquet hall, constructed like they do for all Indian weddings, done-up quite magnificently, with walls and ceilings of bamboo and cloth, and chandeliers to give it that elegant touch.
 
This banquet hall fills up with perhaps one of the largest group of vegetarian/vegan/prasadam-arians. There is one mandate that we sannyasis are required to execute, and that is to walk through the line-up of tables and just greet everyone.  So that's what I've been doing at meal-time.  Seeing representatives from the U.S., Europe, Russia, South America, Australia etc. and even China, is quite a thrill.  It is an honour and a pleasure.  And, of course, all those enjoying the food are reciprocating with the brief visit that both Gopal Bhatta, the organizer, and I are making. 

However, there was one person from Hyderabad who is very active in the ISKCON mission, and he asked me to stop walking and visiting.  He sat me down and asked me to talk about how I went about doing my marathon walks.  The reason?  He wants to do something like that in India.  A friend of his joined us, a support-type, and they were intrigued, dreaming, and pensive of mind, as I spoke about methodology, adventure and enlightenment.

May the Source be with you!
5 km

No comments: