From Darkness to Light

[Guest guest]

From Darkness to Light

 

For two days prior to the Festival of India weather was angry and

inhospitable. Temperatures were 15 degrees below normal (50’s), rain

was intermittent, dark clouds hung overhead. The night of the 15th

there was continuous rain through the night.

 

Fortunately for the dress rehearsal of the Ramayana that evening we

had the pavilion roof over the stage to protect the actors from

getting soaking wet. They bulwarked some of their more flimsy

costumes with turtle necks, tights, and warm footwear. All around the

stage pavilion, rain was coming down in buckets, pummeling the metal

roof like machine gun bullets. I, the director, had sandals and no

socks. My feet were numb from the cold. Being surrounded by rain and

cold on all sides reminded of Govardhan Lila.

 

 

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The festival morning brought storm clouds, temperatures in the low

40’s and freezing 10-20 mph winds. In the final stages of setting up

the festival site, we hedged on a number of things which could be

damaged by the rain: speakers, microphones, rear projection screen.

We dared not uncover the 20 ft effigy of Ravana, much less erect him

for buffeting by winds and rain.

 

It did seem many people were determined to come to the event, rain or

shine, because throughout the week, the phone was ringing constantly

with inquiries, very few of which questioned the weather.

 

We have done the festival for so many years, we also gave little

thought to the weather, but just ran on automatic pilot, leaving the

results up to Krishna.

 

My orders are to fight:

then if I bleed, or fail,

or strongly win, what matters it?

God only doth prevail.

 

The servant craveth naught,

except to serve with might.

I was not told to win or lose,--

My orders are to fight.

 

Ethelwyn Wetherald 1857-1940

 

 

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Krishna had an ecstatic plan for the delight of the devotees. By four

pm festival start the sun burst through the clouds, winds died

completely, temperatures rose by a good 10 degrees, and hundreds of

determined festival goers began pouring through the main gate.

Everything returned to total normality just as after seven days

Krishna replaced the Govardhan Hill on the ground.

 

 

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The entertainment, provided by Vatsala, Shreyas, Swaminathan,

Desibels, Radhika, Sandhya, Nadam, and Shatakshi, was sublime. Every

event moved forward seamlessly through the evening, toward the main

event, Pageant of the Ramayana. People were coming, coming, coming,

no one was leaving. This year the parking was so well managed by

Chelsea and Journey that 250 cars parked on our property, very few

out on the street. When the Ramayan commenced at 7:45 pm there was

a huge crowd, taking up all of the space on the hillside amphitheater.

 

 

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Ramayan went better than ever before. Our experienced crew (Rajiv,

Gita, Vishnu Priya, Ganga, Jai Krishna, Prajapati, Divya, Staci)

outdid themselves. The newcomers, Jeremiah Cox, did the best ever

rendition of Lakshmana, and Zach Perry nailed the roles of Maricha

and Jatayau.

 

 

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Thanks to the fireworks technicians for the pyrotechnics to destroy

Ravana. There was a glitch when Rama shot the first tube of roman

candles. The flares had been mounted backwards and started coming

back at Rama and Lakshman, instead of out across the pond to the huge

effigy of Ravana. There were a few moments when Laksmana was hopping

around the dais swatting a little flame on the shoulder of his

costume. Soon, Rama got the firing turned 180 degrees. Within short

order he found the range for Ravana and ignited the fiery pin wheel

at Ravana’s belly button, thus sparking a huge conflagration of

flames, firecrackers, fireworks and bombs bursting in air. Never have

I seen the effigy of Ravana go up in flames so spectacularly!

 

 

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During the ensuing kirtan there was a great band assembled by Joel

Bradford. Jai Krishna led hundreds of young people in chanting,

backed up by a couple of guitars, keyboards, full drum set,

harmonica., etc. It was great. The dancers of Nadam - Tushar,

Nandini, Nivedita, and Smrta, for about an hour and a half led the

crowd in some of the most artful dancing I have ever seen. The grace,

the beauty, the crowd of young people and dancers, all being driven

by the pulse of the maha manntra-had to be seen to be believed.

Everyone was in heaven.

 

 

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One spectator said, “I have never been anywhere that I have seen so

many people beaming with joy”.

 

There was no early departure of festival goers prior to the end. In

spite of the chilly post sunset, everyone stayed for the whole

Ramayana and kirtan. Then, like after the end of a football game or

the letting out of the cinemas on a Saturday night, there was a mass

exodus which didn’t fully void the temple building until about 11 pm.

 

I added a few quotes, the first from Rajiv, who has so wonderfully

played the role of Ram, opposite his wife, Gitanjali’s, Sita, the

last three years. So many of the young college students wanted their

pictures taken with Sita and Rama!

 

“Gitanjali and I had a wonderful time at the temple this evening.

Everything turned out so well. The crowds were so adoring and we felt

so much love from everyone there. The evening was truly magical.

 

Again, thank you for this wonderful opportunity to play Ram and Sita.”

 

Rajiv and Gitanjali

 

 

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“What a wonderful time we had at ISKCON !! On behalf of Desibels, I

would like to thank you for giving us the pleasurable opportunity to

perform at ISKCON. It was a great location, specially on a stage

overlooking the beautiful temple. We also enjoyed the other

performances as well.”

 

Shreyas Hoskere

 

“The Festival of India was really well organized. We enjoyed the food

and entertainment. The memories will stay for a long time. Thanks so

much for bringing a piece of India to the US.”

 

Sendhil

 

 

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Many many thanks to all the volunteers (not already mentioned above)

who worked so hard to make possible the 20th annual Festival of

India. If we left anyone out, please forgive: Henriett, Sandhya,

Alanath, Yogi, Pragna, Vandana and parents, Justin, Seema, Roshan,

Ramesh, Saroj, Suman, Ramesh, Renu, Dharav, Krunal, Priya Mahajan and

her friend ($ 800 in the henna booth!), Blake, Mikela, Avtar and

Rakesh Singh (Star of India), Niranjana, Upendra, Puja, Radhika, Daya

Vira, Sri Hari, Aja Govinda (the last three manned the question and

answers in the temple room for five hours), Shyamasakhi, and

Shatakshi, Sarit, Vyapi, Rasa, Balarama, Sita Priya, Vishnu Jana, and

Akinchana.

 

All photos compliments of Bill Van Der Sluis