The Devotees go Further

Before we even left for the festival, we spent a whole day in the kitchen chopping vegetables and baking sweets. Here is Kamal Krishna Prabhu helping with the food prep.

Krishna Madhuri Didi and Vidura Krishna Prabhu arranged the whole event from start to finish.

Before we left, everyone gathered in a circle in the parking lot to hear from Sripad Hasyapriya Prabhu and Sripad Janardan Maharaj. Sripad Janardan Maharaj said that everyone in the group is a sincere devotee with whom we are very fortunate to serve and that we must earnestly try to progress on the path of surrender. His encouraging words gave us tremendous momentum.

Checking out the new "golden Sankirttan van" before it embarks on its first mission. The two day and three night festival was held at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds in the lovely "gold country" of the Sierra Nevada foothills in eastern California.

Setting up our booth and adjacent Sankirttan tent at the festival. Ratan Krishna and Ramachandra Prabhus arrange the decorations.

Ratan Krishna Prabhu and Sushila Didi in the Sankirttan tent.

Giridhari Prabhu puts finishing touches on the food booth itself, which all the participating devotees helped to construct.

Dinatihara and Dyuti Sundar Prabhus organizing the outdoor kitchen.

Ken Kesey and the Merry Prankster's famous bus "Furthur" was on display at the festival.

"Furthur" drove past the booth a couple times.

Kamal Krishna Prabhu at our "Hidden Treasure of the Sweet Absolute" book table

Kamal Krishna Prabhu preaching to some guests in front of our altar.

Sushila Didi taking orders for plates of rice, dahl, sabji, chutney, and salad. We also offered hot and cold drinks and Krishna Madhuri Didi's popular vegan cakes.

Ramachandra Prabhu called out to passer-bys and successfully drew huge crowds. Everyone who ate our food was very satisfied and many people came back several times.

Vidura Krishna, Giridhari, Dyuti Sundar, and Dinatihara Prabhus working hard. There was hardly a minute when we weren't cooking and serving plates.

Vidura Krishna Prabhu serves cups of hot dahl to guests as they hear Gaura Katha from Kamal Krishna Prabhu.

Saturday and Sunday the festival was in full swing. Both days all the ladies gathered in the tent to chant.

Here Braja Mohini Didi leads "Sri Guru Arati" as Para Devi, Krishna Madhuri, and Sushila Didis follow.

Passers-by were very happy to see us chanting, and that made Sushila Didi happy in return.

Srila Govinda Maharaj seated on the altar in front of a rose bush growing in the ground at the perfect spot.

Hungry customers choosing what to order.

Ramachandra Prabhu attracting everyone to taste "what these Hare Krishnas are cooking-up". Customers were very happy to hear that we were from the Seva Ashram and were grateful to eat from a clean vegetarian kitchen.

Kamal Krishna Prabhu and Ratan Krishna Prabhu learned from Dinatihara Prabhu how to cook huge pots of food and the three of them never stopped cooking after that. When the dahl was done they immediately had to start a sabji, then a pot of chai, then some rice, and so on.

From 8 am until after midnight our booth was bustling with activity. Everyone worked very hard but had a happy mood.

Guests join the Sankirttan

We all felt it was a great boon that we had a tent for preaching and chanting right next to our food booth!