Many Indian organisations and artists are also participating in the event. For instance, this year people who offered to perform included sitar artist Alok Dasgupta, tabla accompanist Satya Narayana Charka and the East-West School of Dance with their Krishna-lila dance performances. A multi-ethnic local cast also performed a dramatic rendition of The Age of Kali, a Bengali classic adapted from the Bhagavat Purana.
There were also more interactive features including vegetarian cooking classes and Gita classes. The Bhagavad-Gita discourses were given by Joshua M Greene, a noted author and lecturer on religion from Hofstra University. And Govinda Swami, known as the king of kirtans, also came to New York to raise consciousness against the government in Kazakhstan and the problems the tiny Hare Krishna movement faces in that country.
Even many Hindus who are not part of the movement often attend the annual event with their young children, getting them to appreciate some of the aspects of the movement including vegetarianism.
The parade in New York draws Hare Krishnas from not only across America but also from foreign countries, says Vineet Chander, the North American communications director for ISKCON.
"New York is where the international ISKCON movement started," says Chander. "Swami Prabhupada (the founder of ISKCON movement) was incredibly pleased that the city he loved was also the home for the biggest procession of this kind in North America."
Taking the idol of Krishna down the streets, said Chander, was an acknowledgement that God is not locked in a temple but comes out to be with the people at large.
"Some people come to watch the beautiful sight of the chariots," he continued. "Some come to enjoy the sumptuous meal we offer, and this year there were 10,000 people who enjoyed the satvic vegetarian fare, and it was all free, except that it was cooked by the devotees and they put their heart into it. And that has no price!"
Image: Devotees pull the chariots down Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
Advertisement
