New Talavan’s tenth annual Cow Fest on Oct. 1 was definitely its most successful and exciting yet!!! Why? Because for once we weren’t preaching to the choir! All agreed that for the first time in years there were more festival new comers then devotees!
Over 100 guests were greeted with the beauty of New Talavan—its well-manicured grounds, lovely ponds, soaring hardwoods, varieties of flowers, and dozens of fruit bearing trees. Several guests, fantasizing aloud, were even inspired to ask, “How can I live here too?” One first time guest, a well-traveled missionary, proclaimed, “In all my journeys, I have never witnessed a place quite as beautiful and peaceful!”
Here are a few more highlights of our visitors’ impressions:
One prominent, local yoga instructor, with a bevy of her students in tow, commented that, while demonstrating their asanas, they had never experienced such tranquility and release of tension as when the transcendental sound vibrations of the Hare Krsna mantra washed over their bodies, minds, and souls!
While viewing our locally produced video, “The Vegan Reality Check,” die-hard vegans could understand that cows perform a valuable service to mankind. The result: many of them lined right up to purchase curd steaks and lassis made from the fresh milk of our beloved, protected mother cows!
Adults and children stood in line for hayrides that passed scores of happily grazing cows in their natural, pastoral habitat where they freely live out their lives—never fearing the slaughter that awaits millions of those unprotected each year.
Richard, a retired school teacher, quietly observed, “It’s obvious that the children here are valued and cherished—the community is intentionally designed for children and people of all ages.”
Richard’s wife was very curious about our six foot tall Lord Jagannath Who stood majestically, smiling His approval and acceptance of all the festivities and attendees. When told that the Lord was from Orissa, she exclaimed, “This is magical!—that’s my name!” She felt a deep connection with the Lord and all the devotees.
The entire day and evening were filled with the melodic sounds of the transcendental vibrations of the Hare Krsna mantra. There were dozens of booths featuring Krisna Consciousness art, herbal medicines, arts and crafts, jewelry, wonderful prasadam, freshly squeezed sugar cane juice and even chapatis cooked over a traditional, open fire pit fueled with cow dung. Everyone left with their bellies filled with prasadam, arms filled with books, and pockets emptied in service to the cows. Oh yes, and with a deep appreciation for the land, Krishna’s dear most animal friends, and the Hare Krsna mantra!
P.S. Please be informed that during the weekend of Nov. 19-21, H. G. Siddhanta Prabhu, who produces the Prabhupada Memory videos, will be attending New Orleans and New Talavan’s Rathayatra and Prabhupada Disciples Festival where he will be filming new interviews for the series. It will be one of the last opportunities to recount your recollections, as he is starting to wind up this vital project. Contact Yogindra prabhu at newtalavana@gmail.com for details.
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