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Archive for September 14th, 2008

sitproperly on Sep 14th 2008 Gaudia Vaisnava, It's a Festival!

Philly Ratha-Yatra 2008!

I had a really amazing time! Probably the best Rath I’ve ever been to. So fun, in fact, that I’m going to devote a few posts to it.

Philly Ratha-yatra has the very distinct pleasure of being the most surreal of all of the Ratha Yatras that I’ve attended. Sure, on the outside, it’s your fairly normal Ratha-yatra.

But once you’ve considered that Ben Franklin is wandering around in full period dress while holding a Bhagavad-gita and that we’ve got Scottish bag pipers playing Krishna conscious melodies leading the procession, you know it’s something weird.

This year had Krishna and Arjuna in a white carriage (I mean.. chariot, I guess). That was really weird. I can never ever get used to someone in blueface.

Philly Rath is just weird and I’m pretty sure it’s my favorite.

Oh, on a big A Plus note, last year the sign that was at the front of the parade misspelled Acarya, which is just sloppy and careless. One of the first things I looked for this year was to see if they replaced the sign. They did! Big Haribol to them!

I got to see some friends too! I went there with Sarah (you can see her post about it here), hung out with her and Olivia, saw Bhagavan and Ananga (YAY!), saw Malati prabhu and learned that she once owned a Vespa (but gave it up for a motorcycle) and a bunch of other folks too.

I met and chatted up Yadhunatha, the comedian, which I’ll post more about later on. I discovered some great Ramayana toys (again, will post more later) and discovered an artist that I never knew existed, but adore her work (more on that too, ok?)!

The annoying ritviks getting in your face and arguing with people were surprisingly absent. However, the slightly more annoying “are you registered to vote” Obama supporters were there in full force. I think I dislike Obama as much as I dislike McCain. I got in a mini-argument with one of them. She asked if I’d like to register to vote. I told her that I would not. “You don’t vote?” she asked. I then told her that once somebody runs a candidate that’s worth voting for, I’ll vote. She said something like “ohhh” and left me alone.

But whatever, one dim (and I really do mean that) spot on an otherwise wonderful day.

And now, the pictures.

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