George Fest Celebration Saturday

Many thanks to the Winston Salem Journal for this report (see Below) I think this will be a wonderful event and the weather is supposed to be spectacular.

-- Lisa O'Donnellrelish reporterlo'donnell@wsjournal.com.


Published: November 5, 2009

SANDY RIDGE

To all the curious folks who have heard about the Hare Krishna Temple tucked among the Baptist churches and old tobacco barns in Stokes County, Mitra Das says, "Hare bol."

That's the Hare Krishna version of "Hey" or "Howdy." Das knows that many people may be wondering about the 15 or so Hare Krishna families who have lived on a gorgeous 360-acre spread in northeastern Stokes County since 1991.

"We're just living our lives, raising our kids. Most of us have grandkids," said Das, who was sitting in one of two homes he built on the temple's grounds. "We're trying to present what we have to people in a way that is relevant to their lives."

One area where the devotees (as Hare Krishna followers are called) and others can find common ground is George Harrison, whose interest in the Hare Krishna movement and all things India colored much of his creative output, beginning in the late 1960s until his death in 2001.

In celebration of Harrison and his contribution to the movement, Das is organizing George Fest at the temple from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

"It's a way to let people outside of the community interact with others in the community," Das said.

The Hare Krishna movement is a branch of Hinduism that was founded in 1966 by Swami Prabhupada, an Indian who took his message to the West in the 1960s. Devotees are most known for chanting a 16-word mantra that they believe brings them to a higher level of consciousness with Krishna, or God.

The group was often associated with hippies of the 1960s, but true devotees walk a straight line and abstain from any kind of intoxicants and illicit sex.

The festival is family-oriented and will include a sitar concert and workshop, yoga and meditation classes and a talk by Guru Das, who was among the first of the Hare Krishnas to meet with Harrison in London in the late 1960s. The two spent time together eating, chanting and talking about spiritual matters and developed a lifelong friendship.

At the festival, Guru Das will share photos and stories of Harrison.

Also included will be a big vegetarian buffet -- Hare Krishnas have become known for their lavish and exotic food spreads -- as well as more familiar fare, such as pizza, brownies and bread. Das' wife, Maharha Dasi, will prepare much of the food. The grounds and its trails will also be open for people to explore, and Carolina Ziplines, which is based in Stokes County, will have a temporary zipline set up.

The festival will culminate with a sing-along of Harrison's hit, "My Sweet Lord," which includes the famous Hare Krishna chant. Das said he is hoping that 100 people will bring guitars to the festival to play and sing the song. The chords are posted on the festival's Web site, www. ncgeorgefest.com.

Late last week, Das was hoping to find a local church choir to sing with festivalgoers. "I think that is something that George would be happy about," Das said.

Although Harrison never became a devotee of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, the official name of the Hare Krishna movement, his interest in chanting and mediation lent it legitimacy, Das said. "I'm sure because of his involvement, there was some credibility given to it. People thought, ‘If George is into it, it can't be all that bad,'" Das said.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the festival. Teenagers are $10 and children under 12 are free. Attendees who bring guitars will get $5 off the ticket price.

For more information, including directions, visit www.ncgeorgefest>

.com.