The One in Many – Vrindavan Revisited
CMDFW Picnic 2008
CMDFW’s Annual Picnic, Holi celebration and Walkathon was held on April 26th at Myers Park in McKinney, Texas. The day of the picnic promised to be warmer than last year, although the according to the forecast it was sandwiched between two stormy days. As in previous years, we defied the odds and picnic day dawned clear and sunny, and stayed picture perfect for the entire duration of the event.
Planning for the picnic started in earnest in early February by the core team, consisting of representatives from all the Balavihar sessions including the satellite center at Coppell, and the Walkathon team. Projected attendance was 1500, which rose steadily once online registration opened. By the registration cut-off date we had crossed the 2000 mark, although actual attendance ended up being closer to the original projection.
The event started with opening prayers, followed by the Walkathon. As a result of the persistent marketing efforts by some young Balavihar students, the team easily exceeded their goal of raising $5000 for a local charity, City House. Most picnic attendees sported the special order navy blue Walkathon T-shirts with Pujya Gurudev’s signature Om in orange, exhorting us to, “Walk the talk.”
By the time Walkathon ended, games were already underway in the two picnic locations – the Show Barn and the Pole Barn pavilion. It was a short jog from one location to the other. Guests did comment that perhaps they should get Walkathon credit for the sprint between the two locations! The highly efficient Food Team was ready with the boxed lunches right on time, which were available for pick-up without much of a wait. Not surprisingly, the only line that formed was at the tables serving a wonderful array of delicious mithais brought in by the picnic attendees! The other popular hangout places were the two corn grilling stations, which are always a hit with the crowd.
Inside the Show Barn, the hub of activity was the Arts and Crafts center run by the volunteer team from our Coppell Center. Right next to this station, were the indoor games which included games such as “Tilak for Swamiji,” “Hungry Ravana” and Candy Catch. You could even get a picture of yourself taken as Hanumanji. Great props handmade by our diligent Games Team! At the other end of the Park at the Pole Barn Pavilion, outdoor games where underway accompanied by foot tapping music played non-stop by our tireless DJ! By 2:30 it was time to wrap up the games and get ready for the grand finale – Holi!
This year we had a surprise treat from a magnanimous donor, who had pichkaris shipped from India for us. The kids put the pichkaris to good use, filling them up with colored water and drenching young and old alike with great delight, much like the escapades of Krishna Kanhaiya in Vrindavan, when the Lord himself wielded pichkaris on his exultant devotees! Soon everyone was anointed with gulal and colored water. It was hard to tell people apart as everyone took on the colors of Holi. The many identities truly melded into ONE, as even the playing of the colors took on a spiritual undertone.
