Walkathon-Holi
Apr. 17, 2011
For years, the annual picnic has been the event that brings together the most members of our Mission family. This year was no different. Even so, this picnic was unprecedented on many fronts. Since last year, in keeping with the cost-conscious economic times, we have adapted the picnic to a half-day event packed with fun activities of past years. As in previous years, the picnic featured Walkathon, games and Holi. This year was special because it was the first time we celebrated Holi in the company of our newly entitled Acharya, His Holiness Swami Sarveshananda. The planning team started working six weeks before the event. The logistics were divided between Registration, Security, SetUp, Games, Holi, Medical, Food, Corn, CleanUp and Transport teams. Each team lined up a cadre of volunteers and charted out a plan of action.
The venue was the Myers Park in Mckinney. The event day, April 17, dawned sunny and mild though windy. The strong wind was a harbinger of the ever-strong, wind-god, Shri Hanumanji’s Jayanti to follow the next day! Volunteers started showing up bright and early to carry out their planned assignments. It was gratifying to see many student and CHYK volunteers helping out in the true spirit of service. In short order, the Walkathon trail was open, lined with many games. Music wafted from the DJ’s vantage point. The sky was dotted with colorful kites soaring in the wind, while kids spun around in hula hoops, got faces painted, hands decorated with henna, posed as Hanuman ji and devoured biscuits as “Chhota Bheema”. None of the activities deterred the steady stream of people waiting patiently in line for the ever-popular roasted corn.
We set a tall order this year by conducting the first ever, session cook-off. The plan was to offer food made by members of the Mission in lieu of catered food. This required many volunteers stepping up from each session to make and serve food. The offerings included pakodas, vada pav, idli, masala vadas, a sumptuous mexican platter, delicious spiced buttermilk and a fruit punch. The picnic attendees enjoyed the homemade delights with great gusto. There was not a morsel to spare.
Finally it was time for the climactic part of the day – Holi! The Holi Team methodically executed their plan to deploy colored water and distribute gulaal (colored powder) and pichkaaris (water guns) . The pichkaaris came to us all the way from India thanks to the ongoing generosity of a donor. These were promptly put into good use by the young and the not-so-young alike! Notwithstanding the careful plans of the Holi team, soon colorful chaos reigned, trilling to the high energy tunes played by the DJ. A centuries-old tradition was replayed on a prairie in North Texas! Divine grace was present among us in the form of our ever playful Swamiji whose resplendent ochre robes took on the hues of the celebration.
As the wet and multicolored crowd retired for the day, volunteers worked to pack up. Thanks to our “going green” motto, clean-up was a cinch. The careful records kept by the Registration Team showed that more than 1000 people joined us for the festivities. It was a grand holi satsang indeed!
