Georgefest '09

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I only found out about this a few days ago, a very inspiring event

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I will start with the introducing letter

By Mitrasena dasa

Of all the festivals I’ve organized, this one is easily drawing the most attention.

Within fifteen minutes of sending announcements to local newspapers, I received a phone call from an editor asking if their paper could sponsor the event.

I’m getting phone calls regularly from musicians of all ages asking for a chance to be involved.

When I told a neighbor about our plan to have a sing along of “My Sweet Lord “, accompanied by one hundred guitars, she said,”I’m getting chills just thinking about it, I won’t miss this for anything”.

As they discuss their appreciation for George, these people invariably bring up the topic of Krishna.

George’s involvement with Krishna Consciousness is well known and well documented.

People that are curious about George are also curious about us.

When they hear that Gurudas’ friendship with George and that he will be speaking at the event, they are completely sold.

This event will draw people who are very ripe for what we have to offer. There is no need to pull green fruits off of branches. These people will need only a gentle tug and you’ll find them to be very sweet, thanks to George, for warming their hearts all these years.

My biggest organizational anxiety is to insure we have enough devotees on hand to receive this crowd.

A large tent and stage will be set up outside, thanks to Madhuha and his Festival of India. This will be the main music stage.

Meanwhile, inside the temple, classes and workshops will be held on japa,kirtan,Bhagavad Gita and Vegetarian Cooking.

There will be a couple Arotiks scheduled. These have proven to be very ecstatic at our festivals with many first timers dancing and singing enthusiastically.

Aside from the temple functions there will be a variety of activities to keep the attendees busy and to give them their money’s worth.
-A Lavish Vegetarian Banquet
-Sitar Concert and Workshop

-Plenty of Music from local performers, such as a rendition of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps “ played on a saw. A ukulele solo of “Something “ and “Here Comes The Sun”

-An Introduction to My Friend George Harrison, a talk given by Guru das with photos he had taken of George.

-Raffle of several items donated by sponsors such as Carolina Zip Lines, Dan River Company , (a kayaking outfit on the nearby Dan River), H2O Tie Dyes and Kindred Spirits, a devotee owned gift shop in Winston who are kindly donating over $800 in BBT books through their organization “Benediction Moon “ (If you want to support book distribution , look at their website) http://www.BenedictionMoon.com (http://www.benedictionmoon.com/)

It’s a sign of the times when local businesses feel comfortable advertising themselves at a Hare Krishna event

Stokes County has taken an interest in our community. They see us as an asset and are willing to give us support in any way within their means. The County maintains a Face Book Account to advertise local events and attractions. Our event is proudly displayed there at their request. I’m getting calls from people who have noticed us there. They are inquiring about advance tickets and how they might be able to help..

We are expecting a crowd of from 200 to 2000. It very much depends on the weather, which can be very beautiful in November. We are selling advance tickets at a reduced price to insure a crowd no matter what weather.

See our website for more details. NCGeorgefest.com

If you’d like to be involved please contact me at mitradasa@gmail.com

The next day will feature Guru das telling stories of his travels with Srila Prabhupada for the Sunday lecture.

Gurudas first met Srila Prabhupada in 1967 in San Francisco, and immediately joined the temple, helping with the first Ratha Yatra that summer.

He also traveled across India with Srila Prabhupada in 1971 as part of the World Sankirtan Party.

He was also involved in the construction of the Krishna Balaram Temple in Vrindavan.
There are many stories to tell, and Guru das is happy to have an audience to share them with. This is an opportunity to hear from someone who was involved in the development of our ISKCON society from the very beginning.

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Here is a review written by the organiser. You will see a few xxx's which are names taken out for privacy reasons

Dear Friends,

I thoroughly enjoyed the George Harrison Festival held here at our temple last Saturday.

I will try my best to let you experience it through this little report.

What a beautiful day!

The weather is always a factor for getting a crowd here to our rural temple, but today we had hit the jackpot!

There were guests coming from as far away as Floyd, Christiansburg Va. and Gainesville Florida.

The cooking crew had arrived the night before from Charlotte. They were happily working away in the temple kitchen.

"Will you be able to be quiet in here at noon? There will be a sitar concert starting then in the temple."
"Yes,we should be alright by then."

It smelled really good in there.Every time I happened to pass by the kitchen I noticed how happy the cooks were. Always smiling at each other.These are very special people.They had an obligation in Charlotte that afternoon and had to leave immediately after cooking everything. They were unable to stay for any of the music or festivities,but were there only to help.But they appeared so happy,so glad to serve. I was glad to see that, because the feelings of the cooks will affect the minds of those who eat the meal.

There were many comments about how good the lunch was. One guest commented how he felt especially energized with good feelings after the meal that was so lovingly prepared by Sanjay's team.

Food is such an important part of any Hare Krishna festival and I could see that department was in good hands with my neighbor ***** and *****’s team from Charlotte.

As the guests started to slowly trickle in and head into the temple for the Sitar Concert I noticed that the parking lot was filling.

Taking a break from managerial responsibilities, I took a peek into the temple and saw we indeed had a crowd.
"Well , maybe I can sit for a minute or two and listen"
Because they were so immersed in the show,it was several minutes before I connected eyes with friends and we exchanged silent hellos.

There was work to be done, details to be worked out and volunteers with questions for me to answer.I had too many responsibilities for such an indulgence as sitting in on the concert.
I was trapped though. I couldn't leave.
It was too good to leave.
The audience was as interesting as the show, locked in to Visvas's performance.

They had witnessed the introductory Alaap where the notes are presented slowly and the theme of the raga gently unfolds.

I had walked in during the section where the speed increases along with the complexity. Most of the crowd sat on mats on the floor, a few in chairs. We were all sharing the first Sitar Concert to be held in Stokes County.
Visvas and Chris built intensity and speed.
I kept thinking "This is it, it ends here",and they gracefully took it a step further.
I thought as they built it up the excitement notch by notch,"How far can they take this?"
Audience members exchanged glances, smiled, pointing incredulously,shaking heads in amazement"Do you see what I see?" ,faster and faster until finally sitar and tabla hit the final note together, expertly,artistically.

A brief moment of silence to make sure it was indeed over , then the pent up applause burst forth, filling the room with the praise and exclamation we had been holding along with our breath throughout the performance.

Later that day,Visvas and Chris expressed that this was one of the most appreciative audiences they've ever performed for.They also found the temple conducive for concerts with the high ceiling and large windows above allowing the abundant sunshine the weather report had promised.
Wow, I came in at just the right time, that was lucky to catch that part,What's next on the schedule?

Will I be needed or can I stay and watch more?

Gurudas was scheduled to speak outside , but there was a discussion that it might be better to have him speak inside the temple instead.That means I have to announce the change of plan and round everyone up. Meanwhile the lunch was ready and people were lining up.

"There will be plenty , nothing will run out , if you want to catch the talk by Gurudas,he is speaking inside the temple.We'll set it up so you can hear him outside too." I announced.

Many chose the outdoor option as the weather was at it's November finest. Chairs were positioned near the speakers that carried the sounds from inside the temple.

One member of the audience later told me,"I thought his whole presentation was wonderful, but when he began answering questions, it was even more heartfelt, spontaneous, off the script.Someone asked about George's fascination with India. Gurudas replied that he shared that same attraction.'It's a culture where even if your enemy comes to your home , you give him a nice reception, a glass of water at the very least.I fell in love with the place. George and I had so much to talk about when the topic of India came up."

Outside,there was a jovial crowd assembled eating the lunch that had been lovingly prepared by the happy cooks, enjoying their good fortune to have such a nice day to share.

Kristen Leigh and Ueli Schweizer were onstage,performing many of George's songs for the appreciative crowd. Many of my neighbors later asked me , "Where did you find her? She is really good!"

My 14 year old son,one of the world's harshest critics commented while passing by me ,"She's pretty good"

I noticed one song in particular,Eleanor Rigby, (All the Lonely People), the first phrase "Ah look at all the lonely people.... sounded so beautiful, I had to look again.How did they get such a sound with simply a guitar, violin and voice?

Between songs Kristen remarked to the audience,"This place is wonderful , the whole setting with the view , the trees. I've never been here before , but I love it. How many of you are here for the first time?"

I saw about 3/4 of the audience raise their hands and nod to each other in agreement.
For me, that moment made all the work of organizing the festival worthwhile.

Scotty Irving was next,giving a brief exhibition of electronic sounds,after explaining how George Harrison had made an album entitled simply "Electronic Sounds" using a Moog synthesiser.

I think George would have had a laugh seeing the puzzled looks on the faces of the audience.

Jonny Colley then took the stage, presenting songs that everyone was more familiar with.
He went beyond the typical with "Across the Universe"This song includes the phrase,"Jaya Gurudeva Om "
Someone had described Jonny as a "Zen hillbilly with something to say"and my friends that had a chance to exchange words with him found that to be an accurate portrayal.
He was joined by Bret Hart and sang "Something" ,"For You Blue" and other songs.
Bret finished up with a few solo songs, one of them his own composition.
Bret was one of the first local musicians I met who was ready to dedicate time in helping me organize this event.He put in a lot of time designing the Festival Poster and recorded the whole Georgefest through his professional equipment.This will be available through his company,
Hipworks hartsongs.tripod.com

Gurudas then spoke in the temple of his experiences with George and John.

This time it was focused on the practice of chanting Hare Krishna.This was for many, their favorite part of the festival. Everyone knows of George's interest in meditation and chanting. What are those practices? How do you do them? How did George go about this? How seriously did he take it?

I asked Gurudas to speak on his making a recording with George's help. This record became one of the fastest selling in Apple history.
They were simply chanting Hare Krishna.
Paul McCartney helped in the studio and George added some embellishment.
I demonstrated the melody from the record while strumming my guitar. The group sang along with other guitars joining in.
I was happy to see everyone peacefully absorbed in this kirtan. I noticed Dale Swanson singing and smiling, he had put in weeks of hard work for the website NCGeorgefest.com in his spare time.This was all I could offer for a payback, and he appeared to be happy with it.

In that happy , relaxed atmosphere I announced to the crowd,"I come here,to this temple, almost every morning to sing Hare Krishna and play my guitar. This is like my living room and I'm so happy to see all of you here as my friends singing with me.You are very welcome here. I'll always cherish this moment."

Later someone told me that that was the 'moment ' for her.She felt "...in her core being.That happy place where you feel balanced and completely comfortable,at peace with yourself and the world"

The Raffle Winners were announced next.This was accompanied by Christopher Countryman who performed 'Here comes the sun", "Something" and other songs on his ukulele. He had been playing these throughout the day and never failed to inspire the audience, halting conversations, people stopping in their tracks to listen.
"George Harrison also played the ukulele", Gurudas informed us.

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The Raffle Winners were announced next.This was accompanied by Christopher Countryman who performed 'Here comes the sun", "Something" and other songs on his ukulele. He had been playing these throughout the day and never failed to inspire the audience, halting conversations, people stopping in their tracks to listen.
"George Harrison also played the ukulele", Gurudas informed us.

There is something mystical about who ends up winning these raffle prizes.11 year old *****, had spent an hour selling tickets , fearlessly approaching festival goers to give them an opportunity to increase their chances of winning a prize.
***** expressed his hope of winning the first prize, a canoe trip down the Dan River,courtesy of the Dan River Company.

When we sat down to draw the tickets with the ukulele ceremoniously playing behind me, the whole crowd witnessed the first ticket being *****’s name.
I think everyone got more from watching his joy than if they were to have won the prize themselves.
This lucky boy also won a $25 gift certificate from H2O Tie Dye in Winston Salem.
The final item to be raffled was a Tree Canopy Tour from Carolina Zip lines.
They had set up a temporary Zip line for the festival , and ***** could not get enough of it.
***** was praying that he could win again, bouncing in his seat and trying to sit still at the same time.
When the ticket was drawn from the bag and read, there was a shout from the crowd and applause,***** had won again!

The final event was the My Sweet Lord sing along accompanied by 100 Guitars.
It took a little practice to get everyone together ,but as the group fell into it, this became what I pictured it would be.
I noticed a few moistened eyes,voices singing strongly,with feeling,sometimes trembling with emotion.
***** did a beautiful solo on his violin.
It went on , an extended version, we didn't want to stop.
It takes time to build something like this, the mood ,sharing with new friends that you've met only that day yet feel close, like family,sharing time and space and food and inspiring conversations.
We gradually faded it down, playing and singing softer and softer,"I really want to see you,(Hare Krishna)I really want to be with you....."

I heard a recording of it later that night,"Did we do that?Wow, Is that us?"

All Things Must Pass, and so George Fest '09 had officially passed on. Our guests hugged , said their goodbyes, exchanged contact information and walked out the temple doors into the night.

There is so much more I want to tell you about this festival, all the performers that almost made it, the letter from George's wife that we almost got welcoming everyone, all the help I've received from so many people.
I've learned a lot about George Harrison in the course of researching his life. He is someone worth admiring and his songs are worth singing.

I've been asking friends, "what was your favorite part of the festival?"
Below are a few of the responses.
I will enjoy hearing from you about your experience.

Your friend,
Mitra

"I really enjoyed the lectures."

"The Ukulele guy"

"The Music, that girl , the singer"

"The sing along was my favorite."

One friend simply replied," Gurudas"
"You mean his presentation?"
"No, just Gurudas"

"The Sitar concert was the best!"

"Just a quick note to let you know how much fun we had at the George Fest. I love music festivals but don't attend many as I am a recovering addict and drugs and alcohol play a big part in many festivals. Thank you for making a space for my partner and I to enjoy ourselves in a drug-free environment.
Looking forward to many more festivals in the future..."
Namaste',

" I just want to let you know how great of a time I had today at GeorgeFest. I enjoyed the music immensely, heard so many songs that I had never heard before. What a great way to celebrate George Harrison's life. We love the atmosphere of the community and all the people in it. The food was, as usual, very good. I was looking so forward to the meal, it makes me feel so good when I eat it. Thank you again for having the Festival, I really enjoyed it. "


I was very satisfied with ***** reply.
She had come all the way from Baltimore and has been a Hare Krishna all her life,
"We were just hanging around with other people, you know, not devotees, but we felt at ease, comfortable. We didn't feel like we were different from them, and they didn't feel different from us."
Her friends nodded their heads in agreement.***** had again spoken on behalf of the Hare Krishna youth.

"If you hold any future events with Guru Das I would be very interested in talking his ear off about his life with the Fabs."

" I was very impressed with Kristy Leigh. She performed very well and I purchased her CD and I have been enjoying it in my car.
Thank you again for a great day"

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