Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (RD/CN)
Udupi, Aug 18: Using diesel in a car designed to run on gas will damage the engine and its system. Taking the same analogy further it may be assumed that our body is designed to receive vegetarian food, also called ‘Satvik’ food. Having Satvik food will keep our mind at peace and calm, our body system active, and the physical body slim and trim. This may also lead to an aggressive way of thinking.
To spread this message, ‘Sri Krishna Vrundavana’, the new Krishna temple at 781 Warden Avenue, organized an Udupi Food Festival in Toronto, Canada on Sunday August 14, with over 108 varieties of tasty vegetarian food prepared for the devotees.
Sugunendrateerta Swami of Puttige Mutt, during the inauguration of the festival, addressed the devotees and said, “The way our mind thinks is dependent on the food we eat. Mind is the mirror image of the food we eat and mind is another name for food.” The festival is appropriately held during the ‘Chaathurmaasya’ period of four months when the saints in ancient times would go on different diets to keep their body healthy.
Rathika Sitsabaiesan, the youngest MP from the Tamil community, from Scarborough, was the chief guest on the occasion.
While tasting the special delicious food, with over 108 dishes prepared to offer to Raghavendra Swamy on his worship day, MP Rathika expressed her happiness for being at the temple on this auspicious day.
The food festival will continue with an exhibition of sweets for the public and sale for one week, concluding on ‘Krishna Janmashtami’ on Sunday 21 August.
Addressing the devotees, Sitsabaiesan encouraged the youth to take an active part in volunteering for a good cause and also for the growth of Canada, a multicultural country, which encourages all religions to practice their beliefs.
A record number of 700 people participated in the worship and every one had the opportunity to taste the hot, rare, and unique varieties of Udupi food for the first time here. It was very encouraging to see Sitsabaiesan join the devotees to have the sit-in food in Udupi style. She enjoyed every dish that was served and expressed her happiness at having met many youth who are so dynamic and willing to take on any responsibility
Three days of worship of Raghavendra Swami started on Sunday morning with a group of devotees chanting the verses of Raghavendra Swami for 108 times. This was followed by the ‘puja’ of Krishna Anjaneya and Raghavendra Swamy.
Later in the evening, ‘Durga Namaskara Puja’ was performed followed by the cradle puja for Krishna and Raghavendra Swamy.
The highlight of the evening puja was a cultural programme on the ‘Pancha Veena’ by a group of five artists from Veenalayam School of Music in Scarborough led by Jayanth Ratnakar and her students on five ‘veenas’ with perfect synchronization displaying the great skill.
The Swami delivered a religious discourse on the Ramayana, thereby beginning ‘Ramayana Week’ and explaining the significance of Ramayana Holy Scripture.
The entire day’s programme was covered on video by media to be relayed all across Canada.
Ramesh Bangalore co-ordinated all the days’ activities and thanked everyone who made the event successful and memorable.