Huge Bonnaroo Book Distribution

BY: AHAITUKI BHAKTI DEVI DASI

Jan 30, 2010 — TENNESSEE, USA (SUN) — Bonnaroo is a huge four-day music festival in Tennessee which attracts around 100,000 people every summer. The previous weekend we had distributed books at another festival in upstate New York, so our drive to Tennessee was super long. As soon as we arrived at the festival grounds and parked Balarama, our glorious sankirtana vehicle, under a nice, shade providing tree, the engine broke down. We were extremely grateful to Srila Prabhupada and our Gaura-Nitai Deities for this because the engine could have broken down anywhere along the way and we would have been stuck, and could have missed the festival! But Srila Prabhupada and Gaura-Nitai made sure we got there safely and on time for possibly the biggest book distribution event of the year. (The engine troubles were solved, but we had to order a part that took till the end of the festival to arrive).

At Bonnaroo we distributed books mostly by walking around the campsites and meeting people at their camps. Usually they were engaged in consuming drugs and alcohol, grilling dead animals, or just sitting around and talking with each other as we entered their worlds. Since there were thousands and thousands of people to present the books to, there was not much time for sleep. Philip, for example, took rest for only 1-3 hours every night.

The campsites went on for miles and hauling heavy book bags on muddy or dusty unpaved roads and grassy fields in scorching heat became a serious exercise. I brought Philip books throughout the days and nights so that he didn't have to take time off to walk back to the van and again back to the campsites, which could take up to an hour. Once we stopped between some tents to reload Philip's book bag, the people in the nearby camp kept looking at us. A guy asked, "What do you got there?", possibly looking for drugs or bootlegged T-shirts. We presented the books to him, he was attracted, took books and gave a donation.

We continued packing the books, and a few moments later a girl from the same camp stepped over to us and asked if she could also get some of Prabhupada's books and offered us some money, saying she wants two Bhagavad-gitas, for herself and another girl sitting in their camp. We were finished packing so I left the area, and Philip went to talk with the rest of the people in the camp. It turned out that they all were eager to leave donations and get Srila Prabhupada's books. As Philip was explaining the books to them, more of their friends came by and took books as well. Here is a picture of the happy campers:

Later Philip talked with a man who was trying to sell beer out of his cooler on the side of one of the main trails. He was interested and really wanted a book, but didn't have any money for a donation. Seeing that he was sincere, Philip gave him a Bhagavad-gita anyway. Before Philip moved on, a guy came over and wanted to buy some beer. The potential beer customer only had a twenty dollar bill, and as we know, our now fortunate seller didn't have any change. We never want to be involved in the karma of aiding such endeavors - out of principle we never lend a lighter for someone trying to light a cigarette, what to speak of help someone get beer by giving them change. But this time for some reason Philip felt he should give the guy change, and so he broke the bill. As a result the beer selling guy immediately gave Philip $5, all he earned, and took further steps in devotional service by offering a donation for Srila Prabhupada's mission.

Here Philip packs books while eating - there is no time to waste with 100,000 people waiting for the mercy! In the forefront is my small harmonium. During festivals and concerts I find a good spot that reaches the maximum amount of hearers and chant the mahamantra. Many people pick up the leaflet "On Chanting Hare Krishna" and leave a donation. Some sit down and chant a while with me too.

We don't really keep count of individual books, but altogether we distributed roughly about 50 boxes of hardcover Bhagavad-gitas, newly printed one-volume KRSNA books and Sri Isopanisads, adding up to somewhere around 1,200 hardcover books. One day Philip single-handedly distributed 350 big, hardcover books. Our prayer is to remain engaged in the service of Srila Prabhupada, and by the blessings of all you Vaishnavas, increase the quantity of Prabhupada's original books we distribute.