The one and only original Gaura Purnima dress. Peacock feathers everywhere. Green and pink for Gandharvika and Giridhari while Mahaprabhu is mostly in gold with a green and white piece on his chest. His chodder is green with a bit of pink. The garlands are plain carnations today. Gandharvika's reminds some of the Bengali comunist party since they are red and white. While he was in Navadvipa, the apprentice said he used to see the comunists all dressed in red in white all the time so the garlands of those colors make him think of the comunists.
Pedaling through both the vilages today. Trendy kinds of places with boutiqueee and antique shops. Tourists window shopping. Closer to the bridge the sufferers begin to appear. As i go along the east cliff begin to emerge carring their boards. Back past an elementry school and then a few blocks later a high school. On the right that's a fire station. Wow. Then the health club and on and on till i get to the road to the asrama. A quiet ramble up to the sandhya this evening. The dui cakra ratha pracara is back.
Irodescent green this evening along with orange. This evening was fitting night for the new dress. Things look like their on their way to a new night dress. Soon it will be offered for all to see.

Gandharvika wore a beautiful blue sari today. A Sue 'nila vasana, so to speak. One of the dresses that each Deity wears their tradional color. That is Giridhari has yellow dhoti and coat while Mahaprabhu has mango color. His is offset with a green sash and chodder. Giridhari has deep blue almost purple sash and chodder. Gandharvika's sari has a red palo with gold paiselies. Today's garlands have tube roses in them along with rose petals and marigolds.
It started off like another day just like the previous two. Along the opal cliff between the twin lakes around the shopper's corner past a furniture store back by the motorcycle shop then make the left to begin the return journey. i pedaled as quickly as my two old legs would carry me and arrived at the asrama just in time for the sandhya
i could mistake tonight's dress for a red but the seamstress says it's really pink. Well at least Gandharivka and Giridhari's are that way. Mahaprabhu's is unmistakably pink. Giridhari's coat has white embroidry on it. It's a rich warm dress. i'm sure that will keep them all comfortable where ever they go tonight.

A peacock fan, sikhipicca camara. This dress, offered on Nrsingha Caturdasi this year, is red with peacock feathers on it. It was made in Vrndavana so all that was necessary was supposed to be cut it out and sew it together. But this time there was some kind of Indian glue all over it so it had to be washed and dried before any thing else could be done. Fortunately it happened without too much trouble. There are crowns to match. The needed straps to put them on with and that was cleverly done by the seamstress with valcro, some cotton strips and attached to the crowns themselves with rings.
All at once today. Pedaling past the post office, coffee shop, miniture park, under the overpass through the village along the opal cliff. Today there weren't so many people since it was back to work day. From there right along the harbor over the bridge turning at the old movie theater to pass the bike shop take a hairpin turn and begin to return for the sandhya. Comming back up i passed another pedaler on their right side. i'm sure they've seen me plenty of times but today was the first time they saw me make the turn into the asrama driveway. And i don't believe they know that i'm a pujari.
The greatful dvip. It may be the last night for this one. Giridhari's pants are so ratty that i can't imagine putting them on Him much more. They just don't seem to be something a "gentlegod" would wear.

Superstar today. The soft pink and white. Mahaprabhu has a turban and an elongated kirta. Offered as the Gaura Purnima dress a couple of years ago, Giridhari has a pleated skirt with rosebuds between the pleats forming an almost eyelet pattern. Gandharvika has a silver lace veil and stings of seed beads hanging from the sleeves of her choli. Mostly rose petal garlands with a few whole pink lilies. A satiny look to the silk.
Another quick pedal day. Along the opal cliffs and through the village past the produce stand and the sufferers shucking out of their wet suits. The sight of the day was a twenty foot, ten door stretch hummer. What a sight it was. Sunday was family day for the pedalers. Either that or "peletons" of boy and girlfriend types. As i went by they must have thought me some kind of hot dog or something. But as one person once leaned out his window to say "faster, God is waiting!"
Smooth as milk, that is the Chinese silk of the touch that kills. Red and creamy white with flowers embroidered. All things were quick but a little behind time. One person told me that time is more of a mundane concept since five thousand years ago there were no clocks. hmmmmm.

Havirbhu, born from butter. That's the color of the cloth today. It's so rich. The chodders and veil are sheer a deeper shade than the rest of the dress. It adds a wispy quality to the flowing dress. "These flowers all came from my yard" the garland maker told me. "A fortunate yard" another said. "These are seven-eleven flowers" one garland maker told another. The other's mouth dropped to the floor, thinking that disrespectful. The first went on "it's because they're growing everywhere" However their described they make wonderful garlands.
A few people out 'bent today. Yeah the recumbent pedalers were out today. i came across one between twin lakes and then a couple of them near the sunny cove. The day began with fog and drizzle but by the afternoon the sun had arrived which brought the pedalers out. Families with their children either in trailors or in attachable seats. Even a few with wheels and pedals that joined up with mom or dad's bike.The race with the time factor was close again today but i made it in for the sandhya.
Purple or blue, along with green and fusscia. That make the most blessed event. Mahaprabhu's sash is probably the widest one he has in any outfit day or night. Giridhari's crown didn't want to go on right away. As it started to come off then Gandharvika's also tried to fall onto the floor. Fortunately they let me catch them both before they got very far. Then they must have been ready to take rest.

i say it's red and purple but the seamstress can't understand how i don't see it's clearly pink and purple. So as a consesion i put the TRock outfit on this Wednesday. Mostly gardenia garlands today, a few pink lilies and rose petals to make them more colorful. Giridhari's swirling skirt and chodder along with Gandharvika's short veil are reminscient of another society.
Today i heard someone speaking about a pedaler that was jumping fences to take apples and also sneaking into garages to use their tools to repair his bike. One told the other that all pedalers aren't dong things like that. Is it any wonder that car culture reacts the way it does? But there wasn't any of it today. Just a fine and speedy ramble from the asrama to the shop and back for the sunset arati.
The night dress that was first offered as a night dress on that famous day and year a few Septembers ago. It's still here this September and not lost for another outfit. Quick tonight, the Harinamaers came back just in time to see them put into their beds.

She'll be there with bells on. The pale green and purple that was a Radhastami dress offering. Time is a representitive of Krsna as Bhagavad gita says so naturally she's there in time. The garlands today were the gardenia type the fragrance pervades the whole temple wow
The twin lakes heard the geese honking at me as i pedaled by. i saw a clock round by a windmill. There was only a half hour before the arati. The race was on and even without performance enhancement i was at the asrama sounding the shank in time for the sandhya
i saw Vraja kissing santa claus this evening. Just have faith, Krsna is a brahmacari and Durvasa Muni upavasi. Purple trimed with orange. An early outfit that still looks fine

"Is this the bumble bee outfit?" Someone asked me. "Yes, the Madhuvrata, the honey bee" It is because the bees are black along with the trim. They wear this dress on the new moon when the Deities wear black, but SGM told us not to dress them in all black so this is the closest they have. The gardenias made their appearance in the center of the garlands today as well as being offered at the mangala and sandhya aratis.
As i waited in the driveway from the asram i saw so many cars it made me think to myself "where do they all come from" i must have been thinking too loudly 'cause the next driver, who must have been a long lost granddaughter of an English Lady, leaned out her car window and said "the old soquel road is closed today!" That made it necessary to dodge in and out of cars and construction everywhere the whole pedaling time today. Some how i was able to make it in good time today.
The apprentice sprained his thumb to nearly the breaking point yesterday so this evening O dear doe didn't have him there to wrap the chodders in novel ways just the standard version of the ancient priest

As the magicians say "nothing up my sleeve" presto, watch me pull an outfit out of my hat. A couple of years ago this was the Radhastami dress offering. It was that year's Janmastami dress with Giridhari and Mahaprabhu wearing vests instead of the shirts they had on that Janmastami. Also Gandharvika has a different veil, this one is yellow while the Janmastami one is burgandy, and a yellow choli. Today the garlands featured sunflowers and mint leaves. Wow.
A race against the clock today. Pedaling as fast as i was able i did my errands. Past the restaurant, the trailor park and apartment complexs to the mall and the healthy places then back for the sandhya arati
this evening the dress is Pralad a dad. From Nrisingha Caturdasi, this orange dress makes them look ready for a night of dancing. They took rest a little earlier tonight. A late night picking flowers for the mangala arati by flashlight. Usually not done but this is a time when it's necessary.

After the Vyasa puja day, Saint Patrick's easter came fashionably late. With it's purple yellow gold and red everyone recovered from the two days of festivities. Then was the ekadasi day, the queen in days of old presided as usual over the second ekadasi of the month. The multicolored dress with the flowers on Giridhari's chodder made each of the rainbow's colors present. Sunday was Hiranya Padma. A lotus of golden petals. The hand sewn flowers made it another day of flower dress for the week of celebrations. Today, well you can't have it your way every day now can you? The cream and red with crowns to match begins the new week. The seamstress made an effulgence for Giridhari's crown to make it a bigger and better size.
The teams have been out in force. There must be a race comming soon. i keep going different ways each day to avoid the construction on the roads. At least near the asrama there are three or four that are being resurfaced and very rough right now. Covered with gravel, it makes it slippery and almost completely unsafe to pedal over so i dodge them when i can taking longer loops by the beach to get back for the arati without crossing the construction zones.
The greatful dvip this evening. Giridhari's pants are getting worn other wise the dress has held up well for the years. Tonight they seem to stay a little later, but maybe not so bad

Turquoise "paper silk" with fuscia choli for Gandharvika, chodder for both Mahaprabhu and Giridhari. Giridhari also has a fuscia patka and pants. Mahaprabhu has the peacock on his kirta from days long gone by making it the oldest of all but in a new dress. Pink lilies are the dominant flower at this time of year. The garlands have many of them along with honey suckle, roses and labatira.
A light and nimble journey darting between construction sites and cars. Pedalinglike a messenger on a time watch. Flying past the sunny cove and the sun bathers there, staying low to resist the wind. Mixing in with a team in training to draft some of their speed after all it's nearly time for arati and Sri Giridhari is tapping his foot. Some one drives by me, leaning out their window to say "faster! God's waiting!"
Dressing the Deities in night dress so pretty, smooth chinese silk, rich red and cream colors like the ocean of milk. By now it goes on quickly and as shut the light out i know it's the touch that kills material desire.

"They look ravishing today" the seamstress said as she saw the Deities today. Accross the universe. The whiyr and gold dress that SGM asked for specifically. A turban hmmmm. Now it's two days in a row. Jewelry made for this dress by two different people.Allin all quite a stunning dress.
Pedaling through the construction with a few others dodging cars as we go. The overcast makes it easier to pedal without the feeling of dehydration. Back to the sandhya arati just in time.
The most blessed event is the appearance of out spiritual master by whose grace i have been given the chance to re-enter my original serving mode. l

Rodadendrums made today's garlands fluffy, not stuffy. The pink shade they were fit with the color of the dress. It was the second day that Giridhari wore a turban this week. That might be a bit much. Turbans are more intimate than crowns. Giridhari's purple coat may have been too warm today. Oh shut up kid.
Pedaling to avoid construction today. A long stretch of the road has been scored for resurfacing. Makes the pedaling extra rough. When it's all complete it'll be smooth as glass. But now i went the other direction to stay on easier roads. A mother told her young boy to be careful since today is Friday and heavier traffic as i took the corner they were waiting to cross at. No teams but plenty of team members out today. The bike trailors with everything from groceries to suffering boards have to be the sight of the day. Some of the pedalers wore wet suits while others just their everyday attire. hmmmm.
Sometimes when it becomes necessary to deceive another in order to engage in the service of the lord the taste is increased. Sometimes? All the time. So tonights dress is called tell me lies. That makes everything sweeter.

"Such a regal dress,kingly" someone told me as they saw the Deities today. "Elegant" i replied. "Yes!" they agreed. Parsely, sage, rosemary and thyme. Black trimming a forrest green. Silver with gold filagre threads for Giridhari's chodder and the pleats of Gandharvika's skirt. Mahaprabhu's chodder is similarly done along with a belt silver with black beads.
"Maybe with the two of us the light will change for us." One pedaler said that to me as we waited on a stop light near sunny cove today. Sure enough it did. "Wow" we both said, "happy trails" my companion said as we clicked in and pedaled away. Down between the twin lakes and the geese. Sight of the day was a guy with a bike featuring butterfly bars tall as he is.
A lion on the chase. Purple with green. Mostly purple in Gandharvika's pleats and Giridhari's dhoti. Mahaprabhu's chodder and sash are mostly purple too. Started out as thursday but now is friday.

Purnima, the true value of a silk turban. Mahaprabhu and Gandharvika have the copper color with blue beads and Giridhari has a white turban, and coat along with a gold chodder and royal blue dhoti. i told the hair dresser. “I know that one, yes. Show me a picture so I can finish properly though.”
The seamstress spent a month or so beading Mahaprabhu’s kirta. Such an effort must certainly draw some reward from Mahaprabhu.
Such heat today made the pedaling hard and had me winded by the time i returned for the celebratiion of Baladeva’s birth. Many of the roads are being repaired so the cars are always in gridlock mode. The sight of the day was the two times that other pedalers going the wrong way caused me to stop to let them pass. Both were erranding and had on plain clothes. One on an ebike said something odd in spanish to me but i could only reply that he could see the traffic better than i. The other on a beach crusier said she was sorry for being in the wrong lane.
The apprentice was here for the rest dressing. Wow. O deer doe, have you seen Krsna? He always wants to wrap Mahaprabhu’s chodder around his right arm and fly Giridhari’s in the breeze into Gandharvika’s face. O what fun it all must be.

With the red back drop this outfit made us want to get up and scream! Yeah, Urvasi, the heavenly society girl. White and red roses for the garlands with a few carnations just for fun. At mangala arati the singer cut out a couple of lines but no one seemed to notice. Just what we need to know is how the song goes.
It was family day again today. The family that pedals together... The sight of the day was on the opal cliff when i spoted three women of a particular persuasion on bikes. They had their freak flag flying high. Otherwise it was a usual spin by the natural bridge and then past the bike shop to the asrama to put them to rest.
The orange pannel skirt, Pralad a dad. New vases this evening. This one came for the Nrsingha caturdasi and winds up the swinging festival.

The garlands today didn't get finished 'till the afternoon. Giridhari wore his amazing technicolor dream chodder today. His clothes are a rusty red. Mahaprabhu's pants are a similar color his kirta is a bit more orange. He has a sky blue belt which is the color of Gandharvika's sari. His chodder is green. Gandharvika has a rusty red choli with green design.
There was a show at the old once upon a movie theater tonight so there were lots of people gathered around waiting for the band. As i pedaled past no one looked outstanding. i wove in and out of the suvs, hummers, trucks that don't ever haul anything, and small cars. Almost all the roads have some construction going on. 'Tis the season to fill the potholes. Many pedalers waved as i saluted when we passed each other.
The grateful 'dvip tonight but that wasn't the entertainment at the theater. The Deities were ready for bed this evening and didn't seem to be trying to stay up to late.

So today the other garlands were offered. Gardenias, roses and carnations all held better than the ones yesterday would have. The dress took us very far away today with it's dragon flies, lotus flowers and water color designs we were in Bengal for most of the day, like magic.
Many pedalers out today. i don't know what the occasion was. They all headed toward the valley of the silicon chip. Didn't appear to be an organized event just lots of them. Meanwhile i just went up the road and made the loop back to the asrama for waking the Deities. Then i did a more familiar route past the post office and the football field. Making my return from the buttery past the school and the peach garden. Then by the harbor to the tennis courts. From there i went past a "soccer pitch" up to a lovers lane then turning to the asrama to get back in plenty of time for the sandhya this evening.
In the ninth this evening the Deities completed a big day which saw an offering of honey collected from the bee hives on their land along with a small celebration at noon for the departed and in the evening a speech about the vaisnava thakurs that left today and how they made some of their mark.

"But these garlands have these wild roses in them that will wilt by tomorrow" that's what today's garland maker told Sunday's. Sunday's wanted me to put the ones made for tomorrow on the Deities today since they were finished at the same time. "Yours are more oppulent and so better for Sunday". Still i decided on the ones for today any way. "Is this outfit one they wear every Ekadasi?" Yes. "I never noticed. How long has that been true?" "Ten years" i answered. Giridhari's cape and the multicolored sari of Gandharivka and kirta and dhoti of Mahaprabhu make the dress have a color for any day of the week.
i am too much addicted to pedaling. This evening's arati was more than a bit late because of that. The everday run but i just must have started that much latter than i thought. Everyone waited paitently but combined with the long kirtan it was a late arati. But since it's supposed to be at the junction of the day and night it really wasn't so far off.
It's a miracle that they let me keep doing this isn't it? "Why do you wrap your upavit around your thumb when you take the kartals?" 'cause one devotee used to joke with me that way since i do that with the things offered at arati. Maha krpa patra prabhu jagai madai/ patita pavana saksi dui bhai

Giridhari swirls in his yellow dhoti and purple coat, Gandharvika in her blue and ganga-yamuna sari. The two unite in Mahaprabhu who wears green and fushia sash and chodder. Today's garlands were of gardenias, roses and a few dasies. A festival for cupid.
Memory lane today. A couple of pedalers from vyau puri visited today. We pedaled through familiar haunts. Ducks, geese, sunny cove, and the natural bridge. As these places past us by we talked of jasmine garlands and laughed. We were amazed how we'd all stayed on the track.
Here come the judge, order in the court room! Yeah also a few Gaura Purnimas ago a curly wig was offered to Mahaprabhu. The old English courts came to mind and caused some loud gafaws.

i'm following the angels today. Green and yellow for Mahaprabhu and Gandharvika. Garlands with carnations and daisies. Russian amber in Gandharvika's necklace, Mahaprabhu had a non Russian amber necklace too. Giridhari is all yellow with a green belt. His jewelry is green, and red. Even though their hair hasn't been set for a couple of days, it looks good with this dress.
Through the mission area today to get some sandalwood oil. The mission bell is atop a hill that makes all us pedalers huff and puff. Back to the asrama by the coast route. Through steamer's lane and the lighthouse point. The deity of the sufferer had a new garland for the first time since a week ago. The boardwalk is also in full swing. Over the railroad bridge, to the newly constructed sidewalks. Then it's sandhya arati.
Krsna is a brahmacari. Ha! A test of faith he gave the gopis, of course they passed with flying colors. Durvasa muni completed the test after eating a feast he told them they'd be able to cross the river by saying "Durvasa muni didn't eat anything." Orange and purple are the colors tonight.

The aruna har posse rides again. Yes today they wore the pink and green combination again. The crystal beads on Giridhari's chodder and skirt are pink and clear. His kirta has roses woven in. Gandharvika's sari was one a Chinese artist had a picture of and copied. That is the picture they use on their altar there. In the afternoon the small Deites wore a lighter shadee of pink and white lace with sparkly sequins. One they've had for fourteen years or so. Wow, has it really been that long?
Off to the post office to mail a letter. The cars were so heavy that they forced me around into uncharted territory. i came up on the post office from behind. After posting i merged back past the furniture store that the radicals broke the display window out of. Then on through a tennis court park where people practiced up for a tournament or two and young kids went down a helter skelter. Round the wharf where feeding the sea lions has been prohibited now. then make the turn and on back to the asrama.
The lotus nails. A nrsimgma caturdasi dress with "two way thread" in Giridhari's coat. Gandharivka's sari is the same shade of orange as Giridhari's coat,at least from one angle. She has green trim

Deep blue, not the color SGM would choose for Gandharvika, but the color she chooses for herself. Giridhari's yellow coat, chodder and dhoti have silver trim along with gold and brown buttons. Mahaprabhu's mango color chodder has a more complete design on one side. Gladiolas in the garlands today. Wild.
All along the lighthouse way today. Pedaling by the deity of the sufferer. His garland hasn't been changed in some days now. Families feeding the geese today. The sea lions are congragating on their usual rock just out from the beach. Then take the road to the bay passing the once-upon-a-dream inn. Back to the asrama seeing a mural of Hanuman winding back up to the asrama.
The lions club this evening. Good if there is a chill in the night air. The jewelry went on without an argument. Giridhari wore a different belt than usual. But all things will pass in time.

Only the third time or so they've worn this dress, sikhipicci camara. Red with peacock feathers printed on the cloth. An elegant outfit. The garlands are petals with a few roses. The crowns are made to go with. They're red with peacocks in the center.
A quick one today. Buy the dog food and see a few teams out training. Out of five cars that passed me two were hummers. The words of the radical cyclists were in my ears, "if you pedal you will save the world". All the trees and fragrances of the spring and summer flowers that you miss by traveling by car. Pedaling by the ocean the smell of the salt air, who can give that up for air conditioning and forty-leven speakers?
The grateful dvip. i've dressed them in this one so many times it also doesn't fuss much. They must have been happy since i got started so late this evening and this one goes on so fast.