"Bhagavad Geeta Festival in Bali, Indonesia"

A report from Michael Medved, Bali.
On Sunday afternoon and evening, Swami Purnamritananda Puri from Mata Amritanandamayi Math was a guest of honour at a record-setting event at Tanah Lot Temple in Tabanan Regency. Swamiji was accompanied by Agus Indra Udayana (spiritualist and humanitarian, founder of Ashram Gandhi Puri), and joined Eka Wiryastuti (Governor, Recency of Tabanan, Bali), Dr. Arya Wedakarna (local political activist and youth leader, grandson of Indonesia’s first President), and a number of scholars, sannyasis, and other VIPs. Surpi Arya Dharma, who is a youth activist in Bali and who is part of Amma’s Bali Group, spearheaded and coordinated this event which saw over 8,000 people gather to chant the Bhagavad Gita in its entirety. The kind, innocent, and devotional nature of the Balinese, their resolute faith, and the preservation of their culture is beyond remarkable - it's extraordinary! After the chanting of the Gita came to an end, there were a number of dances and performances related to Krishna and Arjuna’s interactions in the epic story. A number of the dignitaries commented on the Gita and were involved in the formalities which an event of this magnitude commands.