11th International Vegan Festival Report

Sept. 30 to Oct. 6 2007 - Murdeshwar, Karnataka, India, organised by the Indian Vegan Society.

By Zalan Glen, Australia.

I am sitting on the bench in my hotel garden amongst the coconut palms, listening to the lap of the waves, gazing at an enormous statue of Shiva and the R.N.S. hotel complex where the 11th International Vegan Festival was held here at Murdeshwar, Karnataka, India.

It is now Monday, with the Festival having closed on Saturday. Most attendees have dispersed from whence they came, while a few post festival hangers-on, rest and relax after this intensive event.

Joyous, enriching, revitalizing, surprising, healing, unpredictable and informative; extremely useful in assisting the formative growth of the seeds of the Vegan way to the Indian people.

Our host was the Indian Vegan Society, with assistance from various vegan sympathizers, The Vegan Society UK and IVU. Society President, Shankar, with a handful of members, a massive will and determination, have during the last 12 months, re-introduced the message of compassion and non-violence to further the protection of all animals, culminating in this semi-formal IVF event.

Overseas country origins of participants included Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Iran, Israel, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, U.K. and U.S.A, We were all well versed in answering Indian inquiries, as nationhood is usually the first question we are asked as a traveller in India! "World citizen" is also a good response.

Drawing on local knowledge and cultural links, the organizers and we participants, walked a tightrope of vegan and vegetarian issues over the course of the 7 day festival. The twin strengths of vegan comradeship and graciousness were needed and shone through some quite challenging presentations and discussions, due to the enormous influence of dairy products and entrenchment as part of the Indian and particularly Hindu tradition.

Professional power point, in addition to impromptu speeches were given in a large auditorium. A brief summary of Program Content is shown elsewhere (below). A few mixed language presentations were in Karnataka as well as English, with a smattering of Sanskrit derivations. Various local dignitaries from health, education, religious and Government bodies had been invited to attend and speak, with the media well canvassed prior to the event.

The core group of some 25-30 overseas representatives was small by comparison with previous IVF events, and we provided the majority of the audience apart from a few occasions when joined by up to 100 or more local supporters of various religious and community leaders. A few stalls offered information and crafts, with an excellent sandal display from Chennai and some artworks.

The entertainment program was first class with traditional Indian music and dance presentations most days. Three half-day bus tours were to a nearby resort offering an opportunity for group sharing and relief from the organized program; the scenic Jog Falls; and on Friday, a wonderful chance to savior the hospitality of our Yoga teacher and his village members, who provided entertainment and a beautifully prepared lunch in an idyllic heritage building and plantation riverside setting.

A peace march was held on October 2, Ghandi's birthday which was also granted an International day of Peace by the U.N. Dressed in our vegan t-shirts and white caps, we offered vegan leaflets, good wishes and a placard parade as we walked the main road to Murdeshwar entrance gate, some 1.5 kms from the festival site. We were ably assisted by a contingent of local women in wonderfully colourful saris who joined the procession.

It appeared evident we were sited in a location where people quickly integrated change. The magnificence of Shiva was really in evidence as he worked his magic here. The compelling truth of the vegan path was assisted throughout, as was the genuine and generous spiritual openness of the Indian people whose personal growth and vision are readily expected and respected.

A number of attendees, both local and overseas, and invited dignitaries made public vows to make modifications to their personal lifestyle to adopt the vegan way. Of course these offered us a chance to provide rousing support, which really enhanced the sense of values we could perceive at this festival.

Most guests stayed at the Festival Venue and general consensus seems this was a good choice. The catering staff provided a level of quality and presentation well above that of the surrounding cuisine options, and managed to satisfy most people most of the time, enhancing potential for a vegan presence locally.

Further review of events and a swathe of pictures, proposed video and C.D.'s will follow. These few words express my personal observations and experience.

Excellent presentations by Brazil and Italy, who showcased their respective bids to sponsor a future IVF, gave exciting insights to the treasures which are available within the world vegan movement. The Turin Vegan Festival is already a well attended annual event.

The unique Brazilian experience offers a most powerful, timely and visionary opportunity to spread vegan awareness. With its readily identifiable, synchronous and convergent national issues, the insights of vegan awareness can greatly enhance the Vegan way on the World stage, with pragmatic and common sense strategies of healing and protection for people, animals and the environment.

Alternatives bids may still be canvassed, with an expectation that the Serena Coles committee will make some statement regarding the location of 12th IVF later this year. It will be very interesting to see the outcome of this process.

Summary

So as the emotions subside and the memories and mental activity take pride of place again, I am left to offer congratulations and friendship on my behalf, and I imagine that of all attendees, to the contributors for their wonderful efforts made and the selfless assistance towards making IVF 11 such a useful and provoking event.

For Shankar, his vision, generosity, charisma and enormous input far exceeds the lesser shortfalls he thought evident and subsequently acknowledged in his closing speech. That any of us as individuals can hope to achieve more than our best, and to achieve such a feat and juggling act as this Festival offered is to deny the realities of India and the extent of spirituality, humbleness and humility ever present in the psyche and actions of the Indian people themselves. I am proud to be a citizen in a world where such divine light shines, to have had the opportunity to realize this gem in Murdeshwar.

Love and Vegan Awareness to all,
In Peace, Samana
(October 9 2007)

P.S.

IVF Organisation

Numerous issues surfaced and it appears that a transparent criteria and process needs to be adopted if the IVF is to continue the previous format of VEGAN ONLY presentations and representation. It is hoped the formation of the Serena Coles Committee which Kirsten has formed with fellow vegan visionaries, will strengthen the direction and support for Festival facilitators and prospective bidders.

There is a great need for all of us to be specific about what we believe and how this may readily be manifested in the good name of the vegan message. The talent, willpower and vision are in place and I think the Indian experience has been a really powerful instigator of the responsibilities we have to the vegan movement and the ways we can maximize the allocation of IVF input in ways which are both effective and respectful.

Program Sketch

Topic / Presenter / Origin
Introduction / Shankar / Facilitator
Milk / Nandita Shah / India
Uncaged UK / Dan / UK
Save Planet Earth / Helga / Belgium
21st C VEGAN!! / Colin / New Zealand
Einstein, Vegetarianism And World Peace / Anil / Iran
Being Vegan-Trials And Presentation / Nandita / India
Ethical Vegetarian Alternatives / Helga / Belgium
Battery Cage Hens (On behalf of another) / Nandita / India
Animal Rights / Kerrin / Sweden
Cruelty free Footware / Shiva / India
Veganising Latin America / Marley / Brazil
The Quaker Way! / Bill / UK
Turin Vegan Festival / Roberta / Italy
Festival Presentations / Italy and / Brazil

Local Presenters (Part complete - full list to be confirmed later)

A Hindu view of the Vegan way / Swamiji Guru / Shirsi, Karnataka
Health / Ram Mohan / Kundapoor India
Politicians / Karnataka and Regional
Environment - Forest officer / JagannathShetty / Karnataka
Sattvic Diet!!! / word / word

(End of Report.)

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