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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Distributing Srila Prabhupada\u2019s books dressed as Santa Claus.
\nDrumila das: 1rst time was in San Francisco. I had never been out on Sankirtan before, I was only three months in the movement. A brahmacari named Hrdayagovinda dressed me up in a Santa suit, and put me on the streets of San Francisco, where I was immediately mobbed by about 15 kids attacking me, literally for the candy canes that I started to hand out. I started running and had to ditch them inside a building. I was petrified. Somehow I mustered up the determination to keep going and I became a damn good Santa at the end of it all. I probably did about three years total, tours of Santa.
\nThere was one Officer Small a sheriff who didn\u2019t like us Hare Krishnas. This was back in the early 80s in Laguna Beach. There was one unincorporated city, that he patrolled. And he ran us out of there on more than one occasion. One Christmas a devotee named Krsna Kirtana and I were going door to door as Santas in his area, passing out candy canes and asking for donations. Someone called the authorities, and Officer Small showed up in his sheriff\u2019s car. He put us in the backseat and said he was going to arrest us, but Amerendra Dasa who was our lawyer at the time had given us paperwork saying to the effect that we were legal to solicit donations in unincorporated areas. We had that paperwork and handed it to him saying he couldn\u2019t arrest us. I told him to call his supervisor. We both watched in the backseat of his car, as a forlorn look appeared on his face when he was told by his superior officer, that in fact, he would have to let us go. To say the least, he was extremely disappointed, as he had his heart set on taking us in.
\nOne time Krsna Kirtana and I, dressed as Santa\u2019s were soliciting donations inside a drugstore (my bright idea), in a strip mall. The manager of the store walked down one isle, to see me, a large Santa with a big red bucket outstretched, and a lady, her arm hovering over it to place a five dollar bill there. The manager was furious and outraged and shocked to find me and his story collecting donations. He had me come up to the front counter, and on the way-in counter, the other Santa Claus! He was even more dismayed! He had us stand near him at the checkout stand while he audibly called his friend who is a law-enforcement officer. Yeah ask him if he could send a squad car down to pick us up. I looked at the other Santa Claus, and lean towards him, and in a soft voice, I said to him, \u201cSanta, Exit\u2026 stage left, when I say go.\u201d GO!!!! We ran towards the front doors of the store, and bolted for the parking lot, me from going with my keys while running there and candy canes falling out of my box. The manager was rather heavy-set, he must\u2019ve been about 300 pounds. It was quite comical to see him running towards the front door, and then seeing the two doors, violently swing open crash into them. He was yelling, \u201cCome back here! As he was trying to chase after us.\u201d By this time, I had started the engine, and through the car in reverse, making skidmarks. And then I threw it in drive, and screeched out of there, us laughing merrily all the way!
\nKrsna K\u012brtana and I used to go into bars together dressed at Santa\u2019s, and I would walk up to grown men, pinch their cheeks, and ask them if they been a good boy this year. They would say, \u201cYes \u201d, and I would say, \u201cLook what Santa\u2019s brought you this year!\u201d Placing the candy cane in their hand. I would proceed then, to ask them for a donation, telling them to \u2018pitch-in!\u2019 to my big red bucket full of candy canes and dollar bills. We would then proceed, to dance arm in arm the other Santa and I, all the while boisterously chanting Gaura Nitai and Nitai Goura to various famous Christmas melodies. Sometimes we would do this, before we went around asking for donations. I never had so much fun!
\nOne Christmas I was going door to door as Santa Claus. I came across a butcher shop, which was very busy during rush hour. There must\u2019ve been a line of about 15 people. I started from the back and was asking each person to place a donation in my bucket. I was quite successful! Just then the owner, an elderly Korean woman came up, and started yelling at me, saying, \u201cWho are you!\u201d It was quite surreal, and it startled everyone in the store, who all became very quiet. I would definitely put on the spot, and at first didn\u2019t know what to do. But then I gathered my wits, and I looked at her, and said, \u201cWhy don\u2019t you recognize me? I\u2019m Santa Claus!\u201d Clearly frustrated, she inquired again, even more intensely, yelling, \u201cNo! Who are you!?\u201d I said innocently, \u201cWhy I\u2019m Santa. Don\u2019t you recognize me?!\u201d Then I scolded her in my deep, thick Santa voice, shaking my finger at her, saying \u201cWhy, Santa can tell that you haven\u2019t been a good girl this year!!!\u201d The whole butcher shop, all of its patrons were laughing hysterically to see the fun. And most of them had already given a donation anyway by the time she discovered me. I really felt that day, that I was part of Lord Caitanya\u2019s pastime of saving the most fallen souls. In a butcher shop of all places! And how he had save me that day.<\/p>\n
As objectively as I can say this, I was a damn good Santa! I had the deep voice down, the long flowing white beard, and a big jolly belly cause I would stuff a big pillow in my suit.
\nWell, I had been going door to door all day long, and it was starting to get dark, and most all the shops were closing up for the day. So I thought I\u2019d just do one more and go home. Well I went into this florist shop, and no one was at the front counter, so in a very deep Santa voice I said, \u201cHELLO THERE!!! Is anybody home?!!\u201d No sound. Then again I said, \u201cHELLO!! Is anybody here?!\u201d
\nFrom the back of the shop I could hear, growing louder and louder, a scampering, scratching sound, produced by the nails of an animal as he slid across the floor( about 10 ft.)all excited. It was a little hairy dog!! Then I heard a loud, sweet and simultaneously scolding voice coming from the back of the room yelling, \u201cKrsna! Krsna!\u201d
\nA young 16 yr. old girl came out, and I exclaimed (in my deep Santa voice),\u201c OH!!! What did you say little girl?\u201d In a very calm, and mellow sweet voice she said \u201cKrishna.\u201d I said \u201cOh! (in a very deep Jolly voice full of surprise), and why did you name your dog Krsna?\u201d (the whole time keeping in character as Santa) She thought for a moment and said, \u201cI just liked the sound of it.\u201d \u201cAnd how long have you had this little dog?\u201d, I said. She said, \u201cSince he was a little puppy 5 yrs. ago.\u201d I said, \u201cAnd you\u2019ve been calling him Krishna, all this time?\u201d She said, \u201cYes.\u201d
\nThen I said, \u201cWell, do you know anything about Krishna?\u201d She looked thoughtful and said, \u201cNo.\u201d I pulled out a Hard bound Yoga for the Modern Age and as I handed it to her, in my deep Santa voice, I said,\u201c Here\u2026this book, will tell you ALL about Krishna!\u201d She was very grateful, and I remember clearly her giving a 5 dollar donation( although I don\u2019t remember exactly at what juncture). Cool story huh? How fortunate was that dog, and that little girl!!
\nIn the photo there is Kurma prabhu, the famous cook, dressed as Santa and ready for Sankirtana.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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<\/p>\n
Distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books dressed as Santa Claus.
\nDrumila das: 1rst time was in San Francisco. I had never been out on Sankirtan before, I was only three months in the movement. A brahmacari named Hrdayagovinda dressed me up in a Santa suit, and put me on the streets of San Francisco, where I was immediately mobbed by about 15 kids attacking me, literally for the candy canes that I started to hand out. I started running and had to ditch them inside a building. I was petrified. Somehow I mustered up the determination to keep going and I became a damn good Santa at the end of it all. I probably did about three years total, tours of Santa.
\nThere was one Officer Small a sheriff who didn’t like us Hare Krishnas. This was back in the early 80s in Laguna Beach. There was one unincorporated city, that he patrolled. And he ran us out of there on more than one occasion. One Christmas a devotee named Krsna Kirtana and I were going door to door as Santas in his area, passing out candy canes and asking for donations. Someone called the authorities, and Officer Small showed up in his sheriff’s car. He put us in the backseat and said he was going to arrest us, but Amerendra Dasa who was our lawyer at the time had given us paperwork saying to the effect that we were legal to solicit donations in unincorporated areas. We had that paperwork and handed it to him saying he couldn’t arrest us. I told him to call his supervisor. We both watched in the backseat of his car, as a forlorn look appeared on his face when he was told by his superior officer, that in fact, he would have to let us go. To say the least, he was extremely disappointed, as he had his heart set on taking us in.
\nOne time Krsna Kirtana and I, dressed as Santa’s were soliciting donations inside a drugstore (my bright idea), in a strip mall. The manager of the store walked down one isle, to see me, a large Santa with a big red bucket outstretched, and a lady, her arm hovering over it to place a five dollar bill there. The manager was furious and outraged and shocked to find me and his story collecting donations. He had me come up to the front counter, and on the way-in counter, the other Santa Claus! He was even more dismayed! He had us stand near him at the checkout stand while he audibly called his friend who is a law-enforcement officer. Yeah ask him if he could send a squad car down to pick us up. I looked at the other Santa Claus, and lean towards him, and in a soft voice, I said to him, “Santa, Exit… stage left, when I say go.” GO!!!! We ran towards the front doors of the store, and bolted for the parking lot, me from going with my keys while running there and candy canes falling out of my box. The manager was rather heavy-set, he must’ve been about 300 pounds. It was quite comical to see him running towards the front door, and then seeing the two doors, violently swing open crash into them. He was yelling, “Come back here! As he was trying to chase after us.” By this time, I had started the engine, and through the car in reverse, making skidmarks. And then I threw it in drive, and screeched out of there, us laughing merrily all the way!
\nKrsna Kīrtana and I used to go into bars together dressed at Santa’s, and I would walk up to grown men, pinch their cheeks, and ask them if they been a good boy this year. They would say, “Yes ”, and I would say, “Look what Santa’s brought you this year!” Placing the candy cane in their hand. I would proceed then, to ask them for a donation, telling them to ‘pitch-in!’ to my big red bucket full of candy canes and dollar bills. We would then proceed, to dance arm in arm the other Santa and I, all the while boisterously chanting Gaura Nitai and Nitai Goura to various famous Christmas melodies. Sometimes we would do this, before we went around asking for donations. I never had so much fun!
\nOne Christmas I was going door to door as Santa Claus. I came across a butcher shop, which was very busy during rush hour. There must’ve been a line of about 15 people. I started from the back and was asking each person to place a donation in my bucket. I was quite successful! Just then the owner, an elderly Korean woman came up, and started yelling at me, saying, “Who are you!” It was quite surreal, and it startled everyone in the store, who all became very quiet. I would definitely put on the spot, and at first didn’t know what to do. But then I gathered my wits, and I looked at her, and said, “Why don’t you recognize me? I’m Santa Claus!” Clearly frustrated, she inquired again, even more intensely, yelling, “No! Who are you!?” I said innocently, “Why I’m Santa. Don’t you recognize me?!” Then I scolded her in my deep, thick Santa voice, shaking my finger at her, saying “Why, Santa can tell that you haven’t been a good girl this year!!!” The whole butcher shop, all of its patrons were laughing hysterically to see the fun. And most of them had already given a donation anyway by the time she discovered me. I really felt that day, that I was part of Lord Caitanya’s pastime of saving the most fallen souls. In a butcher shop of all places! And how he had save me that day.<\/p>\n
As objectively as I can say this, I was a damn good Santa! I had the deep voice down, the long flowing white beard, and a big jolly belly cause I would stuff a big pillow in my suit.
\nWell, I had been going door to door all day long, and it was starting to get dark, and most all the shops were closing up for the day. So I thought I’d just do one more and go home. Well I went into this florist shop, and no one was at the front counter, so in a very deep Santa voice I said, “HELLO THERE!!! Is anybody home?!!” No sound. Then again I said, “HELLO!! Is anybody here?!”
\nFrom the back of the shop I could hear, growing louder and louder, a scampering, scratching sound, produced by the nails of an animal as he slid across the floor( about 10 ft.)all excited. It was a little hairy dog!! Then I heard a loud, sweet and simultaneously scolding voice coming from the back of the room yelling, “Krsna! Krsna!”
\nA young 16 yr. old girl came out, and I exclaimed (in my deep Santa voice),“ OH!!! What did you say little girl?” In a very calm, and mellow sweet voice she said “Krishna.” I said “Oh! (in a very deep Jolly voice full of surprise), and why did you name your dog Krsna?” (the whole time keeping in character as Santa) She thought for a moment and said, “I just liked the sound of it.” “And how long have you had this little dog?”, I said. She said, “Since he was a little puppy 5 yrs. ago.” I said, “And you’ve been calling him Krishna, all this time?” She said, “Yes.”
\nThen I said, “Well, do you know anything about Krishna?” She looked thoughtful and said, “No.” I pulled out a Hard bound Yoga for the Modern Age and as I handed it to her, in my deep Santa voice, I said,“ Here…this book, will tell you ALL about Krishna!” She was very grateful, and I remember clearly her giving a 5 dollar donation( although I don’t remember exactly at what juncture). Cool story huh? How fortunate was that dog, and that little girl!!
\nIn the photo there is Kurma prabhu, the famous cook, dressed as Santa and ready for Sankirtana.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10650,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[118],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34362","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-recent-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34362","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/10650"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=34362"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34362\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36291,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34362\/revisions\/36291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=34362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=34362"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=34362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}