sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam
hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate
“Bhakti, or devotional service, means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the senses. When the spirit soul renders service unto the Supreme, there are two side effects. One is freed from all material designations, and, simply by being employed in the service of the Lord, one’s senses are purified.”
– Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.1.12)
Every year Ratha-yātrā is made possible by the 200+ volunteers. Volunteers are needed for the following devotional services.
The Day Before the Event
At Golden Gate Park:
- Assembly and setup/decoration of chariots
- Assembly of tents and stage for the festival
At Berkeley Temple:
- Kitchen: cutting vegetables, cleaning pots, assisting with cooking
- Storage Area: loading material from storage to truck, organizing material in store and temple, cleaning
- Temple room: making garlands, cleaning
On the Day of the Event
At Golden Gate Park:
- Decoration of chariots
- Chariot wheel guard (during procession)
- Dismantle of chariots, tents and stage
- Cleanup of the festival ground
- Serving free feast
At Berkeley Temple:
- Kitchen: cleaning kitchen and pots
- Temple room: cleaning, unloading material from truck
- Storage Area: Unloading material from truck, organizing material in store and temple, cleaning
The Day After the Event
At Berkeley Temple:
- Kitchen: cleaning pots
- Temple room: cleaning unloading material from truck
- Storage Area: unloading material from storage to truck, organizing material in store and temple, cleaning
If you would like to join the team of volunteers, please contact the temple president. This is a very spiritually uplifting experience. Thank you.