Part 3 – Prasadam Politics

The local CBS TV channel gives focus to the four front-runners and one of the other ‘crackpot' candidates. "One of these groups is using the mayoral race as an opportunity to create a philosophical forum." They don't refer to Balavanta as crackpot, but present him in a more favorable light. The visual shows the devotees' Mercedes truck with Vote for William Ogle for Mayor – Hare Krishna painted on both sides. It's a large gray vehicle previously used for delivering shipments of bread. On top there's a small railing along the perimeter of the roof. Devotees place a rug on top and sit on the roof doing amplified kirtan with the temple instruments and a sound system. The truck goes slowly along the main streets of downtown Atlanta and devotees call it the kali-yuga elephant.

From the back of the truck devotees hand out flyers promoting Balavanta's run for Mayor. They distribute prasadam in the form of donated fruits, from the back of the truck. Some devotees delight in throwing apples and oranges to the crowds. They are extra careful with the tomatoes. People are amused and delighted with the kirtan and fruit as they compete with one another to catch the thrown prasadam.