At the food distribution event for the three-day festival held annually in Poland, thanks to our volunteers, nearly 200,000 servings of hot lunches, fruit, and sweets were distributed among the young festivalgoers.
The world’s largest music festival featuring free food distribution has arrived: the famous Polish Woodstock Festival, taking place in the city of Kostrzyn from July 30 to August 1. The vast grounds filled up quickly, with nearly one million people arriving from all over the world with friends and tents in every color imaginable.
As part of the international Food for Life charity’s ’Food for Peace’ program, volunteers from countless countries joined this major event, including Hungarians, Russians, Ukrainians, Americans, British, Indians, Chileans, Chinese, Croatian, Belgian, and French—the list goes on and on—all of whom added color to the festival’s tapestry. Fueled by the power of their shared love for their countries, the enthusiastic international team threw themselves wholeheartedly into the work of cooking and serving food, and as a result, nearly 200,000 plates of an Indian-style meal—including desserts—were served during the event. The food was prepared on-site in two huge pots, while behind-the-scenes work was carried out simultaneously in five kitchens. Of course, the food distribution was just a small part of the many other Krishna-related programs offered at the festival.
In the days leading up to the massive event, Krishna devotees distributed numerous invitations among the young people who had set up camp in the fenced-off area spanning tens of thousands of square meters, inviting those seeking a more meaningful and ecstatic experience to the tent complex bearing the inscription „Krishna’s Peace Village” and inviting those seeking a more meaningful and ecstatic experience to join them. In the village, five huge, elaborately decorated Indian Ratha Yatra chariots and a variety of interesting programs—including a mantra yoga demonstration, a book booth, a question-and-answer workshop, traditional Indian decorative face painting (gopi dots), and a main stage filled with entertaining performances all day long.
Every day, they paraded through the festival grounds accompanied by music; whenever this happened, the carefree young people would spontaneously join the procession, singing and dancing together simply for the joy of the music. Along the way, they were joined by numerous dedicated followers who accompanied the marchers back to the ’Village of Peace,’ where they could take part in a musical program featuring even more traditional Indian instruments. The lively atmosphere was followed by another food distribution, and this continued every single day!
The primary goal of food distributions at festivals is always harm reduction, since during events that often devolve into unbridled hedonism, there is a great need for wholesome food, a clear mind, and the company of people who can offer an alternative for sober, purposeful recreation. The vegetarian meals distributed are not only healthy delicacies but also consecrated, so-called “spiritual food” offered to God, which, in addition to nourishing the body, also serves to satisfy the soul.
The sight of faces beaming with happiness made all the hard work worthwhile. Looking back, it’s safe to say that those who visited the Krishna tent returned home enriched in many ways.
A video about the festival: In Full Swing