Indradyumna Swami talked about the success of festival with the devotees:
The media were favorable. They were favorable about Woodstock in general. As far as our presentation, they liked the food, the cleanliness, and the bands. They mentioned how the Krishnas and the Jesus people got along so well. Their articles referred to us as a religion not a sect.
The shops and books did well. Yoga was popular, so was astrology. Ratha-yatra was extraordinary. He talked about the boy who got the special mercy. It only rained when it got too hot.
It was a resounding success.
When Prabhupada was present, he would see how things were going on, and the devotees would await Srila Prabhupada's reaction. His appreciation made the years' austerities worthwhile. Indradyumna Swami is convinced that Prabhupada, Gaura-Nitai, and Radha-Krishna were overjoyed. And he is sure the demigods were watching our Woodstock sacrifice from the heavens. He tells how Srila Prabhupada asked in a London kirtana one day if anyone had seen Narada Muni there, and how he said the demigods sometimes come to witness the congregational chanting. He even had the devotees put a special seat on the altar for Narada Muni.
Sankirtana means to bring the kirtana out to the streets. And Lord Caitanya predicted that the chanting will spread to every town and village. "I am sure everyone made leaps of advancement by the mercy descending from above."
The kids were more inquisitive and had more respect for the devotees. We are no longer listed as a sect or a cult in this country but a religion. "Is it because we told them? No, it is because we showed them." Srila Prabhupada said, "We will take the whole world by culture." Now the world culture is American culture, Levis, McDonalds, and whiskey.
Jurek Oswiak said to IDS before Woodstock:
You and me have worked together to put this Woodstock together for 11 years.
The Jesus people want to cooperate this year.
Their poll said 80% of the people come to Woodstock find solutions to life's problems.
We have a solution to offer them.
Maharaja thanks Nandini and Jayatam for single-handedly organizing the Krishna's Village of Peace. The devotees distributed 112,000-113,000 plates of prasadam thanks to organizer, Rasakendra Prabhu. Thanks go also to Dominik who built the whole village and dismantled it.
By the mercy of Lord Caitanya, the inspiration of Srila Prabhupada, and under the direction of Indradyumna Swami, many devotees from many countries cooperated together to so that hundreds of thousands of souls could come in touch with the name, form, pastimes, and prasadam of Lord Krishna and thus become free from sinful reactions and make permanent spiritual benefit. Thus I am always inspired to be in this association of those who put on the Krishna's Village Peace festival. While summarizing Dhruva's pastimes in the Srimad-Bhagavatam for MIHET, I came across a quote about the destination of such workers.
"Only persons who constantly engage in welfare activities for other living entities can reach the Vaikuntha planets [which constitute the spiritual world]. Persons who are peaceful, equipoised, cleansed and purified, and who know the art of pleasing all other living entities, keep friendship only with devotees of the Lord; they alone can very easily achieve the perfection of going back home, back to Godhead" ( Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.12.36-37).
May we always engage in such auspicious activities in such association.