Today there was a huge festival of Indian spirituality by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (generally referred to as Hare Krishna). A parade of the devotees and a colorful painted wagon carrying a representation of Lord Krishna was rolled down 5th Avenue from 59th Street to Washington Square, where the festival was set up with dancing, chanting, and booths offering free food, literature, and spiritual instruction. Many entire families with children spent the day, and it was pleasant to see all the people dressed in beautiful saris and other Indian traditional clothing having a good time. The proselytizing was gentle and unobtrusive, and basically the entire event felt like an old-fashioned country fair come to the city.