With Geeta and Fly at home for the Labor day weekend 11:45 AM Sep 2 2012
With Geeta and Fly at home for the Labor day weekend 11:45 AM Sep 2 2012
With Geeta and Fly at home for the Labor day weekend 11:45 AM Sep 2 2012
Kids have a ball in the back seat of our car as we drive through the Six Flags Animal Safari for 3 hours. Sep 2 2012 1:45 PM . Krishnaraj and all the seniors were in the other car.
Pavan and Divya served as a knowledge base for Nishka to get additional information about all the animals as we passed them by.
Elks couldn't ask for more as they bask in the man make lake within the protective confines of the 6 flags park. if they still got bored they could watch people screaming atop the scary rides of the Six Flags them park a few hundred meters away. Sep 2 2012 2 pm
African Pachyderms in the confines of an electric fence
More heavy duty animals and that too twin horned
Nishka was bedazzled by the size of the ostrich 2:45 pm Sep 2 2012
Giraffes are one creature that would not escape even the attention of Rishma
Giraffes co-exist with Zebras to simulate the African Savanna
Some privileged Drive got to watch a Giraffe from that close distance as it caused a traffic jam just after we had crossed that stretch. The Ranger in the pick up truck alongside finally had to guide this curios guy off the road. For tourists blocked by this Giraffe however, this would have been the highlight of their Safari tour Sep 2 2012 3 PM
A couple of giraffes feeding on Hay in a ranger's truck make the Chevy appear diminutive
This guy must have stayed inside that fence only because he was fed well. 3:30 PM
The EMUs' surely entertained passengers in the Krishnaraj's van as it approached the windows of lot of visitors vehicles
The KingdaKa was no king today as it did not seem operational today. Sep 2 2012 4 PM just before exiting the Six Flags Safari ride
When Chaitanya visited us during his East Coast hiatus enroute to California from Buffalo on Sep 3 2012 10 PM
Nishka drawing Krishna at Krishna drawing competition the first competition event of the day the occassion of Krishna Leelothsava at Krishna Mutt in Edison on Sep 8 2012 2:30 PM
Nishka engrossed in trying to give her best shot at showcasing her drawing and coloring skills
As Nishka skims through her drawing process, other kids who have come unprepared find it hard to pass the 30 minutes alloted time Sep 8 2012 2:30 PM
Other kids' parents blocked me from taking a look at Nishka's drawing as they swarmed around her
Kids deeply involved in drawing.
As the neighboring kid is done with his scribbling , Nishka continues defining Krishna's visage Sep 8 2012 2:36 PM
By 2:46 PM, Lord Krishna gets his colors rendered
By 2:46 PM, Lord Nishka rendering colors of Lord Krishna
With neighboring kids unprepared to draw Krishna from their memory, they took to mischief and Nim had to actively work with Nishka's grand parents to keep the other kids at bay and save Nishka's work from being trampled by them Sep 8 2012 2:46 PM
Final touches
Nishka takes a momentary break to look at the camera
Nishka all prepared to proceed to the singing contest posing with little sis 3 PM
Nishka with her little sis before proceeding to the singing competition. Rishma not to be left behind will be taking part in the Krishna Dress competition later today as Krishna
Nishka Rishma with today's make up artists their mother and grand-mother 3:30 PM
Nishka's drawing she did in today's half hour Krishna drawing competition.
All the entries for today's Krishna Drawing competition
Nishka's art work
Nishka awaits her turn for the singing contest with her mom 4:15 PM
Rishma all dressed up as she waits with her grandpa and grandma for her sister to sing on stage.
Nishka singing Iko Node Ranganaatha. Her performance was unmatched to that of other kids 4:20 pm Sep 8 2012
Nishka singing Iko Node Ranganaatha. Her performance was unparallelled to that of other kids 4:20 pm Sep 8 2012
Nishka singing Iko Node Ranganaatha. She hardly exhibited any stage fear 4:20 pm Sep 8 2012
As Nishka is singing
Nishka singing
Nishka singing
Nishka sings Iko Node Ranganatha
Nim dressing up kids in the dressing room for the Krishna fancy dress contest Sep 8 2012 4:30 PM
Nim dresses up Nishka as Radha while Rishma already decked up as butter Krishna is as relaxed as one can be, busy swinging away her legs as she relaxes on a chair. 4:45 PM
Nim dresses up Nishka as Radha while Rishma already decked up as butter Krishna is as relaxed as one can be, busy swinging away her legs as she relaxes on a chair. 4:45 PM
Rishma all set for the fancy dress waits for her big sister to be decked up for the Krishna costume contest about to begin in 15 minutes.
Her grandma pitches in as well to make Nishka represent Radha as realistic as possible Sep 8 2012 4:45 PM
Nim and her grandparents giving final touches to Nishka's Radha costume in the dressing room of Krishna Mutt Edison
What a pair ?
Krishna and Radha with their Grandma 5PM
Nishka Rishma with their granparents just before proceeding to the auditorium for the Krishna Vesha contest Sep 8 5PM
Nishka Rishma with their granparents just before proceeding to the auditorium for the Krishna Vesha contest Sep 8 5PM
Krishna and Radha make landfall in Edison NJ
With their mom and dad Sep 8 2012 5 PM
Midway in the contest for the category of 2-4 year olds , the head priest's son dressed up as Krishna participates 5:30 PM
Soon Rishma walks to the stage in the 2-4 year olds category and standing in front of 100s' of people, munches onto the flute with no stage fear as Nim walks away after leaving heron the stage Sep 8 2012 5:30 PM
Nish Rishma's grandma seated in the midst of the audience watches the fancy dress contest eager to see how her grandkids fare amidst the scores of enthusiastic participants
The prize winning act in the 4-7 year olds category that featured Mohan's daughter
Finally at 5:40 PM Nishka makes it onto the stage in the 4-7 year olds category
Grand Maha Pooja in the evening which featured pulling of the chariot and procession within the temple premises. Having gone out to run some errands after the Fancy dress contest, the managed to sneak in just in time for the Maha Pooja and Prize distribution contest in case Nishka/Rishma were to win in any of the categories they participated Sep 8 2012 7:55 PM
Parents witness their first Rathotsava in the US Sep 8 2012 7:55 PM
Mahapooja in progress as scores gather in the main hall of the temple to witness it.
Mahapooja in progress as scores gather in the main hall of the temple to witness it 7:55 PM
Even though they they would announce the winners only after the Pooja, the only constant question from Nishka was when would she be given the prize.
Since Nishka watched Lord Krishna's Pooja, her prayers were answered and won the 1st prize in the drawing contest and received the award from the head priest, Shri. Yogendra Bhat Sep 8 Sep 8:40 PM
Since Nishka watched Lord Krishna's Pooja, her prayers were answered and won the FIRST prize in the Krishna drawing and coloring contest in the 4-7 yr old category and received the award from the head priest, Shri. Yogendra Bhat Sep 8 Sep 8:40 PM
As Nishka proudly returns back to her seating area after receiving her prize in the Krishna drawing and coloring contest, her little sister cant wait to see what her big sister was awarded in front of hundreds of people 8:40 PM
Aahh! Look at that cheer on Nishka and pride on Nim's face. Based on general reviews, we felt Nishka would win in the Singing contest as well
A proud Nishka shows off her winning
