The highlight of the day definitely came in the morning after our team ran only 10 miles from Atlanta with a police escort the whole way. Bangshidhar was the lucky one to go out in the cool morning air, being escorted the whole way on his run to Riverdale by local police. We are so grateful to the various officers who took turns directing us on the right roads through all the intersections as well.

The runners arrive at the temple.

When we finally arrived at the Hindu Temple of Atlanta at 9:30, we were soulfully greeted by some of the officers and priests there as we ran up the long steps to the huge and brilliantly white ornate temple complex.

Raju Vanapalli and the priests bring the torch into the temple. Their chanting was so powerful.

Raju Vanapalli, who is the Religious Committee Chairman and an Orthopedic surgeon, welcomed us enthusiastically as he had done a year ago. He then led us in a procession with the torch along with Parvathy Kancherla, the Temple President’s wife or First Lady of the Temple, L.Narasimhan, Manager of the Temple, and Parameshwan, the First Manager of the Temple along with a number of chanting temple priests.

The priests brought the torch into all the sacred altars.

It was a powerful and soulful procession past numerous shrines such as Mahalaksmi, Durga, Ganesh, Nataraja and other Hindu deities, or aspects of the Supreme Being.

The team with our chef.

A delicious Indian meal, prepared by Rangacharyulu Maragapury, was then offered to us after the deeply moving spiritual procession.

The temple priests.

The Hindu Temple of Atlanta is the culmination of deeply felt Spiritual aspirations of Hindus in the Atlanta area. It is a non-profit organization founded in 1986. Daily worships, grand festivals, exquisite cultural programs, and children’s educational programs radiate the power of this spiritual sanctuary.

Prakhara and the girls' team.

We are extremely grateful to Prakhara, our Gerogia coordinator, who arranged this meeting for us as well as the hotels and meals of the past two days. We also offer gratitude to Maheeshi who was an essential member of the women’s team from the beginning but had to go back home today.

Our accommodations tonight were provided by the Days Inn and the Jameson Inn in Thomaston.

These two motels are quite comfortable and friendly and make us feel at home as we make our home in a different town everyday. Please accept our heart-felt gratitude.

Arpan and the Team

My team—Salil, Francesco, Edi and myself—ran the last miles of the day.

It was one of those light feet, happy legs days for me—which can be few and far between. So I enjoyed to the fullest.

Francesco got a very nice treat when a local driving home from work spotted him running with the torch. Josh—the local—was so inspired he pulled over, locked his car and started running down the road with Francesco.

This made Francesco very happy! and inspired us all.

Thanks Josh for joining the World Harmony Run today.

See you tomorrow,

Atulya

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