One day before the silpis departure, Kauai Mission members came together and prepared and delivered a wonderful dinner to their home.

L/R -- (standing) here are Pandi, Rajendran and Manikandan, and seated, Veylansami, Chelliaya, and Karupiyah all wearing beautiful blue jade garlands. Lavished with gifts and good wishes from both the monastery and the Mission devotees, they are returning to India after working with total dedication for the past five years fulfilling Gurudeva’s vision building the Iraivan Temple. Although we are sad to see them go, we are all very grateful for their gifts of hand-carved granite artistic perfection, dedication and hard work, and especially their good-natured cheerfulness and happy smiling faces. Nandri!

With Chidambaram Sthapati in the center, and Lokesh to the left of stapathi, here are the three new silpis who have just arrived from Chennai. (Left) seated is Chitayah, standing to the right of stapathi is Chelliaya, and seated on the far right is Andrapan. Kannan (not in the photo) was busy in the kitchen. These are the remaining silpis, under the expert guidance of Chidambaram Sthapati, who will bring the Iraivan Temple to its completion.

A few Mission members -- Uma and Tandu with their grandaughter, and Isani Alahan and Leanora Orr (with Shama taking photos).