Hare Krishna
we were rushing off for Mangal Arotik on the morning of Gaura Purnima so in my haste to share the beautiful darshan i had with all arcana lovers here, i just posted the link without writing anything...Take a look at this, the deities ...Sri Radha Madhava and asta sakhis are attired in Kimonos, with a beautiful topknot....They look amazing!

Haribol,
PAMHO, AGtSP,

Gaura Purnima was wonderful here.

here are pictures of the deities on gaura purnima in chowpatty, india: Their dress depicting the pastime of holi is just amazing!
www.deitydarshan.com/ddthumbs.php

here are pictures of the deities from new vrindaban on gaura purnima...Their dresses were sewn very lovingly by many matajis.
www.newvrindaban.com/gallery/main.php
www.newvrindaban.com/gallery/main.php
www.newvrindaban.com/gallery/main.php

my deities also mercifully accepted Their new dress from vrindavana--i've posted some pics of Them in the Photo category.

your servant,
saahithya

Hare Krishna: I thought I would add a bit of history to the controversy of
oriental outfits on our ISKCON deities. This is a true story that occurred at
Bhaktivedanta Manor in the early '70's. I was caring for Radha Gokulananda at
the time and wanted to make a new outfit. One devotee (now a sannyasi guru
gbc) suggested bell bottom pants for Gokulananda. We went with it! Gokulananda

had metallic blue bell bottoms and Radharani had a metallic pink empire waist
dress. Behind them were silver, blue, pink streamers for a back drop with a
small fan that kept them in motion along with blinking lights. When the
curtains opened, so did everyone's mouths, then their eye's turned to Srila
Prabhupda (trying to gage his reaction), who stood with is hands folded gazing
at
Them with love. When his expression turned to a large smile and he nodded his
head in the affirmative, everyone else suddenly smiled as well and chanted
"Hari bol!"

Although Srila Prabhupada was not around in physical presence for this one,
I had a Scottish plaide tartan outfit made for Radha Natabara, the dancing
deities in Columbus. Natabara had a kilt like skirt, a jeweled tamo-shanter
(head piece) and a miniature bag-pipe slung over His shoulder. Now, I have
seem similar out fits on Radha Londonisvara and Radha Govinda (minus the
bag-pipes). On special occasions, it seems not unusual to offer special
offerings.
(What do any of us really know anyway about what is or isn't "vedic?" I wonder

if it is "vedic" to criticize an offering that was made specifically for the
Lord's pleasure?)

BTW: The deities can also wear wrist watches. This is something that I
personally asked Srila Prabhupada about after seeing it done in India. His
reply,
"Why not? Krishna can wear anything!"

Yr un-vedic mlecha servant,

Malati devi dasi