“It’s kind of an urban legend in Spanish Fork—one passed down from generation to generation—that we worship llamas and that we think the souls of our ancestors abide in these creatures,” says Llama Fest organizer Charu Das with a laugh.
Of course, they don’t worship llamas. But the herd of 35 can feel at ease among these vegetarian yogis—and in return, the llamas offer a source of income. For one, the temple leases their dozen or so males as pack animals for trips to the Uinta Mountains or Yellowstone National Park. The animals also make for a nice attraction at the temple, along with the peacocks, parrots and other livestock.
To celebrate their llamas and to showcase llamas and their owners throughout the West, the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple has put on the festival for the past 17 years. “There are llama events all over the nation, but they are pretty terminally boring. It’s just llama owners competing with other owners,” Das says. So the temple turned its attention to the public.
In addition to the animals, you’ll find culinary delights (from South America as well as India), crafts (including on-site wool spinning) and a petting zoo. A llama contest occurs concurrently with entertainment: Kausachun Peru demonstrates Latin American folk dance at 6 p.m., Latin Dance Heritage twirls at 6:45 p.m. and Santana cover band Abraxas closes the event beginning at 7:30 p.m. (Austen Diamond)
Llama Fest @ Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple, 8628 S. Main, Spanish Fork, 801-798-3559, July 16, 6 p.m., $3 adults, $1 children. UtahValleyLlamas.com
Date: Jul 16, 2011
Time: 6- p.m.
Phone: 801-798-3559
Address: 8628 S. State, Spanish Fork, 84660
Where: Krishna Temple
