Who is Chali from Bee Season: A Novel and what is their importance?

Chali, whose real name is John, is a devotee of ISKCON (Hare Krishna) and a close friend of Aaron Naumann. Chali meets Aaron while Aaron is sitting in a park one day and he invites Aaron to the ISKCON temple. In terms of the narrative, Chali is to Aaron what Saul Naumann is to Eliza. Chali is Aaron's guide and tutor. Chali represents mysticism, and the search for communion with a Supreme Being.