Ratha Yatra, July 4th

[Guest guest]

Dear Krsna Katha ,

 

Hare Krishna!!

 

Please accept the blessings of Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan, Sri Sri Sita Rama

Lakshman Hanuman, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Srila Prabhupada.

 

Ratha Yatra: Wednesday July 4th

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It is with great pleasure that we are once again hosting the annual Ratha Yatra

of Their Lordships Jagganatha, Baladeva and Subhadra. The Ratha yatra starts at

11 AM and will be part of the National Parade. ISKCON will also be holding the

Festival of India parade. This year the location is the prestigious Eclipse

park across the White House, adjacent to the Washington Monument.

 

The festival officially begins at noon and as part of this we will be

distributing more than 10,000 plates of free prasadam. In addition we have also

invited many talented performers for Bharat Natyam and Odissi dances. There

will be a drama by the youth group and ecstatic bajans and kirtans. We will

also be putting up stalls for tasty vegetarian dishes, display of Vedic

literature and question-answer booth.

 

Participating in pulling the Ratha Yatra cart

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Pulling the cart is one of the most auspicious forms of devotional services. We

can accommodate upto 150 people to participate in pulling of the cart or to

perform in the bhajan party ahead of the cart. Since we are also judged based

on the presentation which determines our eligibility to perform in the next

years parade, it is important that we give our best performance.

 

Devotees who are interested in participating in this must be nicely dressed in

devotional or traditional Indian attire. There will be no exceptions to this.

Considering the heat and other safety requirements, no children or strollers

will be allowed. Please meet at the festival site at 9AM to practice the steps

and be allotted a position in the procession.

 

Volunteers

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This festival will *not* be possible without the help of volunteers. The

festival begins at noon and will end with the fireworks at 9:30 pm. Help is

needed in cooking prasadam, making garlands, setting up the tents, distributing

prasadam, keeping the grounds clean, dealing with the crowds and most

importantly cleaning the area after the festival is over. Not keeping the

grounds clean or leaving behind litter can easily cause us to loose our rights

to participate in future festivals. Various activities in preparation for the

festival have already begun and will be going on through the weekend. We humbly

request you all to take some time out and sign up for some service in

accordance to your ability. There is no one more pleasing to Their Lordships

than one who renders some service to Them.

Please contact Caitanya-Nitai dasa (301-765-8948) or Trikala prabhu

(301-299-7205) to sign up for service. If you are not able to talk to them then

please leave a message with your name, phone, service and time you can give

service. They will be preparing the volunteer sheets and will make sure that

all service are covered.

*** The Festival of India is held country wide by ISKCON. Please visit the web

site http://www.festivalofindia.com for details. ***

 

Darshna of Thier Lordships

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Their Lorships Jagganatha, Baladeva and Subhdara will be arriving to the ISKCON

Potomac temple Sunday evening and devotees can have their first darshans there.

After the Ratha Yatra They will be giving darshan at the Festival of India site

where devotees can render some personal service to Them.

 

Other news: New ISKCON temple in Spanish Fork, Utah

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A beautiful new Radha Krsna ISKCON temple was opened on June 13th in Spanish

Fork, Utah for the glory and pleasure of Srila Prabhupada.

 

All in attendance were very inspired to see Utahans of all different ages

congregate in the thousands to see the temple that the press all over the state

has been profiling for months. Built from the ground up this new house for

Radha Krsna, Sita Rama Laxman Hanuman and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai is the fulfilment

of the dream of Caru dasa and Vaibhavi dasi both wonderful disciples of His

Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.

 

Among many dignitaries speaking at the function, Senator Oren Hatch from Utah

was most notable. He is probably the highest ranking US Government official to

attend the opening of an ISKCON temple in America. Everyone showered tribute to

the beauty of the edifice and a repeated theme was the pride of Utahans

everywhere to have this temple as a neighbour in their Valley. As a practical

show of their support members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day

Saints (popularly known as the Mormons) had donated $25,000 towards the

construction of the temple and personally volunteered to help in building the

temple.

 

There was wide and positive media coverage on all TV stations and in every

major and local paper.

 

----- Festivals over the next week ------

*** Note all times are for Washington D.C, USA, EST ***

Jul 01 2001, Sunday Ekadasi Sayana (Break fast 04:47-06:58) (Fast)

Jul 05 2001, Thursday Disappearance Srila Sanatana Gosvami

Guru (Vyasa) Purnima

------------------------

Temple details:

 

Web Address : http://www.iskcondc.org

Email : mail (AT) iskcondc (DOT) org

 

Mailing Address:

ISKCON, 10310 Oaklyn Drive,

Potomac, MD - 20854.

Tel: (301) 299 2100 Temple

(301) 765 8948 Congregation Services

 

President: Sri Trikalajna dasa Phone:(301) 299 7205,Fax:(301) 299 5025

 

We have 7 aratis (deity worship) a day (4:30AM, 7:15AM, 8:15AM, 12:30PM,

4:15PM, 7:00PM [sunday 6:30PM], 8:45PM) and a daily class in the

temple at 8:00AM. You are welcome 7 days a week, the temple is open from

4:30AM until 9:00PM. Breakfast is at 8:45AM and lunch prasadam

at 1:00PM. All are welcome (FREE)

 

We have a special program every Sunday evening beginning 5:30PM. This includes

a Bhagavad Gita class, kirtan (devotional songs), arati, a

nd a sumptuous vegetarian feast. If you would like to sponsor the feast or

receive further information please call Caitanya-Nitai Dasa at

301-765-8948 or send us an Email.

 

We also offer a variety of pujas, samskaras, grain ceremonies, mundans etc. and

have qualified priests to perform them. For details pleas

e call Sri Navin Krsna Dasa on 301-299-7205 or send us an Email.

 

Remember to visit Govindas, our gift shop, located right behind the temple, for

all your devotional needs, reading material, music CDs, t

apes and deity paraphernalia. The shop is open every Sunday from 5PM to 9PM,

and any other time on request.