Of general interest - London Rathayatra '99 Memories

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Text COM:2577869 (97 lines)

Tribhangananda (das) ACBSP (GB)

24-Aug-99 01:31 +0100

UK Forum [1811]

Cc: UK National Council [1881]

Cc: UK Rathayatra [69]

Cc: Bhakti Balabh Puri Goswami (Scotland - GB) [712] (forwarded:

24-Aug-99 02:40 +0200)

Reference: Text COM:2560947 by Antardwip (das) JPS (GB)

Comment: Text COM:2578492 by Antardwip (das) JPS (GB)

Comment: Text COM:2578822 by Mahakratu (das) ACBSP

Write in your Rathayatra '99 Memories

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> Anyone else got any memories to share??

 

A few bits of news for you:

 

During the procession, which lasted just over 2 hours, we distributed

approximately 10,000 prasadam simply wonderfuls, all nicely packaged with

the

ingredients, the Maha Mantra and our addresses printed on the packs. When

the

procession arrived at Trafalgar Square, a wonderful flood of devotees and

kirtan filled the area, which was already vibrating with a powerfully

amplified

kirtan from the Bengali devotees at the Manor. Abhimanyu and Kamalaksha

prabhus

got the whole team, who had manifested in the early morning, to wonderfully

do

their stuff erecting banners, tents, mats, tables and chairs so we could

take

over the whole arena. Meanwhile Lalita Sakhi and Lilavati prabhus had

transformed Lord Nelsons column into Lord Jagannatha's beautifully colourful

garden.

 

With Krpa Moya prabhu as MC, after the Deities were carried up onto Their

brand

new altar (custom built for Trafalgar Square by Titiksu prabhu), a lively

stage

programme was under way. Offerings from Jayadeva, Gaurangi, Nili and the

Bhaktivedanta Players captivated the truly multi-national audience, whilst

HH

Vipramukhya Swami, HH Sivarama Swami and HH Radhanatha Swami each presented

a

brief induction into KC during the show. Keith Vaz (MP for Leicester East

and

the very first Asian government minister) confirmed that the British

Government

was very pleased to have the Hare Krishna Movement celebrate their festival

here in Trafalgar Square, and personally renewed his pledge to help the

movement in whatever way he could.

 

Meanwhile, Amita prabhu's book tables were literally cleaning up, and it was

clear that whilst people were seriously going for the beads and incense,

overwhelmingly they were after the books. He told me he couldn't sleep until

2:30AM from the sheer excitement of the action in what turned out to be his

best Rathayatra distribution yet! And during the day, Soho Street's

enterprising book distributors, with their modified Sainsbury's book

trolleys,

managed to distribute a further 900 books, from Bhagavad Gitas and Krishna

Books right through the spectrum.

 

Bhajans from Gaurangasundara and Sakhya Rasa prabhus continued throughout in

the Children's Corner, amidst the face painting and prasadam takers. When I

went with Srichand Hinduja, Kieth Vaz and the Ambassador of Nepal to get

them

their plates of prasadam, I almost lost my balance with the speed of the

prasadam queue. Actually, it was the most opulent serious-scale public feast

we've ever done, complete with a delicious curd subji. Somehow, Pranabandhu

and

Ambarisha prabhus' cooking stretched to about 20,000 plates being served in

the

5-lane expressway. In less than six hours, that makes on average over 3,000

plates per hour. (I guess Govinda's Restaurant could learn something from

Kaushik, Dilip and their team!). Average queuing time was reported as being

5

minutes.

 

We also served about 9,000 litres of Jagannatha prasadam spring water free

to

all the guests.

 

High up on the top step of Nelson's column, Their Lordships Jagannath,

Baladeva

and Subhadra viewed the crowds, and were in full view of many thousands of

curious onlookers. Right next to The Deities, in full high centre stage, was

a

12 foot wide bright Mahamantra banner. From about 6:40PM, and right through

a

very blissful 7 o'clock arati ceremony, HH Radhanatha Swami led a straight

Hare

Krishna mantra kirtan until 7:30PM, with about 150 happy devotees on stage

dancing and swaying with him, whilst in front of the column and way back

into

the Square, an ocean of curiously happy people watched, chanted and also

raised

their arms and waved with the devotees.

 

After the arati, the Deities and Srila Prabhupada took off back to Soho, and

just as They left the Square the heavens opened up. I am informed that this

was

a most auspicious sign. The weather throughout the day right up until then

was

absolutely fantastic, and the rain itself seemed to answer my own question

as

to how to clear the decks so we could pack up all our tents, tables and

stuff

quickly.

 

Over at the Questions & Answers booth, HH Bhakti Vikasa Swami kept a very

lively session going throughout the day, even through the pouring rain, and

even after we (literally) pulled the rug out from underneath the tent.

 

I am glad to report that the Dept of Culture Media & Sport, who gave us

their

permission to use the Square, received no complaints from anyone, and

expressed

their willingness to host the event there next year if we so wish. They also

told me they'd gone just about as far as they possibly could in giving us

all

kinds of facilities there.

 

CNN broadcast a piece about the festival, and this was sent by satellite all

over the planet. "London Tonight" on South-East ITV did a six minute piece

on

the Sunday on what they saw as the highlights of the procession. Contrary to

some media reports, there was no massive disturbance to the London traffic,

but

it gave the media a chance to say something nice about us! The police didn't

have too many problems with us. I understand we also got coverage in The

Independent on Monday, and TIme Out published a nice colour picture and

article

the week before. We also got coverage throughout India in the press. Kiss

100

FM (a major London radio station) also played a very lively Jagannatha

jingle

(Jayadeva prabhu put this one together) at least 14 times before the day.

 

Personally, I'd like to offer my heartfelt thanks to all the devotees who

made

such a wonderful festival for Lord Jagannatha possible. Even to those

devotees

who tried their best to keep me in anxiety and make me stay on my toes!

We'll

be having a big Rathayatra "Thank you" dinner before long for all those

devotees and friends who played their parts in organising this spectacular

event (actually well over 200!). Watch this space for the date and venue.

 

your servant, Tribhangananda das

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