Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra Report - Mira Road

[Guest guest]

A report on Lord Jagannath Ratha Yatra at ISKCON Mira Road.

 

Lord Jagannath Ratha Yatra on June 19th along with the Hare Krishna Festival

from 18th to 20th June heralds a new dimension to Sri Sri Radha Giridhari

Mandir. The three days festivity was filled with different color of

devotional sentiments of thousands of devotees.

 

Lord Jagannath Manifested His divine Majesty on the roads of Mira Road by

attracting about 50,000 devotees from all over Bombay and Pune.

 

The festivity started with Gundicha Mandir Marjan on 18th Morning. The

cleaning was not just restricted to the temple it carried on throughout the

route of the Yatra. About 500 congregation devotees from Sri Sri Radha

Girdhari Mandir (Mira Road) and Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir (Chowpatty)

enthusiastically took part in the road cleaning. Devotee's dedication and

sincerity in their Krishna Consciousness was evident by the fact that the

roads had mirror finishing for Lord Jagannath to enter the hearts of His

Devotees. The road cleaning and temple cleaning went on form 7.30 in the

morning till 11.30 Am and every honored Maha Prasadam. H.G. Gudakesh Das and

H.G Madhavanand Das (Dr. Shanke) representing Sri Sri Radha Gopinath and Sri

Sri Radha Giridhari congregations respectively coordinated for the festival.

 

About 300 children from different schools in Mira Road attended the

children's festival on Friday 18th evening. Children regularly attending our

Sunday school did a Drama on Hari Das Thakur and they recited shlokas from

Srimad Bhagavad Gita. At the end they enjoyed the Prasadam and back to their

houses with a Jagannath Smile.

 

The most awaited Netrothsav was a feast to the eyes of the devotees as the

Ever Fresh Lotus Face of Lord Jagannath with His refreshed features Gave His

Merciful Darshan.

 

It was well attended by More than 200 devotees and their jubilation was

manifest in their enthusiasms in Kirtan Lead by H.G. Sura das Prabhu.

 

On Saturday 19th June more than 500 devotees were engaged in different

services to make elaborate arrangements to host 50,000 guests. A perfect

Vrindavan atmosphere was established. As the groups of devotees poured into

the temple The Lord by His Transcendental Glance accepted the chappan Bhoga

and blessed the devotee families who performed the aarti. The Prasadam

arrangements were very elaborate, still the space was insufficient and the

H.G . Garudwaj Das Prasadam in charge had to double his staff and provisions

at the Last minute. At last he remarks "Jagannath managed it". The critical

task of handling the V.I.P was done by H.G. Sura Das and H.G. Nanda Kishore

Das all were so encouraged to Build an beautiful temple of Lord Jagannath.

By Lord Jagannath's arrangement the Chief Guest Hon Speaker Arun Bhai

Gujrati came in the middle of the yatra and was spell bound seeing the

Majesty of Lord Jagannath manifest in the form of the number of Devotees

taking part in the yatra. The Divine speech by HH Mahavishnu Maharaj made

every one feel the Presence of Lord Jagannath.

 

Lord Chaitanya must be definitely pleased with the IYF of Mira Road for

their nonstop ecstatic kirtan and Book distribution. There were four kirtan

groups and 50 young devotees distributing books. As Lord Jagannath reached

the end of the yatra He found the Hearts of His devotees purified by the

transcendental sound vibrations of His Holy name. He found Vrindavan in the

hearts of the devotees whose enthusiasms had no limits to chant the Hare

Krishna Mahamantra. The grand finale on the day was of a beautiful dance

drama by H.G. Murilimohan Prabhu and a spontaneous sloka resitation, story

telling and bhjans by ISKCON Mira Road children. 20,000 plates of full

sumptuous Maha Prasadam was served on the day.

 

On the Sunday 20th June the devotees started pouring in to hear from H.G.

Devaki Nandan Prabhu, who gave a excellent speech on the importance of Sadhu

Sanga. Devotees had to re- cook Prasadam to cater to the unexpectedly large

number of devotees attending the Sunday feast and HG Braj Bihari Prabhu

cooked special south Indian dishes for the pleasure of Lord Jagannath and

His devotees.

 

The evening was fitting finale with H.G. Sura Das Prabhu leading kirtan, H.G

Bhakti Vinod Prabhu and H.G. Vaishnava Prabhu from Chandighar and Vrindavan

respectively giving their realizations. Last but not the least the most

satisfying drama of Hari Das Thakur by children and Jagannath Prakatya Drama

by Bhakti Kala Kshetra, Juhu was holding 2000 devotees glued to the stage

till 11.00 PM. All the devotees honored Jagannath Maha Prasad and now the

Preparations for Janmashtami have begun.