Ludhiana Ratha yatra.

[Guest guest]

My dear Prabhus and Maharajas,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

On October 2nd, I witnessed one of the biggest Rathayatras in the history of

my Krishna Conscious life in ISKCON. A few years back, I went to Jagannatha

Puri. I saw Jagannatha Rathayatra was attended by people from all over the

world and from all walks of life. I was thinking at that time, will a day

come when ISKCON will also have a Rathayatra like this, where everybody in

the area participates? This thought was translated into reality on 2 Oct.

2004 when I saw the Ludhiana Rathayatra. This was organized by ISKCON with

the help of many influencial businessmen who are the committe members of

this Rathayatra Festival. The inspiration behind the success of Rathayatra

is H.H. Gopal Krishna Goswami and the leaders from Kurukshetre, Ludhiana and

Chandigarh. Their Graces Saksi Gopal, Bhaktivinode, Rajasuya prabhus.

 

The grand preparations began 3 months ahead. Daily for 21 days prior to the

Festival, they had Harinam (Brabhataferi) to increase the awareness of the

festival. At every nook and corner, there were billboards, hoardings, and

posters announcing ISKCON Rathayatra. The day before Rathayatra, they had

Maha Aroti for Lord Jagannatha at the farmhouse of one of the committee

members. This was exclusively organized for the top donors.

 

The whole town of Ludhiana came out to have darshan of Lord Jagannatha.

The route was decorated very nicely. There were lights, flowers, mango

leaves, bananas plants decorations and floats in the parade. On the morning

of 2 Oct., devotees started pouring in from nearby temples. Wonderful

prasadam was served out for all the devotees at Maharaja Palace Hall.

Rathayatra started 2 pm on a cloudy day. Soon after the beginning, it

started pouring. The streets were backed up everywhere. Everywhere, all

you could hear was the glorification of the Lord. Sound system arrangement

was wonderful. In spite of the rain, men, women, children of the area and

devotees all chanted and walked together along with the Rath. Everywhere

along the route, people were waiting with aroti trays, eatables and drinks.

They also erected several gates to welcome Their Lordships. All

communities--Hindu, Sikh, Muslim--everyone was welcoming and doing aroti.

We passed through one area with a mosque and large Muslim populated area,

and they had decorated the whole area with a canopy of beautiful green

leaves, fruits, dried fruits hanging. Although the procession was 9 hours

long, the street remained packed up with an ocean of bhaktas of all

varieties.

 

Finally, the Rathayatra ended at the Hanuman Temple where there was a grand

welcome, and serving out prasadam for one and all.

 

Next day, on 3rd, there was darshan of Lord Jagannatha for all the residents

of Ludhiana, which started around 2 pm. This whole program was in the

Maharaja Palace Hall. In another hall, was chappan bhoga and aroti. Then

evening time around 5:30, the program started in a huge hall, second hall of

Maharaja's Palace (connected by a garden in between). This hall has a

50-60,000 people capacity. As you can imagine, the hall was completely

packed. Haridas prabhu from ITV Bombay filmed the entire event. The

lectures started after Sandya Aroti, and ended with kirtan around 12:30 to 1

am. The speakers were Sakshi Gopal prabhu, Radha Raman Maharaja, Rajasuya

prabhu, Sarvabhauma prabhu, Dina Bandu prabhu, Mahaman prabhu, Gopal Krishna

Goswami, and myself. Gopal Krishna Maharaja was the last speaker. Before

his speech, he did a half hour kirtan. Everyone in the hall was so moved

that they stood up and started dancing. He was forced to extend the kirtan

for another half an hour for the devotees who were dancing. He then

delivered a wonderful lecture, and thereafter again another one hour dancing

kirtan. On the grounds next to the Palace Hall, prasadam was organized for

50,000 people. I have all appreciation for all the devotees who tirelessly

worked to organize this wonderful festival.

 

My observation of this whole Rathayatra was that the presence of the ISKCON

devotees was quite minimal compared to the huge attendance of all the

residents of Ludhiana. I would like to request Gopal Krishna Maharaja and

the leaders of that area to get it passed in RGB to declare the Ludhiana

Rathayatra as the national Rathayatra where devotees from all over India can

come and experience the bliss of Jagannatha Rathayatra.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Your servant,

 

 

Devakinandana das