Saranagati (B.C.Canada) Ratha Yatra

July 11, 2003

We got back yesterday (Monday) from the ecstatic Ratha Yatra up in the back valleys of British Columbia, Canada. I have been to countless Ratha Yatras' but I think this one was the best of them all!! Even Sukadev came with myself and Daria.

Most of the houses of all the devotees were packed with at least 10-15 devotees each who had come in from all over. We got there just in time for the start of the parade which goes around one of the huge natural lakes on their 2000 acre farm (which I might add is owned collectively by all living there - and not at all by iskcon) That's probably one good reason why the place is so successful.

Anyway, They had two huge brown swiss bulls pulling a wagon filled with kids ahead of the Ratha, and another larger wagon type behind the Ratha pulled by two draft horses owned by Jambavan who is organically farming there by animal (not machine). He has about 40 acres or so I'm told, and when he goes into town, he goes with his wagon and horses-a real sight for the locals who love it!! The chanting was lead initially by Sukadev prabhu, who had to be persuaded by Krpaniddhi to pass over the drum so he could lead. The parade lasted about two hours or so about halfway around the lake. Then the Deities were "downloaded" to the pandal site where an uproarious kirtan ensued. The feast was really great-especially the huge vat of gulab jamuns which was emptied quickly. They had various plays by the kids, some bhajans by devotees, a cow pie slinging contest, (mother Padyavali should have won that) ,a log cutting contest (which Dhutidhara maharaj won this year much to Bala Krsnas dismay, and a whole bunch of other neat things . The next day, the devotees wandered all over the huge farm going to any of three programs held at different temples. Sukadev and I went to Dhutidharas place (Swami Mills) mostly because we had heard the chunks of curd in the prasadam were sometimes as big as your fist-they weren't quite that big, but the prasadam was great! He's got a huge Jagannath Deity in his temple.

But the best part of the whole event, I think, was the kirtan on Sunday night. Madhu Pandit gave a humorous and factual account of the Ramayana in the style typical only of his unique self. It was a standing ovation for him at the end- everyone was so glad to see him again after so many long years away. But when Sukadev started up his kirtan, that was when the floorboards got their real test. There must have been 200 devotees there in Kulashekars house/temple room ( a brand new building). A couple of young brahmacaris started out playing drum for Sukadev. Mother Uttama asked me to play for him at the start and I said sure (but thinking "no way, I'm not going to lose my right arm again") Anyway, after about a 45 minutes and sweat was running down all over them, and you could see they were fading fast, I asked for the drum from one of them. Then Stanur showed up (Bahudak's man on the drum) and we both started wailing on the drums

and of course Sukadev was still going like a runaway freight train. Everybody in the place was dancing like madmen and mad women. Bodies were being flung around, and nothing but smiles could be seen on every bhaktas blissful faces. This is what Krsna Consciousness is all about!! EVerything else is secondary or after the fact.

This is called the HIGHER TASTE for which we are always anxious. And we tasted it that night by the mercy of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram, and Lady Subhadra. Needless to say, I was hoarse the next morning, just like the old days. And when we were leaving Saranagati Dhama, we were definitely feeling separation as we drove away. And coming back to the so-called civilization was really cultural shock!

From everything everywhere is Krsna, to everything everywhere is Maya- it was the only part of the trip that was not fun-just like leaving the spiritual world and coming here is never fun. Being there makes me want all the more to have a farm center here in the States like the one in BC Canada. The place is Vaikuntha! Hari Bol,

yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,

Damaghosa das