By Kavicandra Swami

The 12th of August was an auspicious day for Berlin, the Capital of Germany because Lord JAGANATHA, along with many of His devotees, rode His chariot along the main shopping street of the city. Devotees from all over Germany, as well as other countries, particularly Czechoslovakia, came for the event.

Everything was very well organized by Varaha Murti Prabhu. Lord JAGANATHA normally stays in Berlin, but in the summer He travels to many Ratha Yatras in Germany. He also went to Zurich recently.

The festival was graced by the blissful kirtans of HH Kadamba Kanana Swami and HH Sacinandana Swami. Kadamba Kanana Swami commented that he felt the Berlin Ratha Yatra to be special because all the devotees were joining in the kirtana. The dancing led by HH Sacinandana Swami was especially ecstatic and the many shoppers and tourists along the road were stunned and very anxious to accept beautiful invitation cards. The cards had a very nice explanation of the art of meditation, which was appreciated by many. By the Lord’s mercy I was able to distribute many of those. Many senior devotees were in attendance. Tattvavit Das (ACBSP) was there, and HG Janananda Prabhu made a surprise appearance. Janananda Prabhu will soon take sannyasa. Also Mahaprabhu das, one of the founders of the RADHA GOPINATH Mandir in Chowpati Mumbai was there. He is now close to seventy years old and wants to visit all our temples. Just before this Ratha Yatra he was traveling with the Polish festival tour and his preaching and counseling was very much appreciated.

After the parade there was a stage set up at one of the busiest tourist spots in Berlin. It was next to the war memorial which is what is left of a very big church. HH Sacinandana Swami charmed the crowds with his discourse and HG Dina Sharana Mataji (Euro GBC for Germany) spoke very powerfully to a very attentive audience, ending up with a blissful kirtana. Then there were kirtans by HH Kadamba Kanana Swami and HH Sacinandana Swami. The devotees were dancing blissfully and many passersby were blessed to see LORD JAGANATHA and to hear the HOLY NAMES.

After that there was a beautiful feast at the temple. In spite of the small kitchen, Antaranga Sakti Prabhu prepared many wonderful preparations and everyone was more than satisfied. We had some nice discussions about how Ratha Yatra brings all the devotees together and everyone is happy. I was saying that we should have more Ratha Yatras and HH Kadamba Kanana Swami said that in Sweden they were also thinking like that. HH Sacinanada Swami shared his blissful emotions of his recent experience at the Ratha Yatra in Jaganatha Puri. That helped everyone to understand the festival in a much deeper way and of course to desire to go to Puri for a first hand experience.

The devotee who looked the most happy throughout the whole festival was HG
Prthu Prabhu. He had started that current preaching in Berlin and it was he who had trained up the devotees who had organized the whole affair…

Germany will have another Ratha Yatra in Leipzig on the 9th of Sept.

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