Phoenix Rising – First North American Rath Yatra Festival 2009

By Dr Prayag Narayan das Misra

Papamochani Ekadashi Day, March 22, Phoenix, Arizona

Their Lordship Jagannath, Baldev and Subhadra rode in a cart, assembled by RadhaPrana dasa on Sunday evening March 22. This was continuation of Rath Yatras in Phoenix, first started in 2005, which took place in Tempe Town lake area around famous Mill Avenue with several hundreds attending. It was largely possible by putting posters in shopping centers and massive email sending, internet blogging.

As is the case every year, the kids and parents of AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Sunday School under the direction of Anupama Gopi devi dasi put a lot of effort into planning, management and execution of the festival, and it was an outstanding effort from beginning to end. Everyone from the community came together with great enthusiasm and gave a helping hand for the festival.

The success of Lord Jagannath’s Annual Rath Yatra lies in financial and devotional support shown by the temple devotees and community at large. This included Festival sponsors ( many $31 Cart flag sponsors, several $108 Grand Sponsors, and several $151 Festival prasadam sponsors) who made this festival a grand success.

The drama and Jagannath Ashtakam recitation put by Deva Deva dasa and kidz was a world class performance, along with a variety of bhajans and devotional singing by several children and it included singing both north and south Indian styles along with popular and devotional music played by seven kids between ages 4 to 7.

Being an Ekadashi day, Ekadasi prasadam was served and it contained no grains but included Ekadashi cake and fruit juices.

Lord Jagannath’s mercy has definitely grown team spirit among Phoenicians!
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Dr Prayag Narayan Misra
Director,Communications,
BhaktiVedanta Cultural Center
100 S Weber Dr, Chandler, AZ 85226-3216
(480) 814 1372 - direct (480)705 4900- (messages)

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