PRABHUPADA GHATA INAUGURATION PANDHARAPUR: 11 JULY 2019
By Dinanukampa dasi
ISKCON PandharApur, under the leadership of Lokanath Swami Maharaja, took the initiative of constructing a ghata on the eastern bank of the Candrabhaga adjacent to the temple property. On July 11, 2011, the day of Sayani Ekadasi, the Bhumi puja of the Prabhupada ghata was performed in the presence of the Chief Minister. This was done as an offering to Srila Prabhupada on the occasion of ISKCON jubilee celebrations.
Annually, on the auspicious day of Sayani Ekadasi, Candrabhaga’s banks are filled with over a million pilgrims. A fundamental reason for constructing the ghata was to enable pilgrims to take darsana of the Candrabhaga River with dignity, given the sheer numbers that arrive at her banks. There is a severe lack of basic amenities for the tired, but enthused Dindi pilgrims, who would have walked over 200kms to reach Pandharpur. These pilgrims continue to experience much inconvenience due to a lack of proper facilities. The river banks were seriously polluted and the sacred waters of the river itself was contaminated. The Maharashtra government is equally concerned about the development on the banks of the sacred Candrabhaga River.
This dream as an offering to Srila Prabhupada was realised on the auspicious day of Sayani Ekadasi, 11 July 2019 which also coincided with the celebration of Lokanath Swami Maharaja’s 70th Vyasa Puja.
On 11 July 2019 between 5p.m. and 6 p.m. exactly eight years after the Bhumi prayers, and in the presence of thousands of devotees and senior Vaisnavas, the much anticipated and critically needed ghata was finally declared open. Gracing this august occasion included many Prabhupada disciples and grand disciples – Yasomatinanadana Prabhu, Bhaktarupa Prabhu, Keshi Damana Prabhu, Yasomati Mataji, Bhakti Purussotama Maharaja, Sukadeva Swami Maharaja, Rama Govinda Swami, Bhakti Asraya Vaisnava Swami, Vrndavancandra Dasa Goswami, Devakinanadana Prabhu, Revati Raman Prabhu and Braja Vilas Prabhu, amongst others.
The program began with a robust kirtana procession from the main pandal. Leading the procession was Devakinanadan Prabhu who carried Nityananda Padukas on his head while other devotees carried Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Srila Prabhupada to the ghata.
At the first dome, ardent Pandharpur Gurukul boys chanted the svasti-vachan to invoke auspiciousness. It was amid this chanting that Lokanath Swami Maharaja, Yasomatinandana Prabhu, Bhakti Purussotama Maharaja and Revati Raman Prabhu cut the ribbon. An elated Lokanath Swami Maharaja then raised the open pair of scissors up in the air symbolising the sign of victory. Thereafter the congregation followed the senior ISKCON leaders down the steps towards the ghata.
A fire sacrifice was conducted at the Sri Krsna Caitanya Candrabhaga Temple where the installation of the Candrabhaga diorama was overseen by Krsna Caitanya Prabhu from Mayapur. The Abhisek for the Caitanya Padukas was completed by many senior devotees which included Siddhartha Maharaja, Sukadev Maharaja, Bhaktarupa Prabhu, Parmeshwar Prabhu and Gauranga Prabhu.
After the arati to Nityananda Padukas and Srila Prabhupada, Lokanath Swami Maharaja, Bhakti Purussotama Maharaja, Bhaktarupa Prabhu, Devakinandana Prabhu and Revati Ramana Prabhu performed a multilayered arati with humility and gratitude to this sacred river. The rhythmic chants of the mantras and the synchronised waving of the lamps were breathtaking. Thereafter lamp offerings were made to Candrabhaga River. It was a spectacular sight to behold when the most senior devotees got on a boat and completed the offering of lamps (deep daan) on Candrabhaga River.
At every step of the program, the lamps, the incantation of mantras, the incense, flowers and kirtan created a blissful ambience. The sky reverberated with the loud chanting of the holy names of the Lord.
This project would not have been possible if it were not for the government of the state of Maharashtra, who provided significant financial assistance. There are several other donors who have contributed substantially towards this project.
The extensive ghata boasts several utility rooms and toilets which ensure that the sanctity and cleanliness of the holy river is maintained. It will provide clean facilities for huge crowds to bath in the sacred waters. Most importantly, it will prevent water pollution as direct access by vehicles and animals will be prohibited by the presence of the ghata. There was insufficient arrangements for prasada and drinking water.
For the final moments of the program, the fireworks display lit up the sky, forming a spectacular blanket over the river. The blazing trails and bursting sparks through the sky over the Candrabhaga River is a reminder that Pandharpur is indeed Bhuvaikuntha.