By Madhavendu das
On the auspicious occasion of Vasanta Panchami ISKCON Kanpur celebrated the Annual Pran pratishta Mahotsav of Shri Shri Radha Madhavji, Shri Shri Jaganntha Ratha Yatra festival & Youth Fesival ANUBHUTI.
For photos please go to the flowing link: Annual Sri Sri Jagannatha Ratha Yatra Festival: https://picasaweb.google.com/105025278431834408800/AnnualSriSriJagannathaRathaYatraFestivalsKanpur
Vasanta Pachami, Annual Sri Sri Radha-Madhav Pran Pratistha Mahotasava: https://picasaweb.google.com/105025278431834408800/VasantaPachamiAnnualSriSriRadhaMadhavPranPratisthaMahotasavaKanpur
Diksha, Anubhuti, Felicitation, Souvenir release and Cultural Programs: https://picasaweb.google.com/105025278431834408800/DikshaAnubhutiFelicitationSouvenirReleaseAndCulturalProgramsFebruary172013
Vasanta Panchami day: 15th Feb, After the morning Bhagavatam class given by HG Devakinandan Prabhu in which he explained very comprehensively that meaning of “NIRGUNA” is one from all”GUNAS” emanate also one who has no material qualities, fire sacrifice was performed by HG Sitalanga prabhu and HG Sevatulya Prabhus. Committe members of ISKCON Kanpur participated in the Yajna. Then Abhisekh ceremony for Shri Shri Radha Madhavji was performed along with melodious Hare Krishna Mahamantra Kirtan, witnessed by more than 800 congregational and guest devotees from different part of the world. Visiting guests as well as the temple devotees were jubilant on this occasion, the atmosphere was surcharged with Hare Krishna Mahamantra.
Due to heavy rains, thunderstorm& winds our Pandal (where we were supposed to have cultural programs) got fully damaged, therefore stage, chairs and sound system were moved to our new temple construction area and in the evening we had nice cultural program with bhajan and dance by HG Nilutpal Krishna Prabhu and team from Guwahati. This program was class of its own kind, with classical dance performance, Vaishnav songs, & mahamantra with traditional ISKCON style with touch of Assamese cultural heritage; it was big success, just before this program some music school children from Kanpur also presented musical performance on stage consisting of Vaishnav Songs, Mahamantra in classical Indian tunes.
On this day 56 bhogas offering was offered to the Lord, quintals of fruits were offered, IYF Kanpur devotees did lot of services, from Maha Abhishek preparation to Prasadam serving every where these devotees were visible putting their sweat & toil, to bring out best of the situation which turned out to be a really successful endeavor. Moreover there was to & fro talk going on whether we should have Rath Yatra or not, as rains were completely unpredictable.
Shri Shri Jagannatha Ratha Yatra Festivals: 16th Feb, Today morning HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja and HG Jashomatinandan Prabhu gave Bhagavatam class on teachings of Prahlad maharaj. It was heavy rain outside and this is the second time we again decided to cancel the Ratha Yatra, first on the day before i.e Vasant Panchami day, as weather was showing lot of uncertainties suddenly raining heavily & after some time mild sun shine. But Jagannatha can do miracles, suddenly rains got over and sun came out during Prasadam in the morning and everyone enthusiastically marched forward to have Sri Shri Jaganntha Ratha Yatra.
Everyone reach to Phulbag with full enthusiasm at 1:30 PM, where nicely decorated Jaganntha Ratha was ready and our Pujari still dressing Lord Jagannatha, Baldeva and Subhadra. Around 2:15 PM Jaganntha Ratha Yatra begun and it was raining, in the cold season wetting by rain and devotees enthusiastically pulling the ropes, chanting and dancing in the Kirtan till the end of Ratha Yatra, It was amazing site.
Lord Jagannatha along with His sister Subhadra and elder brother Baladeva moved majestically through the main streets of the Kanpur city. The Ratha passed through Phulbag, Mal Road, Express Road, Ghantaghar Chauraha, Nayaganj, Birhana Rd, and then returned to Phulbag. People had inundated the streets to have a glimpse of this glorious event.
HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja, HG Devakinandan Prabhu, HG Revatiraman Prabhu, HG Janardana Prabhu, HG Shricaran Prabhu led very melodious and enthusiastic kirtans & drowned all the participants in the ocean of transcendental bliss, enthusiastically dancing to the heart rendering tune of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.
While the procession was marching ahead on the way the local people, businessmen, shop owners and reputed people of the city came forward to worship Shri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra by offering a lamp, garlands, fruits and other bhoga items as usual previous years. It was special this year that all the devotees were garlanded and offered nice water, fruits and juices in many places.
At the end of this Rath Yatra HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj addressed the general public gathered there & requested them to take this simple process of dancing & chanting seriously in daily life. HG Devakinandan pr spoke that Lord was testing us & finally He mercifully allowed us to have this gorgeous ceremony.
Note:- This whole event was about to be cancelled as the day before. In fact it was announced as well by the Temple President HG Prem Harinaam pr but later on announcement was done by HG Devakinandan pr that we are going to have this Rath Yatra, still there was doubt in devotee’s mind till finally it was done. HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj commented that Rains stopped in proper time. Special Credit goes to the Herculean efforts of Hg Radharanjan pr HG Haripriya pr, Hg Jai Govinda Pr, for arranging the things at the last moment on very short notice which was a great support for Ratha Yatra.
Youth festival, Felicitation, Cultural Programs:
17th Feb, A youth Festival ANUBHUTI was organized by IYF KANPUR devotees most of the services were done by HBTI college students & IIT Kanpur students, participants were mesmerized by the drama “Who am I”, Mantra Rock, A Vedic quiz competition was also done based on Ramayana, Mahabharat, Bhagwat Gita as it is,Srimad Bhagwatam etc? which appealed very much to the audience(age group 16-23), Of course delicious Prasadam gave final punch, some participants were expressing at the end that they want to be a part of ISKCON community. There was a lecture given by HG Bhaktiviod Prabhu to the students on “Personality development through Vedic wisdom”.
Originally the plan was to invite 700-800 schools going students for this occasion & all arrangements were being made in that direction but on the last moment school teachers went on strike so schools were called off, after that IYF Kanpur devotees started working very hard working out all possible options, along with other services they were continuously going out talking to different institutes like Polytechnic colleges & engineering colleges finally we got 110+ students, For this special thanks goes to HBTI students for working in full co-operation & organization to carry out services inside temple premises & outside arrangements for ANUBHUTI At the same time there was an Initiation ceremony arranged in the temple premises by HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj, which was going on parallel with ANUBHUTI, Maharaj instructed his newly initiated disciples on the process of Bhakti mentioning the duties of Initiated devotees in ISKCON.
In the evening there was a felicitation program arranged for the committee members of ISKCON Kanpur, in which the Janmashtami Souvenir was released in the holy presence of HH Gopal Krishna Maharaj. This souvenir was result of hard endaevours of HG Madhavendu prabhu On this occasion walkthrough of temple was released & the temple plan was explained to the audience by Premnath ji who is the architect of this temple from Mumbai, It was a very joyous get together of all committee members & temple devotees who are taking lead in bringing out this great palace for the residence of Shri Shri Radha Madhav to please Srila Prabhupada,
Finally the three day festival ended by the concluding cultural program by HG Nilutpal Krishna prabhu & team, once again a fantastic combination of our traditional Vaishnavism & Assamese culture turned out to be heart melting Kirtan Mela, Audience applauded the performers with their loud claps & enthusiastic participation.
We beg & pray for the blessings of all Vaishnavas for successful completion of the temple as soon as possible so that we can serve the mission of Srila Prabhupada by this offering of ours towards the service of the ISKCON community & humanity at large.
Note: HH Loknatha Swami and HH Radhanatha Swami and HG Bhima Prabhu visited ISKCON Kanpur on 11th-14th feb and blessed the devotees.