By Sandya Avatara Das
The First Sri Jagannatha Ratha Yatra Festival March 11, 2013 in Jember, East Java, Indonesia
Ratha yatra is a celebration of the event when sri Krishna( Lord jagannatha) attended a religious fuction in kuruksetra 5000 years ago, traveling from dwaraka in big chariot along with Subhadra and balarama. In rememberance of that event, the cart festival takes place every year in Puri, and millions of pilgrimages attend the festival. Today by the mercy of HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada, the ratha yatra festival are performed at temple around the world.
One of the temple in Indonesia, krishna-Balarama temple, in jember celebrated this ratha yatra festival on march 11, 2013. This rathayatra festival was inspired by H.H. Subhaga swami maharaja in his last visit to Jember in july 2012. Maharaja instructed the devotees to do ratha yatra festival in jember. Jember is located in East Java and most of the population is muslim. Prbhu karabhajan das and prbhu advaita das leaded the devotees preparing the festival.
The chariot was prepared almost a year. The main sponsor of the chariot was prabhu Karabhajan and advaita prbhu. They were really enthusiastic in preparing the festival. The chariot was constructed by Wira kesava prbhu using teakwood and neemwood. The ornaments of the chariot was carved by vraja prbhu who also carved the ornaments in Sri Sri Radha Krishnacandra temple, Manipur.
The deities was carved by vraja prabhu and painted by sadhu jivan prbhu. The deities is so huge made of neemwood. This is the biggest jagannath deities in Indonesia. The deities is placed in ananda murti das house. He prepared huge altar for the deities. All the devotees humbly prayed for the success of the first rathayatra in Jember.
A day before the festival, devotees from other part of Indonesia came to Jember. 30 devotees from Bali, 6 devotees from banyuwangi, 3 devotees from probolinggo, 10 devotees from bromo, 4 devotees from malang, 15 devotees from Surabaya, and 5 devotees from Rembang. By the participation of the devotees from other areas, it increased the spirit of the devotees in Jember. The devotees prepared the festival by decorating the temple and the chariot in happy.
On the day of the ratha-yatra, that morning was so sunny and the twitter of the birds filled all the atmosphere. It signed that the nature were so eager to welcome the Lords. The festival was done in Sukoreno area, 45 minutes from temple. In sukoreno, the devotees joined with the hindu people who did Ogoh-Ogoh festival.
Sri Jagannatah, Baladeva, Subadra and Chakra sudarsan were put in the chariot. The devotees did big kirtan while the procession of the Lord heading to the chariot. The kirtan attracted the villager who mostly muslim and other participant to see what was going on. They were very enthusiastic watching the procession. After the Lord on the Chariot, the devotees did agni hotra yagna. A video of the meaning of rathayatra by H.H. Subhag Swami maharaja displayed on LCD proyector. The devotees watched attentively. Book stall also made by the devotees to display Srila Prabhupada’s book in the festival area. Many people came to see the book. Some of them bought the books.
Time showed 18.00 pm, when the festival started. The head villager who is a Muslim had opportunity to offer coconut before the chariot pulled by the devotees. The head of villager asked to sit in the chariot to join the ratha yatra. He was very happy to be part of the festival. He expressed his happiness using microphone to the villager. The devotees felt glad because even the head of villager is muslim he praised the festival. He showed the meaning of tolerant among religions.
The chariot was pulled not only by devotees but also non devotees who presented on the festival. The hot kirtan nonstop with big sound system lead by Premadhana prbhu. Along the rathayatra devotees and the head of villeger divided maha prasadam to the audients who saw the ratha yatra. The festival finished on 23.00 pm. It was long ratha yatra and amazing rathayatra were the muslim joined the festival. Arriving in the temple, the Deities brought to the altar. Then all the devotees honored prasadam.
Jay Sri Jagannath Balarama, and Subadra devi ki jay…
By sandya avatara das