By Bhaktin Jessica
When the idea of going to the NY Ratha Yatra was brought up in an email by a devotee from my local temple it was met with the realization that I really had no expectation of ever being able to attend it. It appeared to be a logistically impossible endeavor as all sorts of various factors seemed to get in the way of going. Just getting to the temple in the morning to catch the bus was a problem considering the fact that my husband and I have only one working car at the moment. The matter of seeing if my mother was available to watch my two children was another consideration and the idea of working out some sort of alternative explanation for my being away for the day seemed a potentially daunting and intimidating task. I replied that I would look into going and see what I could do but I was uncertain of the possibility.
For awhile now I have been trying to maintain chanting sixteen rounds and have fallen into a somewhat steady and rhythmatic devotional routine of chanting and reading. The one aspect of my spiritual growth that has remained underdeveloped is probably my frugal association with devotees and lack of regularity in attending temple services. This hasn’t been by choice but it is just a matter of my present circumstances. The idea of spending a whole day in an atmosphere filled with those who also chant the same mantra that has awakened my heart to this amazing love I can hardly begin to describe and who devote themselves to a conception of God my mind and heart have gravitated towards was too tempting to just simply shrug off. I would try everything I could to take such an opportunity. I thought of when Radhanath Swami had come to the temple and how impossible it seemed at first to be able to go that night to see and hear him speak but how my intense desire to do so inspired swift and careful actions that opened up the possibility. Perhaps going to the NY Ratha Yatra would work out the same way. Only time would reveal if it were to be so.
As a couple of weeks passed and it seemed that a ride to the temple might not work out I told myself not to get attached to the idea of going. I was preparing myself for disappointment. It finally worked out that a very gratitiutious devotee from the temple was willing to go very literally out of his way to pick me up early that morning. I made the proper arrangements and the night before the Ratha Yatra I lay awake thinking about the next morning. My bag was already packed with my gopi skirt and the essentials for a day out in NYC. A little cash, a camera, my phone,etc.
My husband was in bed beside me and I couldn’t help but think that he would absolutely be furious and would deny my going if he ever even knew what I was up to. This would cause problems. Big problems. And yet my heart longed to chant His Names amidst the vast numbers of devotees that were to gather in the city the next day. My heart could think of nothing else other than Krishna. I closed my eyes and pictured an image of Him that I’ve become attached to recently and has really inspired me. I just felt this comforting reassurance. That if truly my aim was simply Krishna and nothing else that all would work out just fine. I soon fell asleep.
I woke up before my alarm went off that morning and hopped out of bed. It was before four and my mind was racing. There wasn’t much to do but I took a shower, rechecked my bag to make sure I had everything I needed and eventually it was 5:45 and the time came to leave my house. I had asked to be picked up at the corner of our street due to the fact that the devotee that was giving me a ride to the temple did not fit the description of the friend I had said I would be with for the day. As I was walking up the street I saw a car slowly driving towards my direction and the window rolled down and there was Bhakta Fred. He gave a huge wave and yelled “Haribol!” out the window! I was kind of both surprised and reassured by such a reception-also musing that this might very well have been the first time “haribol” had ever been shouted on our road before!
The car ride was enjoyable as Fred and I talked about various subjects like Srila Prabhupada and how inspiring he is to both of us. When he dropped me off at the temple I was warmly greeted by Mother Jiva and changed into my gopi skirt. I had only worn it at the temple before for short periods and hadn’t walked around with it too much yet and realized after getting into it that it was a little long and that this might cause problems while walking down 5th avenue among a multitude of others. It was then that Mother Jiva was very gracious to let me borrow (and eventually gave to me) one of her gopi skirts that was a little shorter. It worked out a lot better and I thanked her profusely.
I had come quite early to the temple so having ample time I sat in the temple room and chanted some rounds. Pyari Prabhu, the temple president, started reading from the Srimad Bhagavatam. I really felt fortunate to be able to hear him read some of its verses and purports and even discuss some of the contents with him. One of the themes that was brought up in one of the purports was the idea that being a thief was not exclusive to just stealing material things from others but also included having too much as well. For everything is Krishna’s and if we have more than we need it is like stealing. This opportunity to listen and interact with the reading of the Srimad Bhagavatam was one of my favorite parts of the day and it happened even before we left for NYC.
As we boarded the bus I took a seat near the back and for quite awhile the seat next to me was empty. At first I was a little disappointed because I craved association and mused at the fact that perhaps I wouldn’t get it even in the midst of a bus load of devotees. Maybe I just wasn’t meant for it. Shortly after I had that thought, though, a devotee Preeta asked if the seat next to me was taken and after she sat down I soon found us talking amicably the whole ride down to the city. She was warm and very easy to talk to and I felt very fortunate to get to know her as having come to the temple off and on for two years I really haven’t had too many conversations with many of the devotees who go there. This is mostly because I only go to Sunday Feasts when I can and have to leave right before prasadam is served, having to take some with me as I go so I can get back home in a timely manner.
When we got off of the bus I could hear around the corner the sound of drums and chanting. At first I was almost afraid that the parade was over and then I realized that it was just soon beginning. We walked to where the first chariot was. Lord Jagannath was perched beautifully, towering above the swelling tides of people that started to fill the street and sidewalks before Him chanting and taking darshan. I recognized Bhakti Vikasi Swami in the multitude. Many people stood nearby taking pictures of him as he smiled and greeted those around him.
I wasn’t even sure where any of the other devotees from the temple were at that point but that didn’t concern me as I was aware of the meeting point at the end of the festival that would assure me a ride home. As the parade commenced I began walking with those around me singing kirtan and absorbing the moments as they came.
I was a bit unprepared in the beginning for some of the pushing that began occurring as the parade proceeded. There are two ropes that pull the cart and I was by the rope whose side was by the one lane open on the street where we were walking. There were police and volunteers telling those of us by the rope to not go further out into the street but it was very difficult not to be pushed in that direction by the great hordes of people who were pressing all around. I found myself falling further behind until in my periphery I saw one of the wagon wheels not too far in the distance. Oh geez. I mused. I am going to get run over by Lord Jagannath! Finally I saw an opening on the rope and grabbed it figuring I would hold on to it and that would assure me not going out into the street. And yet those behind me were pushing me forward and those in front of me weren’t going anywhere so I had the sensation for some moments of being in a stampede. I felt like just leaving the procession altogether but I didn’t want to cross the street as cars slowly rolled by us and I didn’t see an opening yet. It was then that I relaxed a bit more and really felt myself being taken away by the kirtan. I had never felt so free to sing the names of God with such abandon before and as I looked around I saw those around me also swept up by the joy of the moment.
I finally did cross the street and it was then that I got to see the two other carts and a wider view of the parade down 5th avenue. It was beautiful. Devotees were everywhere singing and dancing in bright beautiful saris, gopi skirts and dhotis to Krishna’s names. Onlookers on the tops of tour buses and on the sidewalks snapped pictures and watched open-eyed at the view before them. Some near me looked inquisitive and it was then that I wished I had some kind of literature to maybe give them. That gave me the thought that if I return next year I’d like to bring material with me to pass out to others who might be interested.
When I saw an opening I crossed the street again and this time walked slowly in the opposite direction of the parade. I wanted to take darshan of Subhadra and Lord Balarama. It was then that my eye recognized a devotee, Vrindavana, who I have come to know online and who I have studied some of the Srimad Bhagavatam with on Skype. After a few moments we embraced one another and I had the pleasure of meeting her fiance. She currently lives in Canada so this was a really great and rare opportunity to meet her in person. We talked for a short time and her fiancee graciously took a picture of the two of us.
As the parade drew to a close I entered the grounds of the festival which was held at a park. The line for prasadam was daunting and I didn’t know if I had the heart to stand in it for what seemed would be an hour or so and after talking to some afterwards had found out the waiting time was about 45 minutes. When I entered the festival I have to admit that I felt a bit overwhelmed. I don’t often go to areas that have swelling crowds of people but instead am accustomed to taking refuge whenever I can in the solitary setting of the forest where I enjoy chanting and hiking. I saw a group of trees in the distance with devotees that were scattered about on the grasses beneath them and decided to just sit for a few moments in the shelter of their shade. As I sat on the cool grass I inhaled deeply. I was beginning to miss and long for the river and the trees and the….My phone rang, drawing me out of my sudden melancholic reverie. I had received a text. It was from a devotee, Sagar, that I had met online. He told me his whereabouts on the grounds of the festival and I responded that I would meet him there.
On my way to Sagar my eye caught another devotee I have come to know online, Paul. I greeted him and he looked surprised that we had come across one another in such a large crowd. We talked for a short time and it was a pleasure to get the opportunity to meet him. Shortly after I met Sagar and we talked for some time. It was also a pleasure to get to meet him as he has been very much an encouragement to me. After awhile we parted ways and I decided to take advantage of the afternoon and the setting by exploring the various tents set up at the festival.
I bought a couple of small books at one stand and then moved to the next one where some books that were being sold intrigued me. One was a book of poems called “Endless Beginnings” by Roger Siegel and I started reading through a couple of them as I stood there, wanting to sample them before considering purchasing. Funds are tight so I have to use discretion and I didn’t bring a lot with me to spend in the first place. On the back of the cover it described the author as having worked with the poor and homeless and drug addicted. I had just taken on a part time job with a non-profit organization which I will begin training for in July where I will be working with individuals who have substance abuse and mental health issues, some of which have also been homeless. The book of poems intrigued me and I asked one of the men at the stand who the author was for I didn’t recognize his name. The man answered that it was him. I felt a little embarrassed though he didn’t seem to mind that I hadn’t heard of him before. We had a short conversation and he gave me his email address for which I was grateful and plan on corresponding with him in the future.
After leaving the stand I went back to see how the prasadam line was going and found that it was just as long as it was when I left it the first time. I bought a yogurt drink instead giving up on having prasadam altogether. I sipped on my drink as I listened to some of a lecture by Srila Prabhupada that was playing on speaker at the pavilion. His familiar voice I’ve grown so fond of carried timeless truths across the crowd. After some time of doing that I decided to find another tree and chant for awhile. I wanted to get some rounds in before too long knowing that when I got home that night I would probably be too tired to chant. While I chanted I looked across the grounds at the scene before me. A few here and there sat on benches chanting while many more walked happily around absorbing the transcendental atmosphere. How great it was to just be able to chant in public so comfortably with so many around that were not only accepting but engaged in the practice themselves. After some time of chanting I got up and found myself sitting at a tent where a sadhu was describing his journey into Krishna consciousness. I sat there enjoying his story and as he was finishing it up my phone alerted me with another text. It was Sagar once again, letting me know about some kirtan he was enjoying on the opposite side of the park and telling me that I should come to it.
I took my leave and soon found myself where he was and he was certainly right. It was an amazing kirtan. After awhile I recognized a devotee from the temple Suddha bhakti dasi join in. Then, while sitting on the steps with some others singing kirtan, I felt someone tap me on the shoulder and turned around and my eyes met Fred’s, who warmly said hello. I was very happy to see both of them there and we were all swept away by the tides of devotion as the kirtan went on. Sometimes slow and soulful, sometimes rapid and energetic, the names of God reverberated all around us.
This post is undoubtedly long enough so I will end it here. I am really glad that I made the effort to attend the NY Ratha Yatra and am truly thankful for those devotees that made it possible for me to go. It was a wonderful experience.
Hare Krishna!
Source: http://asecretdevotion.wordpress.com/2014/06/16/my-trip-to-the-ny-ratha-yatra/