By Nitai Pada Kamalam Dasa
Krishna consciousness and the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha mantra keeps spreading in Taiwan.
Last Saturday 13th December, devotees organized the very first Ratha Yatra festival in Taiwan’s capital Taipei.
it was the first time devotees undertook such a major public event. The parade went around on of the main roads of the city with devotees ecstatically dancing and singing, appealing to all the passing by onlookers. The small but richly decorated chariot carrying their lordships mesmerized everyone. The kirtan party lead by HH Giridhari Swami and melodious singing of HH Niranjana Swami along with the sounds of mridangas and kartals playing in unison spread in all directions receiving an acceptable response from the locals.
We were very fortunate to have the guidance and blessing for this festival from senior Srila Prabhupada’s disciples HG Krishna Baladeva Prabhu and HG Sevananda prabhu. We also had devotees and attendees coming from all over the island as well as from Hong Kong and neighboring Philippines. Despite the cold weather a full team of devotees and volunteers joined hands together working hard; putting time and energy to make this festival a grand success.
After the procession concluded an outstanding open-air cultural festival was organized in a park nearby the temple.
The outdoor performances included spiritual discourse given by HH Giridhari Swami, classical Bharatanatyam dance , Bhajans, dancing by local devotees and a final roaring Kirtana lead by Prabhava das (ACBSP). The venue Included question and answer booths, tents distributing hundreds of prasadam plates for free as well as Srila Prabhupada’s books.
We sincerely hope this can become a yearly event in Taiwan for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada and Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Srimati Subhadra.
Hare Krsna! Jaya Jagannatha!
mridanga demo recorded by Vrajendra Kumar das:
Ratha Yatra procession recorded by Vrajendra Kumar das:
How many books did you distribute, Prabhus?