2nd Ratha Yatra in Batam, 2014

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By Hari Narayana Das

Lord Jagannath Showers His Mercy on Batam Island

Batam is the largest island in the Riau Islands Province of Indonesia and is mainly made up of Muslims. Just when the devotees were contemplating how they can push forward Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Sankirtan movement in Batam, Krishna gave them an opportunity! Batam city was holding a Cultural Parade in commerartion of the anniversary of Batam city. The parade was to feature performances by delegations from different provinces in Indonesia. The devotees decided to use this opportunity to spread the mercy of Sri Sri Jagannath Baladev and Subadra by having a Ratha Yatra festival as part of the Cultural Parade.

”Melbourne, Tokyo, and many other places. And India also, in Calcutta also. So this festival, taking part in these festivals means a step forward for our self-realization. Rathe ca vāmanaṁ dṛṣṭvā punar janma na vidyate. Simply by seeing the Lord on the chariot, one makes advancement for stopping the repetition of birth and death.” SP Ratha-yatra — London, July 13, 1972

His Grace Samudrasdena prabhu (leader of Batam Iskcon centre) under the guidance of His Holiness Subhag Swami Maharaj started organizing the Ratha Yatra with the help of devotees from other parts of Indonesia. The Ratha Yatra organizing committee met the Mayor of Batam City, Mr Ahmad Dahlan who was very enthusiastic and pledged his support for our Ratha Yatra and also gave a generous donation of US$500!

Invitations were sent out to all the various ISKCON centres in Indonesia as well as neighboring Singapore. All devotees were ecstatic at the prospect of preaching Mahaprabhu’s movement in Batam and pleasing Srila Prabhupada.

”Simply by understanding Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa’s appearance, Kṛṣṇa’s disappearance, Kṛṣṇa’s activities. This Rathayātrā is one of the activities of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore to take part in the Rathayātrā festival means to associate with Kṛṣṇa directly. So in this way, if we associate with Kṛṣṇa’s name, Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, Kṛṣṇa’s qualities, Kṛṣṇa’s form, then, gradually, we transcend this material existence.” SP – Ratha-yatra — London, July 13, 1972

The day before the festival, devotees from various parts of Indonesia started arriving. They involved themselves in many services. Some devotees decorated the Ratha beautifully with various flowers, lightings etc. Others were involved in preparing prasadham. There was a very joyous mood among the devotees! The matajis prepared “Gebogan” or fruits that was arranged like a beautiful multicoloured tower and the bhajan team lead by H.G. Sundara Gopal das and H.G.Rasika das arranged for their performance. After all the preparation had finished the devotees went Harinam Sankirtan around the Batam city.

On the day of the Ratha Yatra (21^st December 2014) devotees were enthusiastically making the final touches to the Ratha and making sure all the preparations were ready. The pujaris were decorating the Deities with beautiful dresses, ornaments and fragrant flower garland. Another team of devotees were preparing sumptuous local prasadham for distribution. Finally at 10 am it was time to bring their Lordships Sri Sri Jangannath, Baladev and Subadrah unto the Ratha. Just before starting the Ratha Yatra His Holiness Srimad Subhag Swami Maharaj gave a “live” lecture from Kolkata over the phone. He spoke on the life of Srila Prabhupada and how he brought Jagannatha to the West. Maharaj also mentioned that Jagannath went to the West to bless the people there and now by the sincere service of the devotees, Lord Jagannatha is coming to different places in Indonesia and blessing everyone and needless to say the devotees who are working very hard to please Jagannatha, surely they will get unlimited mercy of the Lord.

Filled with enthusiasm after hearing Subhag Maharaj’s class the devotees started singing Jagannath Ashtakam followed by Arati of their Lordships. Immediately after the auspicious coconut breaking ceremony, all the devotees starting pulling the Lord of the Universe while His Grace Sundara Gopal Das brahmacari led sweet melodious kirtan. Throughout the 3 kilometer Ratha Yatra route devotees were singing and dancing blissfully attracting the motorists and pedestrians along the way. Many were waving at us and taking photographs. Jagannath was casting his merciful glance upon all these fortunate souls! The mayor had also arranged for police escort to stop the traffic for the Lord of the Universe!

“For the present, you endeavor to make the Rathayatra Festival grand successful. You should arrange the procession and procedure so nicely that all the neighboring people may be attracted to join the procession.” SP letter to Upendra – Allston, Mass 1 June 1968

The Ratha Yatra arrived at the festival ground where the Cultural parade was to take place. The devotees continued chanting and dancing and attracted many of the spectators who had come to attend the festival. Though many of them were from other faiths, they joined the devotees in chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra and dancing for the pleasure of Lord Jagannath without any reservations!

Once the parade started, the devotees pulled the Lord’s Chariot in front of the guest’s tribune. His Grace Samudrasena prabhu presented the Mayor of Batam, Mr Dahlan, with a copy of Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad Bhagavatam. The Mayor accepted this gift with much delight. Then the devotees continued to sing Kirtan while some Matajis danced for the pleasure of Their Lordships. As the kirtan led by His Grace Sundar Gopal Das Brahmacari became more and more ecstatic the crowds started dancing spontaneously. It didn’t seem to matter what background they were from or which province in Indonesia they were from, everyone was united in Harinam Sankirtan! Lord Jagannath was smiling and witnessing the miracle that was taking place! The whole atmosphere was transformed and we felt as if we were in the Spiritual World!

Srila Prabhupada wrote in his letter that “All chanting and dancing in bliss and ecstasy for the entire day, starting from noon and going on until after evening. So it was a most magnificent occasion, and I am very much encouraged that the people of the Western world will come to understand the glories of this movement, and as Lord Caitanya predicted, His name will be chanted and praised in every town and village throughout the world” (SPL to Krsna dasa, 28th July, 1969)

Later the devotees distributed the mercy of the Lord in the form of hundreds of packets of Maharaprasadham to the audience! Many fortunate Souls also received of Srila Prabhupada’s transcendental books. Thanks to the team of enthusiastic book distributers!

“Just like the other day we held thefestival, Ratha-yātrā. Chant and take prasādam. That’s all. Organize this all over the world. They will be saved. They will understand Kṛṣṇa.” (SP Lecture on BG 1.10 — London, July 12, 1973)

“We are trying to give people that happiness which will never be exhausted. That is objective of our happiness.”-Srila Prabhupada

We hope that our humble efforts to preach the message of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu will give pleasure to Srila Prabhupada, the previous Acaryas and to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu!

The organizers of the Ratha Yatra committee would like to offer their obeisances to His Holiness Kavichadra Swami and His Holiness Ramai Swami, the GBCs for Indonesia. We are grateful for their support and for constantly guiding us in pushing forward Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Sankirtan movement. We are also extremely grateful to His Holiness Srimad Subhag Swami Maharaj who has been inspiring us to explore new frontiers in preaching and performing this Jagannath Ratha Yatra in every city in Indonesia for the pleasure of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Our gratitude to Leader of leader of SAKKHI Batam, and Samudrasena das and all Batam’s Devotees. Our gratitude to the prasadam team Sanjaya das, sevia Devi Dasi and Suci Devi Dasi. Our gratitude to Chariot team, Brajanagara and his team for the hard working in preparing the chariot for the Lord. Our gratitude to Guru caran prabhu and Karan Bhajan for their great support. Our gratitude to sankirtan team –Sundar Gopal brahmacari, Rasika brahmacari and the bajan teamSesa for their wonderful Kirtan. Our gratitude to Bhakta Made yagustana for constributing beautiful pictures.

Jaya Sri Sri Jagannath Baladev Subadra Maharani Ki Jaya!

Jaya Sri Jagannath Ratha Yatra Utsava Ki Jaya!

Jaya Sri Sri Gaura Nitai Ki Jaya!

Jaya Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya!