(Click on the photo above to see the complete gallery)
Spontaneous Love for the Lord Jagannath on the 2nd East Kolaka Ratha Yatra 2015
By Hari Narayana Das
The devotees of the Govardhan Ashram in Putemata village, Ladongi district in the regency of Kolaka, Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, out of their sincere desire and even they are small in number but their spirit and enthusiasm were bigger than their size that they desired so strongly to follow H.H. Subhag Swami Guru Maharaj Instruction in serving Prabhupada to satisfy The Lord through the second Jaganath Ratha-yatra festival.
”…… 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
As Srila Prabhupada wrote on his letter “ For the present you endevour should be to make rathayatra festival grand and successful. You should arrange the procession and procedure so nicely that all the neighborhood people may be attracted to join the procession.” (SPL to Upendra, 1stJune, 1968). The devotees arranged the festival on March 22, 2015 but by the advice of the Hindu Parisad of East Kolaka that the festival should be done on March 20, 2015. The hindu parisad argued that the other Hindu communities also did Ogoh-ogoh festival a day before celebrating Nyepi Day or silence day and it could show a unity among the Hindus communities. The committee and the devotees agreed that the Ratha yatra would be done on March 20, 2015.
The Ratha Yatra committee in Kendari was led by his grace Srinath prabhu, a disciple of H.H. Kavicandra Swami with other devotees as Sankhadhara das, and Govardhan das prepared the festival in short of time. On March 20, the devotees prepared the chariot. they decorated it with beautiful flowers garland and other ornaments that made the chariot attracted for everyone.
The Rathayatra started at 16.00 noon local time. For the last many days it had been raining every now and then and this was causing concern for the devotees. The weather changed completely on the day of the festival, the sun shining brightly, it was as if everything had been adjusted so nicely to welcome the Lord of the Universe.
The guest who came on the to the festival were the Mayor of East Kolaka, Mr. Tony Herbiansyah and his staff, head of Hindu Parishad of East Kolaka, ISKCON SAKKHI represented by H.G. Sadasiva Dasa and many others guests. The organizing committee presented a copy of Bhagavad-gita as it is to the honored guests.
Once the parade started, the matajis devotees pulled the Lord’s Chariot in front of the guest’s tribune and the prbhus dance in front of the chariot with The Lord Gaura Nitai on the palanquin. The devotees continued to sing Kirtan while Matajis danced while pulling the chariot 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! When the Lord passed the fruits court the fruits sellers spontaneously offered some fruits to the Lord on the chariot.
“Just like the other day we held the festival, 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)
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 of Kendari, Srinath prabhu, Sankhadhara das, Govardhan das, bhakta Made Sulastraand all Kendari’s Devotees. Our gratitude to the prasadam team lead by Aradhya 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, the bajan team for their wonderful Kirtan. Our gratitude to Tapana Misra for his 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!