By Sukhada dasi
A light misty rain purified the air in anticipation of Lord Jagannatha’s arrival. Cooking a sumptuous feast, dressing Their Lordships in a fabulous pink and green outfit with magnificent crowns, making garlands, and decorating the cart, devotees worked into the wee hours of the night preparing for the Lord’s debut after a lengthy illness.
The crisp cool air made it perfect for dancing in a jubilant parade. Enthusiastic devotees arrived from every part of Florida and afar to take part in the St. Augustine celebration. Beginning with a speech by the new mayor, Nancy Shaver, who welcomed the devotees and shared that she has always been an admirer of the Indian culture. Bhadra Prabhu presented her with the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, telling her: “When you are in stress, please read this book. Mahatma Gandhi used to read this book whenever he was in a difficult situation.â Her reply was: âI am always in stressful situations.â Then Mukhya devi said to her: âYou can read any page and you will find solutions.â The mayor replied that she will read it everyday. She hopes to go to India someday soon and immerse herself in the culture. She learned a bit of the history of the Ratha Yatra and took the part of King Prataparudra as she swept the street clean in honor of the procession.
St. Augustine is the oldest city in America, meaning the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement and port in the continental United States; it was founded in 1565. The Ratha Yatra festival is held in the heart of the historic district, right in the Plaza de la Constitucion. With its lovely atmosphere, this Ratha Yatra is considered one of the sweetest to attend. Ratha Yatra this year was March 21, with lots of tourists about, getting the blessings of Jagannath Swami. Excellent prasadam was served free of charge to hundreds. Also hundreds of small books and pamphlets were distributed.
Radhikarani dasi arranged an entertaining afternoon with a play about protecting Mother Earth called, “The Cure”. There was an outstanding Bharatnatyam dance, and a sweet song about Lord Nityananda sung by the children. Truly a labor of love from start to finish. A big thanks to all who participated in the 2015 Festival of the Chariots!