By Deena Bandhu das
On Saturday evening March 18, ISKCON Vrinda Kunda very ecstatically celebrated the annual Yamuna Boat Festival on the opposite side of Yamuna from Sringar Vat. All the devotees gathered at Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi in the afternoon to take the special festival large Deities of Radha Shyamasundar along with Radha Govinda, the personal Deities of HH Radha Govinda Maharaja, on procession to the boat ghat. Our dear godbrother Punyatama Prabhu arranged flags of a hundred different countries for the devotees to carry to show that Srila Prabhupada has brought Krishna Consciousness to the whole world!
With the enchanting Deities in a decorated van and a hundred country’s flags swirling in the wind against the clear blue sky of a pleasantly sunny day, the devotees danced joyfully through the streets of Vrindavan. It was so inspiring to see this river of colorful flags flowing through the lanes of Vrindavan to meet the Holy River Yamuna, appearing like a new confluence or sangam. As the procession arrived at the banks of Yamuna, Their royal swan boat fully decorated with colorful flowers was still on the other side with devotees making the final decorations.
Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundar, with Shyama’s head so lovingly tilted toward His beloved Radha, were lovingly brought to the bank of the river as Their regal swan boat arrived. They presided from Their wonderful altar with three domed flower flower backdrop. Their Lordships gloriously floated surrounded by boatloads of devotees to the other bank where Saranga Thakur was leading divine bhajans. On the other side there were ample sitting arrangements on the soft Yamuna sands and grass. They docked at a special platform where They were serenaded by the assembled devotees.
Just as Their Lordships were about to depart for boating pastimes on the Yamuna, different colored streams of flower petals came swirling down the currents of the river! Special lights shown on the Deities making a very special effect as the orange sun set over the Yamuna. A type of gate was there in the water with a bag of flower petal hanging overhead. As the boat passed under the gate, flowers came showering down over Their Lordships! When They again returned to the dock, a special Chappan Bhoga (64 preparations) was lovingly offered to Their Lordships. Aratika was performed as more and more boatloads of devotees arrived to join the festivities.
They again set off and sailed through another gate where flower petals showered over the Deities. Now our beloved Temple President, Panca Gauda das, was leading an enthusiastic kirtan while Their Lordships relished Their Yamuna boating pastimes. Later Vaiyasaki led a fired up kirtan bringing all the devotees to their feet dancing wildly on the banks of Sri Yamuna under the starlit skies! Suddenly with a big boom, the dark skies were lit up with the colorful sparks of an amazing fireworks display!
The devotees anxiously hankered after the delicious mahaprasad distributed from the boat, as well as other places. Then as a grand finale, 501 floating lamps were offered to Sri Yamuna with love. Words are unable to describe the scene as hundreds of golden lamps lit up the entire dark stream of the river. No one wanted to leave, so they handed the mike to Deena Bandhu Prabhu who led the devotees in ecstatic chanting of Jaya jaya Radhe, jaya jaya Shyam, jaya jaya Sri Vrindavana Dhama! Devotees were madly whirling and twirling under the canopy of the stars on the soft banks of Yamuna!
Pictures can be seen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vittalrukmini.das/media_set?set=a.1838500556474124.10%2073741851.100009425913401&type=3&pnref=story
Yamuna Maharani ki jaya! Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara ki jaya! Sri Sri Radha Govinda ki jaya! His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!