Jagannath Ratha yatra in Cambodia (8 min video)
Pchum Ben is a public holiday in Cambodia that follows the period called “Vassa,” a kind of “Buddhist Lent,” and has been kept with great devotion by the Khmer people for longer than anyone can remember. This tradition is quite similar with Hindu tradition called “sraddha” where hindu people offer “ Piṇḍas”- are balls of cooked rice and barley flour mixed with ghee and black sesame seeds offered to ancestors during Hindu funeral rites (Antyesti) and ancestor worship (Śrāddha). Devotees in Cambodia saw this event as a chance to introduce Krishna Consciousness through Jagannath Ratha yatra.
A year before, H.H. Subhag swami maharaj asked Jagannath Ratha Yatra Nusantara team to make ratha yatra in Cambodia. Then the ratha yatra team contacted prabhu Gunaavatara in Cambodia if there was a chance to do Ratha-yatra festival there. After discussing with the devotees in Cambodia Gunaavatara prabhu said that it possible to do ratha yatra. The devotees from Yashopura ashram took this to introduce the Hare Krishna Movement in Cambodia. This Ashram is under supervision of H.H. Bhaktiraghava Maharaj.
The devotes, even small in number, led by Visnuvrata das and Gunaavatar das, were very enthusiastic doing harinama sankirtan in village of Chub Ta Trav Village, Cambodia. Knowing the annual Festival of Pchum Ben, the devotees had idea to spread the mercy of Lord Jagannath widely in this village through Jagganath ratha yatra festival. They worked hard in a week to prepare the festival. From taking care of the permits to preparing the chariot until asking the authority of the Wat Prasat Pagoda to allow Budha deity to participate on the festival. They joyfully worked for the satisfaction of the Lord.
On the day of the festival, since early morning devotees prepared the festival. Some devotees cooked, decorated the chariot and other preparation. This devotional service environment made them happy. At 09.00 Pm. local time, Lord Jagannath were carried to the pagoda using “tuk-Tuk” a traditional Cambodia public transportation and it was about 15 minutes from the center. nt of the Pagoda the Lord Jagganath along with His brother, Lord Balaram, and His Lovely sister, Subadra Devi were put on the chariot and Budha deities from the Wat Prasat Pagoda. Arati Were offer to Lords by the pujari and then the Lord chariot were pulled by devotees and local villagers. The Hare Krishna Mahamantra filled the atmosphere and all joyfully sang and dance. There was big pandal in near the center prepared for the festival. Many local villagers came to the pandal and Gunaavatar prabhu gave sort class about the glorification of Chanting Hare Krishna Maha Mantra in this age of Kali yuga and related it to the Pchum Ben festival. The local villager attentively listened the class. After the class, all villagers who came to the festival honoring prasadam. All credit of the Ratha yatra festival are going to Visnuvrata prabhu and Induleka mataji who bravely preach the glory of chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra, bhakta Alexi bhaktin Marsha, Bakta JayaBharat and bhakta ajay, bhakta Sharon, Bahkta jerry, bhakta Ny Chaiyya, bhakta khat Khear, bhakta Neat, bakta Min Ey Te, and Guna Avatar prabhu who organize the beautiful festival for the Lord jagannath, and all devotees who supported in many ways.
Jay Sri Jagannath, Jay Sri Balaram, Jay Subadra devi.
Jay Cambodia Gaura Bhakta Vrinda…
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/2XKc6B