7th Annual Chariot Festival 2018 Bloomington, IL (Album with photos)
The 7th Annual Jagannatha Rathyatra organized by BMI- Bhaktivriksha was celebrated in Miller Park, Bloomington IL. It was attended by around 600 people including from nearby towns. The Mayor of the City of Bloomington also participated, donning a Royal garb with Silk Kurta and a turban ( to represent the King of Odisha), enthusiastically swept the road in front of the Chariot with a Golden broom. The brandd new Chariot was fabulous and merciful deities bestowed Their blessings on one and all. Few devotees drew colorful Rangoli on the ground in front of the Chariot at several stops. The weather was very pleasant, the Kirtan and dancing ecstatic. people joined from many walks of life and enjoyed the function. There was Mantra Meditation camp, a Book Stall, a Japatron tent, and various spiritual exhibits set up by Festival of India.
A Maha Aarti was performed to the deities of Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra with singing of Jagannathashtakam followed by speeches by the Mayor Tari Renner and the Chief guest Danakeli DD.
There was a short cultural program on stage. One of the items was a powerful Bharatnatyam presentation of dance narration of prayers of Kanaka Dasa to Udupi Krishna where he describes the Gajendra Moksha and Hrinyakashyipu Vadha to save and deliver His devotees and asks the Lord to give him the darshan. A crack then appears in the Temple wall that was preventing Kanaka Dasa to see the deity. And the deity turns 180 degrees from East facing to West to give Darshan to the pure devotee.
Jai Jagannatha!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/z5APov