By Sanatan Kripa Dasa
The Car Festival (Ratha Yatra) of Lord Jagannath is one of the largest festivals of the followers of Sanatan Dharma, in Bangladesh. This year about 0.1 million of people participated in the ever-increasing procession of the Ratha Yathra Festival. The Information Minister of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Mr. Abul Kalam Azad inaugurated the Ratha Yatra procession. The well-furnished three Chariots of Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra commenced from Swamibag Ashram and were drawn by the nearly 100 thousand of devotees along the main roads and streets of the Capital city namely Matejheel area, Press Club, Duel Square Dhaka University area etc. Devotees led the Hare Krishna Mahamantra Kirtan and the participants followed them. They also carried banner, flags, placards, festoons etc. The colorful rally ended at the Dhakeswai National Temple.
During nine-days-long programs different preaching departments of ISKCON Dhaka organized many culture programs namely Padabali Kirtans, Dramsas, Vedic dances, discussions, seminars etc. During this nine days approximately 40 thousand dishes full Krishna Prashadam were distributed among the visitors.
The crowds of devotees broke all previous records. It is needless to mention that ISKCON takes the initiative in the countrywide occasion. At the end the 2nd July came and His Holiness Subhag Swami Maharaja opened the Return Car Festival.
The Chariots started from Dhakashwari Temple in the afternoon and followed the same Road map and terminated at Swamibag after evening. Hundreds and thousands of devotees like the opening ceremony spontaneously joined the festival and begged Lord Jagannath’s mercy.
Most of the T. V. channels and newspapers of Bangladesh covered the Ratha Yatra Festival’s news. Especially the national T. V. channel (Bangladesh Televion) even showed a 30 minutes program on ISKCON Dhaka Ratha Yatra Feasival.
Wonderful achievement. Srila Prabhupada would be (is) so pleased. All glories to all the Bangladeshi devotees.
Hare Krishna, To watch the video and pictures of ISKCON Ratha Yatra-2009 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Please click on the following links:
http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=186581955359&view=all
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=101942729816008&oid=186581955359
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=101760429834238&oid=186581955359
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=101602379850043&oid=186581955359
How wonderful! From the first time that Gargamuni Swami and I arrived in Dacca in February, 1971, hosted so sweetly by the Dacca Gaudiya Math devotees, to now, having passed through revolution and war, and having now come out one the side of Truth, it is so amazingly sweet to see the Rathayatra festival take place in such a welcome manner. May the Muslims glorify the Holy Name of Allah, may the vaishnavas glorify the Holy Names of Krishna, and all fulfill the spiritual desires of their hearts by the grace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Samkirtan Movement. Pusta Krishna das