By Vrajendranandan Das
Dear Maharajs and Prabhus,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
On 13th of July, ISKCON Kolkatta had organized a colorful Rathyatra starting at Park Circus Maidan. The Kolkatta Rathyatra happens to a one of the few in country where 3 Chariots with Lord Balaladeva, Srimati Subhadra Devi and Lord Jagannath seated on them are taken on the procession. The Kolkatta temple along with Mayapur had organized a very meticulous and well planed rathyatra.
The excitement was already high in the air, but it just kept increasing by the arrival of H. H. Jayapataka Swami Maharaj for the Rathyatra. He flew in all the way from Los Angeles to attend this festival. His presence inspired several devotees from neighboring cities to attend the Rathyatra.
Before the commencement of Rathyatra, H. H. Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, H. H. Bhakti Purusottam Swami Maharaj, H. G. Pankajangari Prabhu, H. G. Dayaram Prabhu and Sri Subod Kant Sahay (Union Minister for Food Processing, Govt of India), Sri Pradeep Jain (Minister of State, Rural Development), Sri Sovan Chatterje
(Mayor of Kolkatta City) and other senior devotees and eminent personalities of the city performed a arati to the Lordships, followed by the breaking of Coconut and Cleaning with the Golden Broom front of all the 3 Chariots.
After this H. H. Jayapataka Swami Maharaj and Sri Subodh Kant Sahay addressed the devotees. The Rathyatra started at sharp 2 PM. All along the way, 3 kirtan parties (one front of each chariot), several dioramas mounted on trucks also followed the Rath. Prasadam of several varieties was served through out the yatra. The Rathyatra concluded at Ganga Sagar Mela Grounds near the famous Eden Garden Stadium. The pandal there was artistically made and very good arrangements was made for the devotees, prominent people and the public
The Program was well covered by the Print and Electronic media, several TV channels came along with their Outdoor Broadcasting (OB) Van and telecasted the rathyatra live. H. G. Radharaman Prabhu and H. G. Radha Vallabh Prabhu handled the PR very nicely.
In all this was a 7 day festival till 21st July, each day with a special program and discourse by varying devotees.
Link to the Photo Gallery:
http://picasaweb.google.com/118048521807589208737/KolkattaRathyatra#
Your Servant, Vrajendranandan Das National Communications Director New Delhi, India.