By Yogindra vandana das
The Ratha Yatra extravaganza of Lord Jagannath and Co. first graced the denizens of “The Big Easy” (New Orleans) way back in 1975 as a modest, palanquin style parade drawn joyfully down the oak lined, quiet avenues leading to City Park. Two years later the first major hand built cart was engineered by New Orleanian H.G. Tapan Misra prabhu, a San Francisco protégé of the renowned Ratha Yatra impresario, His Grace Jayananda prabhu. Lord Jagannath showered his mercy profusely that year upon throngs of well wishers and amazed onlookers along the main thoroughfare of that parade loving city and ended His big ride in the world famous Jackson Square Park overlooking the mighty Mississippi River. The route and wonderful venue would become a New Orleans staple for the next seven years with ISKCON and local dignitaries alike attending, speaking and offering blessings to the crowds. Joined annually by the powerful Atlanta yatra and their own deities the event became a grand, beautiful festival for devotees in the Southeastern regions.
In 1984 a major change took place in the scope and concept of the Rath event. After deep consideration by all the local devotees, temple president H.G. Ranganatha Prabhu, with much input and inspiration from H.H. Jayapataka Maharaja decided to expand the impact and outreach of Lord jagannath’s benediction by initiating the Mardi Gras Rathayatra on the famous New Orleans Mardi Gras day. It began with a big bang. Three Mardi Gras truck floats… one with a massive Jaganatha in the front, one with the Head of Lord Krishna, and one called the Vaikuntha Ship… traveled in the Crew of Crescent City Truck Parade on Mardi Gras day. Hundreds of thousands of people on the streets received this special dharsana of the temple Deities- Lords Jagannath, Baladeva and Srimati Subhadra. The devotees threw transcendental paraphernalia to the crowd and everyone chanted Hari Nam Sankirtana.
After several years, due to financial considerations, the parade was scaled back to one cart. Ranganatha Prabhu and family continued the tradition until 1994 when New Talavan temple president, H.G. Yogindra vandana prabhu, took over as the principle organizer. With cooperation from devotees at New Talavana where the cart is parked and refurbished each year and the New Orleans temple that tradition is continued to this day. Two years during this time deserve special mention, the Centennial year of Srila Prabhupada’s birthday 1996 and the 2000 Mardi Gras. In 1997 the cart was burned by vandals. Thus in 1998 money was raised to purchase a new cart. For the Centennial Mardi Gras Ratha Yatra the devotees united together and asked His Grace Vrikodara Prabhu to act as chairperson for the Centennial committee. Vrikodaraji was one of the directors of our vibrant community based wholesale business, and his heading the committee brought leadership and funding to the Centennial event. The cart was completely renovated and painted in a very unique fashion, and scored higher than any year before or afterwards in the competition for best cart in our parade group. Specially designed necklaces with pictures of Jagannatha were thrown to the bead-craving public. Sumptuous prasadam was served on and off the cart. Everything was exceptional and wonderful.
2000 was dynamic in that it occurred just a few weeks after the famous Y2K scare. The cart was called Y2Krsna! His Grace Praladha Nrisimha Prabhu painted the cart solid black and etched universes, symbols of Vishnu and pictures of Govinda on it. The cart was impressive, and the name was catchy. Praladha Prabhu had also painted the cart previously, and many of the judges for best cart award noted his art work each year.
Another feature of this type of Ratha Yatra is that hundreds of thousands of people on the parade route expect the riders on these carts to throw some gift to the public, especially to the children. We always distribute as much books and prasadam as possible although due to local restrictions we must be somewhat discreet. Hence the profusion of Jagannath paraphernalia in the form of stickers, buttons, and beads. Some annual donors should be noted such as H.G. Madhava Das Prabhu of Slidell and H.G. Dulal Candra of Benediction Moon who have sponsored many books; H.G.Devala Rishi Prabhu for Lord Jaganatha hats and traditional New Orleans tourist hats; the New Talavana temple for stickers, incense and hats; His Grace Drumila Prabhu who is always the biggest financial donor and fundraiser; Mr. Shah from International Foods for incense and candy; and Maharani d.d. whose wholesale company, Lotus Feet, has donated incense and various items. We must also mention Jayantisakhi DD and Kalindi DD from New Talavana for decorating the cart every year. Once, a local fashion store going out of business donated their entire inventory of new clothes and jewelry, items which when thrown from the Mardi Gras Rath cart created quite a frenzy.
In 2009 a long cherished desire was again expressed. Many devotees, and especially our resident Bengali Gaudiya Vaisnavas, have always wanted to again conduct the traditional Ratha Yatra. So in 2009 His Grace Sraddha Deva Manu prabhu led a large group of devotes on a quest to fulfill that dream. The dream was realized on Nov. 21, 2009 as The Lord of the Universe stepped out from the crowd to reestablish His very own celebration and parade. New laws enacted since the ‘80’s prohibited a return to Jackson Square Park, so the most strategic lot on the most prominent tourist avenue in the New Orleans French Quarter was chosen on Decatur Street, between the Jax Brewery and Hard Rock Cafe. With over 140,000 square feet of space and the return of Maduha Prabhu’s famous Festival of India the devotees manned a huge event and paraded Lords Jagannatha, Baladeva and Srimati Subhadra devi down Decatur Street to Canal Street and back to this site where they spent the rest of the day in a beautifully constructed temple and listened with hundreds of guests to expert musical entertainment while thousands of plates of Krishna prasadam were distributed. Devotees came from Dallas, Atlanta, Florida and Alabama to help the local devotees please Lord Jagannatha and His brother and sister. Honorable mention has to be given to New Orleanian Kalavati Devi who arranged for a special guest of honor, her old school friend, City Council Member of the French Quarter District, Mr.James Carter. Without his help it would have been difficult for us to meet all the needs of city administrators in a timely fashion. This was the first year that Lords Jagannath, Baladeva and Srimati Subhadra devi personally gave dharsana to people on the streets of New Orleans twice in one year! All the devotees believe this is the real reason the New Orleans Saints won the 2009 Super Bowl NFL Championship!!
2010 promises to be the best ever with a two day event. Saturday, November 20th in Washington Square Park on 706 Elysian Fields with the traditional parade coming from Canal Street down Decatur to the park; and Sunday, November 21st with a return parade from Elysian Fields to Saint Claude to Saint Bernard to North Broad to Esplanade and back to the temple. The park fest will include professional music, dance, drama, food and exhibitions provided by Madhuha’s Festival of India. This year, Indian Bhajan singer, Anup Jalota will be performing live on the stage. We are sure to get more Indian crowd. H.G titksava karunika and temple bhajan band will electrify the evening with their music. It will be the biggest and best RathaYatra in the Southeastern United States! The Lords of the Universe will again visit the Streets of New Orleans for the second time in one year and grace all the unfortunate conditioned souls with benediction smiles and offer them all prasadam and liberation from the world of birth and death.
I hope this short account of the 30 plus years of Ratha Yatra history in the City of Orleans makes everyone happy and eager to serve the Lord of the Universe. May all of you find the nectar of pure devotional service and taste its nectarine flavors again and again.
Humbly and sincerely submitted to the devotees and all readers,
Yogindra vandana das Adhikari
Chair Person Iskcon New Orleans
Board of Directors & Temple President
Iskcon New Talavana