Report of Krsna Balaram Shobha Yatra celebrated in Himachal Pradesh

Śrī Śrī Kṛṣṇa Balarāma Śobhā-Yātrā Celebrations in Himachal Pradesh

Aseem Krsna Das
In the Brahma-saṁhitā, Lord Brahmā glorifies the Supreme Lord’s residence, Goloka, as a place
where every word is a song and every gait a dance, where the soil is purpose gem and all water is
nectar. Such a place is ever blissful and free from all miseries. There is always a festival in the
spiritual world. It’s a place where every resident is constantly engaged in the service of the Lord.
That is the nature of the Lord’s transcendental abode. Each one of us would be eager to experience
and have a glimpse of such a sublime realm in this material world. Indeed, it’s possible to create the
‘Vaikuṇṭha’ atmosphere in this material world, as the Supreme Lord Himself confirms to Nārada
Muni "…tatra tiṣṭhāmi nārada yatra gāyanti mad-bhaktāḥ." The Lord says that He remains where
His devotees engage in glorifying His activities.
The Supreme Lord performed various transcendental pastimes for us to remember and glorify. Out
of their immeasurable compassion, our previous acharyas and Śrīla Prabhupāda introduced to us a
variety of ways to serve the same Supreme Person who is the Lord of our hearts and our most dear
well-wishing friend. They taught us to celebrate various festivals for the glorification of the Lord. The
Lord is satisfied through these celebrations and the devotees also get a chance to experience the
glimpse of the divine happiness belonging to the realm of the spiritual world.
One such grand festival, the Kṛṣṇa Balarāma Śobhā-yātrā, was celebrated recently in the cities of
Dharamshala and Palampur, situated in the hills of Himachal Pradesh. These festivals provided a
wonderful opportunity to one and all to serve the Lord through different ways and receive His
transcendental blessings. Let us have a short glimpse of the festival in these two cities.
A large gathering of devotees arrived in advance from various places in India and abroad to
participate in these festivals. A large group of local people also gathered to welcome the Lord. The
starting points for the Śobhā-yātrās were the temples of the local devatas.
While some devotees sang harināma, other devotees joyfully danced to the tunes of the kīrtana. The
procession passed through the main market area of the towns. Amazed onlookers relished the
Lord’s transcendental prasādam, which was continuously being distributed from the chariot. They
satisfied their sense of sight by having the wonderful darśana of the Lordships, who were decorated
profusely with fresh flowers. The book distributors distributed Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books with full
enthusiasm and the cooking team prepared prasādam for the devotees and 56 bhoga items for the
Lord. The pujārīs were also engaged in their service to the Lordships and the managers were busy
ensuring all comforts for the Lord and His dear devotees.
All of us were fully engaged and absorbed in one service or another. Everyone was happy and
blissful. Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has unlocked the treasure house of unlimited bliss by
introducing the Sankīrtana movement for us. Surely, this would be the way in the spiritual world
where every word is a song and every step a dance. The influence of the Lord’s association was
noticable. Every single person who participated in these programs took back home a smile that was
priceless.
Many people received Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mercy in the form of his books. About 300 transcendental
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s books were distributed, which included 100 mahā-big books.

Śrīla Prabhupāda has said, “So, this festival, taking part in these festivals, means a step forward for
our self-realization. Rathe ca vāmanaṁ dṛṣṭvā punar janma na vidyate. Simply by seeing the Lord on
the chariot, one makes advancement for stopping the repetition of birth and death.” (Ratha-yātrā –
London, July 13, 1972)
The Jagannātha Ashram, Dari, Dharamshala was the organizer for the Śobhā-yātrās in Dharamshala
and Palampur. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Palampur district, Shri Abhayram Das, played the
key role in organizing the Palampur Śobhā-yātrā. Shri Abhayram Das, an initiated devotee in ISKCON,
is wonderfully utilizing his esteemed social position in preaching the glories of the Lord.
His Holiness Subhag Swami Maharaja most mercifully blessed us with his divine presence throughout
these festivals. He delivered the most valuable discourses at the beginning of both of these
processions. His discourse inspired the local people to accept Krishna Consciousness with utmost
sincerity and seriousness in their lives, and also recharged the batteries of old and new devotees
alike in their pursuit of Krishna Consciousness. Association with and guidance from a pure devotee
spiritual master, a representative of Śrīla Prabhupāda, gives us the necessary push and impetus to
continue our endeavor for achieving the transcendental position or love of Godhead, which is the
perfection of life.
May the Lord bless us with more and more bliss and happiness by giving us a chance to participate in
such festivals meant for His glorification.
All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda!!!