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The highland city of Bandung is only a short 2.5 hours’ drive southeast of Jakarta via toll road, and is the overwhelming destination of choice for Jakarta residents to get away for weekends and long holidays. Lately it has also become a favorite holiday resort for tourists from Singapore and Malaysia, who come here in droves to shop and enjoy its nature and fabulous foods.<\/p>\n
The festival titled ‘Bandung Parade of Shared Houses’ was celebrated by the Bandung City Government. It was held on Saturday, February 15, 2020. This Asian African Carnival continues to manifest the unity spirit. It celebrates unity, friendship, and synergy through diversity. It is an attempt by the city goverenment to unite all elements in society, particularly in the provincial capital, and make it a place for all religions and ethnic groups.<\/p>\n
The most anticipated event of the festival is the full costume parade showcasing cultures from Indonesia and all over the world.<\/p>\n
In the words of Oded M Danial, the honourable Mayor of Bandung, “the city of Bandung is a shared house. It is home to various religions, ethnicities and cultures in Indonesia, reflecting the city’s harmonious nature. This festival is expected to dismiss the notion of some parties who are intolerant towards religious freedom”, he said during his inaugural address for the Bandung Parade of Shared Houses.<\/p>\n
The grand parade that took place in the Asia-Africa Road Region featured a variety of arts and cultures. As many as 6,000 participants participated in the parade.These participants belonging to the various ethnicities and tribes living in the city of Bandung presented their unique cultures. The purpose of this parade is to showcase and to strengthen the harmony in the midst of the diverse population of the City of Bandung. The Hare Krishna devotees living in Bandung received an invitation to participate in the parade. The devotees participated with the spectacular Lord Jaganntah Ratha yatra. <\/p>\n
The preparations for the event started immediately with the receival of the invitation. The Ratha yatra Nusantara team (a team of devotees fervently arranging for Lord Jagannath rath yatra in Indonesian Archipelago), got a calling from Lokanath Prabhu, devotee representative in Bandung, to help in the ratha yatra. Immediately, a preplan for the Bandung rath yatra was sketched out and was announced and published in whatsapp groups and spread all over Indonesia. Devotees from various other part of Indonesia responded to the announcement by donating some money to support the Ratha yatra. The devotees started organising and making plans for the scheduled carnival.<\/p>\n
A day before the festival, Mr. Made’s, a local well wishers house was set up as the base camp. The Chariot team had arrived and assembled the chariot a day before. They also decorated it very beautifully. The devotees from Bali also had arrived that afternoon by bus. Overlooking their fatigue, they gave a hand in the preparation of the chariot. Adiprana das, Tapana Misra das, Lokanath das, and Srigarbha das went to the Asia Afrika street to follow the technical meeting supervised by the organising committee. Lord Jagannath deities travelled a long journey from Jogjakarta to Bandung by a minibus.The Lordship Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra were seated on a newly made altar. The pujari offered bhoga to the Lord.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this unique procession has convinced them that our men are very nice and they can organize a great crowd without any violence. That is a fact if people actually want peace and tranquility, they must support this movement whole heartedly and we shall execute our prescribed duties very seriously and sincerely. (SPL to Madhudvisa, 14th April, 1970)<\/strong><\/p>\n Early next morning, after the mangala arati, the devotees gathered in the basecamp. Final adjustment were made. A pick up car was loaded with fruits offered to the Lord to distribute as food for life. The devotees honoured morning prasadam and were ready to ascend with full vigor. It was 07.00 am morning and the chariot was pulled up to the starting point of the parade. The parade had started. Ladies from the other faith also joined spontaneously in pulling Lord Jagannath’s chariot. They sang Hare Krishna Mahamantra with the devotees. They felt great happiness and joy dancing together along with Lord Jagannath and the devotees who incessantly danced and sang the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra in euphoria. Their faces reflected their feelings of happiness in diversity. A gopi dance was also performed in front of the honoring stage where the Mayor of Bandung and his staff were seated. <\/p>\n \u201cIf there is chanting of Hare Krsna, even if the soul is there for a short time. Oh! He will hear and become advanced. This sound vibration is not material, it is spiritual and powerful beyond our conception. So it cannot be hindered in any way by something material; it surpasses all these material barriers\u201d. (Letter to Mukunda and Janaki, 28th February 1968)<\/strong><\/p>\n Devotees also distributed Prabhupada books along the parade. People wholeheartedly appreciated the divine literature.<\/p>\n \u201cThe book distribution results from the Ratha-yatra are very nice. There is no question of profit. Distribution is the first consideration.\u201d (SPL to Yasomatinandana dasa, 11th July, 1976)<\/strong><\/p>\n After arriving at the finishing point, the devotees returned to the basecamp with Lord Jagannath. The Lord was offered the bhoga. The devotees relished the mercy of the Lord and prepared to return to Bali. The devotees cherish the beautiful feelings and emotions they experienced in the service of Lord Jagannath, the Lord of the World.<\/p>\n Our ever grateful obeisances are due to HH Kavichandra Swami and HH Ramai Swami, the GBCs of Indonesia, for their support and guidance to always look for new avenues for sankirtan and to HH Subhag Swami for being our motivation and always showing us the right path, making our life happy and joyful. Haribol !<\/p>\n Jay Jagannath! Jay Baladev! Jay Subhadra!!!<\/p>\n All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!!<\/p>\n
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