{"id":87520,"date":"2020-07-16T09:17:14","date_gmt":"2020-07-16T07:17:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=87520"},"modified":"2020-07-16T09:17:14","modified_gmt":"2020-07-16T07:17:14","slug":"pandemic-ratha-yatra-in-new-vrindaban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=87520","title":{"rendered":"Pandemic Ratha Yatra in New Vrindaban"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header\">\n<h1 class=\"entry-title\" itemprop=\"headline\">Ratha Yatra 2020 \u2013 A spiritual reunion<\/h1>\n<p class=\"entry-meta\"><time class=\"entry-time\" itemprop=\"datePublished\" datetime=\"2020-07-12T09:30:39-04:00\">July 12, 2020<\/time> <\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"entry-content\" itemprop=\"text\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-87522\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/JagannathRathNV2020.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/JagannathRathNV2020.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/JagannathRathNV2020-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/JagannathRathNV2020-280x187.jpg 280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-87522\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/JagannathRathNV2020.jpg\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/JagannathRathNV2020.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/JagannathRathNV2020-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/JagannathRathNV2020-280x187.jpg 280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Sri Baladeva, Subhadra and Jagannath<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Summertime is Ratha Yatra time! The Ratha Yatra festival is a celebration of reunion, when Their Lordships Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra, who had been separated from Their devotees during a two-week \u201csick\u201d leave, finally return and are taken         out on a pleasure ride in a gorgeously decorated chariot. On a deeper level, it signifies the ecstatic reunion of Krishna with the residents of Vrindaban after Krishna had been away for a long time on business in Mathura. For us at New Vrindaban,         this year\u2019s Ratha Yatra, which took place on Wednesday evening, was a reunion of all the devotees who had been separated from each other due to coronavirus lockdown restrictions. On all three levels, it was a joyful bringing together of the devotees         with the Lord.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newvrindaban.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/KidsAtRathayatra.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4853 jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newvrindaban.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/KidsAtRathayatra.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newvrindaban.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/KidsAtRathayatra.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newvrindaban.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/KidsAtRathayatra.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newvrindaban.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/KidsAtRathayatra.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newvrindaban.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/KidsAtRathayatra.jpg?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w\"             data-lazy-loaded=\"1\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newvrindaban.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/KidsAtRathayatra.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4853\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newvrindaban.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/KidsAtRathayatra.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newvrindaban.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/KidsAtRathayatra.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newvrindaban.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/KidsAtRathayatra.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newvrindaban.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/KidsAtRathayatra.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newvrindaban.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/KidsAtRathayatra.jpg?w=2048&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><\/noscript><figcaption>Children\u2019s Rath Festival<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>With pandemic safety measures such as social distancing, masks, and gloves in place, New Vrindaban residents happily volunteered to contribute in whatever way they could. Our \u201cchariot\u201d was Gopisa prabhu\u2019s Dodge Ram pick-up on which Tattva-darsana         prabhu had skillfully crafted a beautiful altar. Jayasri and&nbsp;Srimati Nrsinghalaksmi&nbsp;prabhu\u2019s decorations then transformed the truck into a gorgeous open-air temple. As our pujaris, Sri Radha, Mahamani, Ekanta Sevika, and Shalagram prabhus         and others, carried the large deities of Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra out of temple and placed them reverentially on their mobile altar, the children from Gopala\u2019s Garden Homeschool waved colorful flags and danced around Them joyfully, Amita         das led an amazing kirtan, and a wave of devotion flooded the parking lot. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Once the Deities were securely settled in, the engine started, and the truck began to glide down the road with several cars of devotees following in procession. Their itinerary included five or six stops and took Them all around the New Vrindaban         property which covers over 1,500 acres. From the temple parking lot, the first stop was the Ghee Factory by Big Wheeling Creek. &nbsp;There, devotees greeted the Lord with lotus flowers and varieties of home-cooked food offerings and performed         a beautiful arati ceremony.<\/p>\n<p>At each stop, pre-packed prasadam was distributed, and what a treat that was! Our expert cooks, Samardha Krsna and Ananga Manjari prabhus along with their many helpers, prepared a delicious pasta salad with basil from our own gardens, green beans         also from our own gardens, paneer made from milk from our own cows, and an amazing strawberry halava. The sincere service of many devotees and the bounty of New Vrindaban dhama was appreciated in that delicious prepackaged meal which was given         freely to everyone along the way.<\/p>\n<p>The next stop was Prabhupada\u2019s Palace of Gold where we were lovingly received in the parking lot by Varsana Swami and more devotees with a variety of offerings. From there, we proceeded to Rupanuga prabhu\u2019s house where at least 50 devotees who had         been waiting in great anticipation offered many delightful items to the Lord. At Sudhanu prabhu\u2019s home, we had a wonderful Gaura arati ceremony for the pleasure of the Lord, and then we headed over to \u201cMystic Valley\u201d in Talavan for more offerings.<\/p>\n<p>In this festival, there was an outpouring of devotion \u2013 from the devotees to the Lord, from the Lord to the devotees, and from the devotees to each other \u2013 which was incredibly rejuvenating. Although the temple, the center of our community, had been         in lockdown for months, Lords Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra are so merciful that if you can\u2019t come to see Them, They will come to see you! And this is exactly what They did. Travelling to every area of the property, They graced the whole         community with Their affectionate glances, and as each devotee stepped forward with heartfelt offerings, there was a wonderful exchange of love which could be felt by all. In this way, our Ratha Yatra festival was truly a celebration of reunion.         Although as individuals, we will inevitably have different opinion and tastes, there is one thing that all of us in New Vrindaban have in common: love and devotion for Krishna.<\/p>\n<p>This spirit \u2013 the basis of our unity \u2013 is the very spirit of Vrindaban, and it was brought out on Thursday by the mercy of Lords Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra, and all the devotees who participated in Their wonderful Ratha Yatra festival. We would         like to offer special thanks to the organizers: Malati prabhu, Sachimata prabhu, Jayasri prabhu and Madri prabhu for working hard behind the scenes and inspiring everyone else to pitch in and make this event a transcendental success. Hare Krishna!<\/p>\n<p>Please enjoy looking at the pictures here:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/newvrindaban108\/posts\/10158709362123699\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" onclick=\"javascript:window.open('https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/newvrindaban108\/posts\/10158709362123699'); return false;\">https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/newvrindaban108\/posts\/10158709362123699<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnewvrindaban108%2Fposts%2F10158709362123699&#038;width=500\" width=\"500\" height=\"621\" style=\"border:none;overflow:hidden\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowTransparency=\"true\" allow=\"encrypted-media\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/ahQzs1Q.jpg \"\/><strong>By New Vrindavana<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> Summertime is Ratha Yatra time! The Ratha Yatra festival is a celebration of reunion, when Their Lordships Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra, who had been separated from Their devotees during a two-week \u201csick\u201d leave, finally return and are taken out on a pleasure ride in a gorgeously decorated chariot. On a deeper level, it signifies the ecstatic reunion of Krishna with the residents of Vrindaban after Krishna had been away for a long time on business in Mathura. For us at New Vrindaban, this year\u2019s Ratha Yatra, which took place on Wednesday evening, was a reunion of all the devotees who had been separated from each other due to coronavirus lockdown restrictions. On all three levels, it was a joyful bringing together of the devotees with the Lord.  <!--more--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-87520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=87520"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87520\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87523,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87520\/revisions\/87523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=87520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=87520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=87520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}