Successful Calcutta Rathayatra 2001 - by Tusti Mohan Krishna das

Successful Calcutta Rathayatra 2001
By Tusti Mohan Krishna das

Hare Krishna!

Dear devotees,

Today June, 23 - 2001, we had an excellent Rathayatra by the mercy of the Supreme Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra, thousands of people were present to receive darshan from the Lord and to get His mercy and Maha prasadam, everybody was in ecstasy joining the devotees in the chanting and dancing before the Deities in a glorious day. The weather was suitable also by Krishna's arrangement for the complete success of the biggest festival in Calcutta every year, Great mercy of Srila Prabhupada who made the Ratahayatra famous in the whole world.

As in previous years ISKCON has brought out its Rathayatra procession on the streets of Calcutta of colorful Ratha's with Their Lordhips's Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra devi accompanied by lively harinama kirtana chanting in the streets. Hundreds of thousands of people witnessed the Rathayatra along its routed with thousands of devotees dancing in the street before the procession. Devotees came to participate in this famous and largest Rathayatra festival of Calcutta in from surrounding Districts of 24 Parganas (North and South), Howrah, Nadia, and Hoogly in addition to the Calcutta residents. In addition foreign devotees from various continents also added variety to the presentation.

The Rathayatra ended at the Maidan near the Birla Planetarium and will host a seven-day festival there with Pandal Programs of Pravacana, Kirtan, Dramas, Lectures and cultural events. In addition there will be Question and Answer Booth for philosophical questions, free prasadam distribution, exhibitions and a Temple of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra devi. "

A day before there were a press conference to invite the people and give details about the festival which was attended by all the local press and media, and representing ISKCON were His Holiness Jayapataka Swami and Bhakti Caru Swami.

The festival today was inaugurated by the personalities of the Supreme Court and (former Chief justice) as well by many life members. His Holiness Jayapataka Swami and His Holiness Bhakti Caru Swami inaugurated the festival.

It was amazing to see how the devotees could prepare this Maha-event in only few days bringing the Chariots from Mayapur as well all the organization was done directly by the Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir.

Sri Sri Sri JAGANNATH BALADEVA SUBHADRA. . . . ki jaya. Sri Sri Gaura-nitai Ki jaya Srila Prabhupada ki jaya

© CHAKRA 27-June-2001

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