Dear
Devotees and Friends,
Sri Jagannath Swami Ki Jai!!
The 2004 New York Ratha Yatra and Sankirtan Festival was celebrated with
great jubilation from June 9 to June 13, 2004. Hundreds of devotees
converged from all over the world converged to Sri Sri Radha Govinda
Mandir to take part in the kirtan and hari-katha programs to glorify the
pastimes of Lord Chaitanya at the Ratha Yatra Festival.
The New York Temple community worked intensely to prepare the temple to
receive the hundreds of esteemed guests. Many congregation devotees went
above the call of duty, and gave their hearts in service to Lord Krishna.
For the previous 2 weeks, the temple was abuzz with activity as devotees
pitched in the upgrade. Because of the dedication of the New York
devotees, the majority of the festival preparation was complete before the
evening kirtan began on Friday June 11, 2004. Devotees came from all
corners, and took part in garland making, vegetable cutting, and other
sublime forms of service to Lord Jagannath. Thus the temple was ready in
record time and everyone was able to enjoy hearing the transcendental
pastimes of Lord Chaitanya (see below).
On June 5th, 2004 the Ratha Yatra and Sankirtan festival was
inaugurated with the “special” Snana-Yatra (bathing festival) of Lord
Jagannath Swami. It was a nice festival and many eager devotees lined up
to bathe the Lord with their love and devotion. The air was thick with
excitement as devotees waited with enthusiasm to pull Lord Jagannath down
Fifth avenue the following week.
The New
York Sankirtan Festival was celebrated from June 9-11, and it featured an
intense book distribution seminar with HG Vaisesika Prabhu and HG
Dayananda Prabhu. After presenting different seminars every morning, they
took 20 devotees out every day to various locations in Manhattan, and
encouraged them with their guidance and leadership as they preached to the
people of New York. HH Jayadwaita Swami and HH Kadamba-Kanana Swami also
took part in the book distribution activities, noting high book scores.
On June 9th, after the evening kirtan, HH Jayadwaita Swami set
the scene for the festival by giving a talk from the Bhagavad Gita As It
Is, reminding the audience of Lord Krishna’s supremacy. In the Bhagavad
Gita, 9.11, Lord Krishna establishes His authority as the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, by declaring that only fools cannot accept the
authority of God. Maharaja explained that this verse is significant
because it helps to understand that God has a personal form.
On June 10 2004, the whole temple atmosphere was electrified by the
superexcellent kirtans and lectures of His Holiness Radhanath Swami, who
commenced the first of a 2-part lecture in celebration the upcoming
Jagannath Ratha Yatra. He spoke Lord Chaitanya’s pastimes during the
Gundica Marjana ceremony. Maharaj illustrated the story of King
Prataparudra and how he ultimately achieved the mercy of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu, by rendering menial service to Lord Jagannath, and taking
great care of the devotees of Lord Chaitanya. Maharaj stressed that we
should consider ourselves fortunate if we are given the opportunity to
perform even the most menial task in the service of the Lord, because that
is the key to receiving Lord Krsna's mercy.
The celebration continued on June 11, 2004 with another transcendental
kirtan and lecture program on the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
This was heralded by the transcendental arrival of Lord Jagannath, Lord
Baladeva & Lady Subhadra from ISKCON Baltimore. The newly painted deities
made their entrance amidst the kirtan and dancing by the hundreds of
devotees who came to the temple that evening. After the Lord was escorted
to his apartment, HH Radhanath Swami began his progam by singing the
bhajan "Jaya Jaya Jagannath Sacira Nandana" with such intensity that
captivated the devotees and made them eager to hear the stories of Lord
Jagannath's Ratha Yatra. Maharaj told the story of Gundica Marjana, the
cleaning of the Gundica temple in preparation for the arrival of Lord
Jagannath's Ratha. Lord Caitanya personally led a Sankirtan party to the
Gundica temple and showed the Vaisnavas by cleaning the floor how to serve
in the mood of selflessness and bereft of false pride. He further
described the ecstatic symptoms the Lord experienced during the Ratha
Yatra. Maharaj stressed that we should not be envious of others, and we
should become pleased if others receive more mercy and association than
ourselves. He explained that this pleases the Lord, but if we become
envious, Krsna removes his mercy. HH Radhanath Swami kept the devotees
enthralled till late in the evening.
On Ratha Yatra day, the devotees made their way from all corners of the
world to New York City, to pull the Lord’s chariots down the most “famous
street in the world” – Fifth Avenue. This year, the Ratha Yatra Festival
committee worked to ensure a smooth and safe parade. A team of 8 parade
marshals and 12 wheel guards worked together under the leadership of H.G.
Bindu Madhava Dasa to keep the devotees safe and blissful as the beautiful
carts made their way down Fifth Avenue. Under clear blue skies, and
perfect temperatures, thousands of devotees from all over the world came
together to pull the ropes of the mighty chariots down Fifth Avenue.
There was no distinction of race, creed, color or position as people from
all walks of life took part in this celebration.
HH
Lokanath Swami took the microphone in front of Lord Jagannath’s chariot
and sang the entire length of the parade. In front of Lady Subhadra’s
cart, many of the visiting gurukulis came forward to lead the kirtan.
Likewise, in front of Lord Baladeva’s cart, many of the great New York
kirtaneers took the microphone and chanted the whole way down 5th
Avenue. All of the participants in the parade chanted and danced in
ecstasy.
At
Washington Square Park, visitors and devotees alike were treated to a
terrific afternoon of spiritual entertainment from 2 different stages this
year. Also, there were 4 question and answer booths, featuring different
leading sanyasis who took questions and engaged in serious dialogue.
There were different prasadam booths, selling all sorts of items from curd
steaks to samosas, attracting the minds of the many tourists who came to
the festival. The Free Feast prasadam was, once again, a feast for all of
the senses. Two subjis, puri, laddu, rice, halavah, and lemonade were
offered to everyone who were eager to receive it.
This year’s stage programs featured some of the best artists from both the
ISKCON community and from outside. Pandit Satyanarayan Charka, and his
troupe of Kathak artists, performed a wonderful rendition of Krishna-lila
pastimes, featuring Krishna’s battle with Kaliya serpent and his dances
with the gopis. Different ISKCON devotee musicians performed traditions
bhajans and kirtans with a modern flair. Karnamrta dasi, one of the
original ISKCON gurukulis, also came to the stage to sing a couple of
songs from her album.
According to Madhuha Prabhu, the “best act in the show” award went to
Anapayani devi dasi and her Bharatanatyam students, from Florida. Their
performance was full of flair and grace, and kept the audience enthralled
and amazed.
Finally, at about 6:30pm, HH BB Govinda Swami and the Silk Road Band (of
devotees) from ISKCON Kazakhstan set to take the entire city of New York
back to the spiritual world with their transcendental kirtan program. The
devotees’ ecstasies went higher and higher, until 7:30pm, when the
festival had to
come to a close.
With
the loving memories of HH Sridhar Swami within their hearts, many of the
devotees stayed to help clean up the park and take down the Festival of
India tents and exhibitions. As we know, Sridhar Maharaj took it upon
himself to rally the devotees to assist Madhuha Prabhu in cleaning up the
park for quite a few years, until his departure this past March to the
Spiritual World.
Sunday
June 13, Yogini Ekadasi, will be the day to remember for New York Ratha
Yatra 2004. In the morning, HH Lokanath Swami gave a terrific Srimad
Bhagavatam class, which he interspersed with different nice kirtans of
Hare Krishna Mantra. The morning class led into a simple but sweet
Memorial program for HH Sridhar Swami. Many Godbrothers and sisters, and
disciples of Sridhar Swami came forward to share their fond memories of
“the Jolly Swami”. Devotees also watched a small video presentation
of Sridhar Swami, and saw many of his different preaching moods.
The program continued till noon time, where the devotees were treated to a
terrific Ekadasi lunch prasadam. It was so opulent that no one knew that
it was a day of fasting. Potato Salad, palak paneer, fruit salad, Banana
chips, Strawberry-Mint Lemonade were some of the items on the Ekadasi lunch menu.
At
4:45pm the girls from Mother Laksmimoni’s ashram performed a nice
rendition of “the Age of Kali.” on the temporary stage which was
erected in the Temple Room. The girls worked hard to convey the
atmosphere which we now live in – Kali Yuga.
Then
at 5:30pm, Srila Prabhupada’s guru-puja was performed by HH Radhanath
Swami and the kirtan was led by HH Vedavyasapriya Swami. At 6:00pm Sri Sri
Radha Govinda’s Arati commenced, as the curtains revealed their Lordships
in a stunning black and yellow dress, covered with yellow roses and
gardenia flowers. The crowd of 700 devotees then continued to dance and
chant to the kirtans led by Laxmi Nrsimha Prabhu, Urjasvat Prabhu and HH
Radhanath Swami.
At
7:00pm the crowd of 1000 devotees settled down, as Ramabhadra Prabhu took
the stage and introduced HH BB Govinda Swami and the devotees from
Kazakhstan. He announced that on this night, he challenged the devotees
to keep chanting till midnight, and Maharaj accepted that challenge.
Also, he announced that the Deity curtains would remain open till
midnight, so that the deities themselves could enjoy this once in a
lifetime kirtan. Maharaj then expertly guided the kirtan to many
different levels of bliss, as one moment the devotees were in a meditative
state, and the next they were jumping for joy. HH Radhanath Swami also
took the microphone and led a kirtan from about an hour and also kept the
devotees ecstatic.
Around
9:00pm the devotees began to serve prasadam in the two prasadam halls, and
kept going till midnite. Devotees were able to take a break from the
kirtan, to honor prasadam, then return to the excitement. Gauranga
Potatoes, Srikhand, Carrot Halavah, Ekadasi fritters, Raita, Mango drink,
were some of the many items that
kept the devotees energized. Special thanks go to Srikanta Prabhu and his
team of chefs for organizing the opulent feasts all week long.
Around
11:30pm the devotees took a break from the kirtan, and witnessed two Mataji
disciples of HH BB Govinda Swami performed a Bharatanatyam and Kathak
dance each. Then for the finale, 4 gurukula alumni, headed by Vishwambhar
prabhu performed a Mrdanga
exhibition glorifying the featured instrument of Lord Gauranga’s kirtan. Their
intricate beats and choreographed rythyms amazed the devotees who stayed
till the end. Thus, as announced, the Sankiirtan festival concluded
exactly at 12:00am
leaving the devotees already in anticipation for Ratha Yatra 2005.
This year’s Ratha Yatra and Kirtan Festival was a sight to behold and an
event to remember as devotees from all over the world came to share the
bliss of chanting the Lord’s holy names.
