“For the present you endeavor to make Ratha-yatra festival grand and successful. You should arrange the procession and procedure so nicely that all the neighborhood people may be attracted to join the procession.” (SPL to Upendra, 1st June, 1968)
14th April 2018, New year according to Tamil lunar calender will remain forever in the memory of North Chennai devotees as it does every year. 4th Annual Sri Sri Gaura Nitai Ratha yatra organized by ISKCON Perambur enliven the streets of North Chennai (Chaitanya nitai Desh) last Saturday. Hundreds of devotees from all across the south India especially from different parts of Chennai, Nellore, Aruppukottai, Neyveli , mangalore etc.,. attended the event. The inauguration ceremony was graced by HH Bhanu swami maharaj (Srila prabhupad disciple and ISCON GBC), HH Sukhadeva swami maharaj (ISKCON Nellore) and many senior devotees along with eminent political leaders.
Lord Sri Sri Gaura Nitay, the first Chaitanya mahaprabhu and Sri Nityananda mahaprabhu deities of Tamilnadu who is currently gracing in our temple arrived on the ratha elaborately decorated with colourful flowers and sweet smelling fruits at around 3PM. H.G.Jai gopinath prabhu, temple president, ISKCON Perambur administered the proper arrangements in the Rathyatra with great care.
As soon as the inaugural speech was delivered by the guests, Coconuts and pumpkins were offered infront of the chariot to invoke auspiciousness. At 12.00 local time The Lord was carried to the chariot the the pujari offered arati. Coconuts were offered to invoke auspiciousness. Scorching sun did not dry the intention of devotees and local residents to enjoy the event. Covering a stretch of approximately 5.3kms making it the longest ratha yatra in the whole state. Though it was a tiring service to pull the chariot, devotees never stopped their steps to pull the Lord. As the ratha yatra was proceeding the intensity of the heat gradually decreased. Each side of the road was always full of citizens and tourists who deliberately looking for the best spot to take pictures. All the roads were decorated with beautiful vibrant Rangolis done elegantly by a devoted mathajis team. The sankirtan team, delivered soulstirring kirtans shook the travellers and local residents with Hare Krishna Mahamanta along the way. Some children also happily sang Hare Krishna Mahamantra and danced all across the way. The most beautiful part was, a political party meeting which was happening amidst the ratha route stopped briefly when the ratha was neared and allowed devotees to perform Harinama sankirtan and dance on the meeting stage. Parama vijayate sri Krishna sankirtanam!!!. More than 5000 Devotees and localites managed to get the special mercy of the lord in the form of Khaja mahaprasadam from the hands of maharajas seated on the chariot.
Many devotees were distributing Books and Tamil Back to godhead magazines to the passerbys. Special care for taken by the management to distribute waterbottles for the devotees to rehydrate themselves during the tiring service of pulling the chariot.
When the ratha reached the destination mandap, the mathajis welcomed the lordships and Srila prabhuad by holding ghee lamps on either side of the way. this was followed by a powerpacked discourse by HH Bhanu swami maharaj on the glories of devotional service and holy name of the lord while Chappan bhog seva was performed to the lord behind the screen where more than hundreds of food items lovingly prepared by the devotees who came all across the city were presented to the lord. Last by never the least, “the life of Ajamila” Tamil drama peformance by Srila prabhupad theathres enchanted the whole assembled crowd and strongly informed the importance of the Holyname. nearly one thousand devotees were present in these programs and relished sumptuous krsna prasadam feast. we wholeheartedily thank all the devotees especially
HH Bhanu Swami maharaj (ISKCON GBC & srila prabhupad disciple)
HH Sukhadeva swami maharaj (President, ISKCON Nellore)
HG Sumitra krsna prabhu (President, ISKCON Chennai)
HG Ranga krishna prabhu (Congregation Preaching Co-director)
HG Neelathri prabhu (ISKCON Chennai)
HG Venudhari kanhaiya prabhu (President, ISKCON Namahatta Arupukottai)
HG Sri Giridhari prabhu (Editor, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, Tamil Division)
for their valuable presence in the festival making it a great success.
All glories to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai!!!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!!
Your servant,
Bhakta Mohana Rangan
ISKCON Perambur
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