Diversity was the mercy of the Lord. When the diversity of people brings about good performance; progress & prosperity. When our country has social harmony, stability & security. No riots, no civil wars, no burning of each other’s places, no fear because of your age, gender, dress, skin colour. Then the peace of the country can be established. This message was brought by the committee of Jagannatha Ratha Yatra Bali, July 14-15, 2018. The diversity of the religion was presented in front of Lord Jagannatha. This is annual Ratha Yatra in Bali. This year the committees presented different things at the festival. Youth from interfaith presented their performance in front of Lord Jaganath.
“For the present you endeavour to make Ratha-yatra festival grand and successful. You should arrange the procession and procedure so nicely that all the neighbourhood people may be attracted to join the procession.” (SPL to Upendra, 1st June 1968)
A day before the festival, from morning devotees, prepared it by decorated the stage and the chariots. There was three chariots for Lord Jagannatha, Balarama, Subadra Devi. They were beautifully decorated with flowers bouquet. The altar also decorated beautifully. Sukadeva das responsible for the stage and the altar. The vegetarian food festival also started on this day. There were many kinds of vegetarian food from traditional food until international. Many people visited the foodcourt. Beside the food court, the committee also prepared to stall for accessories and also stall for henna art. At 04.00 pm local time, Lord Jagannath, along with His brother, Lord Balaram, and their beloved sister Subadra Devi arrived and place on the altar. Pujari then decorated the lord then offered bhoga to the Lord. At 06.00 pm guests started arriving. Youth from interfaith also came with their own performance. Opening the interfaith cultural performances, gopi dancer from Sri Sri Radha Rasesvara performed beautiful Radha Krishna Dancer. Then speech was given by the police department. He appreciated the festival because it could have brought peace and develop tolerance among the diversity of the country. Youth from Christian presented poem and music presented the diversity of the country then youth from Muslim presented the song to praise God, and from Kong Hu Cu presented lion dance and dragon dance. In the end, all participants sing together in front of Lord Jagannath. Closing the cultural performance, Navayovana Youth presented bhajan until late in the night
On the day of the festival, devotees started the festival by mangala arati. Then medical team did blood donor and a free medical check-up for the devotees and people who did morning exercise at Bajra Sandi field. “Food for life”, distributed mung dal porridge and many people took it as their breakfast. H.H. Subhag Swami Maharaja personally came to Bajrasandi to check the final preparation. Meanwhile, H.H. Kavicandra Swami constantly did Harinam Sankirtan with sankirtan group. When these two personalities met there was a spiritual discussion between them.
At 11.00 am, based on the time table, the ceremony started. The VIP and VVIP guests started to arrive. They warmly welcomed by the devotees and lead them to their chair. The ceremony opened by Balinese welcome dance. At 11.15 am the pujari offered arati to he Lord. All audiences follow the arati by singing Jagannatha astaka. The committee already distributed script of the song. They followed the arati with solemnity. After arati was speech section. The opening speech was given by the leader of ISKCON in Indonesia. He expressed his gratitude to the guests for their present to the festival and devotees who arranged this wonderful festival. The speech was given by the counsellor of Hindu in Indonesia. He said that this Hare Krishna Movement could give strength to the Hindu people not to easily converted their belief. After the speech, devotees performed drama dance about sarmantaka jewellery. Then all the guests offered dipa to the Lord. They were enthusiast offering it to the Lord.
At 14.00 pm Lord Jagannath was brought to chariot through pahandi vijay. All devotees crowded the way where Lord Jagannath would pass. They prepared flowers to offer to the Lord. The Balinese priests also did’t want to miss the moment and the chance to have Lord Mercy. They tried to take every moment they could to pray and touch lord on the pahandi vijay. After the three Lords on the chariot, the colossal Rejang Renteng was performed in front of the chariot. Then arati was offered by H.H. Subhag Swami Maharaj. Coconuts were offered to the Lord as a sign that Ratha Yatra was started. The devotees cheerly pulled the chariot along with H.H. Ramai Swami Maharaj and H.G Caitanya Candra Wanaprasti. The kirtan leader in every chariot sang the Hare Krishna Maha Matra melodiously and the gopies dancer dance gracefully.
Two groups of youth carried Lord Gauranga and Lord Nityananda big murti dance in front of Lord Balarama chariot. Prasadam was distributed along the way of the Ratha Yatra.
At 17.00 pm, Lord chariot arrived. The great kirtan mela was performed in front of the chariot. The Hare Krishna Maha Mantra filled the entire atmosphere and many people who came to the Bajrasandi field also participate on the kirtan mela. All chanted and dance in bliss and ecstasy.
“And our magic was simply this chanting and dancing; that’s all”. SPL to Batu Gopala, July 8th, 1971
The pujari then offered Sandya Arati and followed by devotees offer diva lamp to the Lord. The committee also announced that everyone could participate in offering diva lamp to the Lord. This invitation was responded to by general people. They came forward to offer the lamp. And they felt happy to have the chance to offer a lamp to the lord. It was extraordinary to experience for them.
The festival was closed by honouring prasadam. Beside the vegetarian food festival were devotees could by prasadam from the devotee’s stall, the committee prepared free prasadam for everyone.
BBT and BI stall displayed Srila Prabhupada’s book. Many visitors took Srila Prabhupada’s book home. They also discussed some topics related to Krishna and the Hare Krishna Movement. The festival also reported by local television and newspaper.
“I thank you all very much for making the Ratha-yatra festival so successful. Please convey my gratitude to all the boys and girls who participated in this great transcendental service”. SPL to Upendra, 4th July, 1968.
“I am so much satisfied with your successful performance of Ratha-yatra festival and I am awaiting to see similar festivals in all our other centers” SPL to Gurudasa, 16th July, 1968.
We offer our heartfelt gratitude to H.H. Kavichandra Swami and H.H. Ramai Swami, the GBCs of Indonesia, for their encouragement to increase sankirtan; H.H. Subhag Swami for being our inspiration, and to all the wonderful senior devotees of Indonesia for their blessings and constant support on Jagannath Ratha Yatra Nusantara.
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