Croydon devotees decided to do the Rathyatra differently this year because of COVID 19 social distancing. We have had a wonderful Jagannath Rathyatra done in the car not in the cart.
Jagannath, Baldev and Subhadra went to 15 houses to give darshan to Their devotees in the car. The Rathyatra team had made a list of local devotees where Lordships could visit. The devotees were sent a WhatsApp message asking confirmation and their address. The time slot was given to everyone in which Lordships will come to their home.
The darshan happened maintaining social distancing. The car door was opened by the driver to take darshan. Devotees were allowed to do the aarti, sing and offer bhoga to the Lordships. Devotees were asked to take the prasad after offering.
Devotees felt it was a special, more personnel and a different experience because Jagannath, Baldev and Subhadra Maharani were literally present outside their house or in their driveway. Many devotees had tears in their eyes to see the mercy bestowed by the Lordships in these difficult times.
While going back to Parshuram Prabhu’s house to leave JBS, we went through Central London. It happens that the ‘Black Lives Matter’ protect was going on. As we were struck in the traffic and crawling, hundreds of people got attracted by the decorated car and took darshan. They were standing by the car, waving to the driver, smiling, and looking at the Lordships. It felt like JBS had joined the protest and showering Their mercy to hundreds of souls by giving Their darshan to them. At this point, to us it felt like a real Rathyatra when hundreds of people come to take Lords darshan.
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