Srila Prabhupad said of Rathyatra:
‘So this festival, taking part in these festivals means a step forward for our self-realization. Rathe ca vāmanaṁ dṛṣṭvā punar janma na vidyate. Simply by seeing the Lord on the chariot, one makes advancement for stopping the repetition of birth and death.’
Every year the Rathyatra cart of Iskcon Bhakti Centre Gold Coast participate in the festival of lights parade in Ipswich Queensland. This years festival was on the 14th of April.
The cart was transported to Ipswich and set up by the sons of organiser Jamalarjuna Das brothers Madhu Mangala Das and Bhisma Dev Das. The entire cart was covered in flowers and decorated by Rasarani Devi Dasi and Sukla Devi Dasi. The Deities were decorated by Radhe Maharani.
Madhavananda Das organised the kirtan party and participants.
Brisbane devotees arrived in force with prasadam for everyone.
More than 20000 people lined the streets of Ipswich in Queensland Australia as Jaganath, Subhadra and Baladev distributed Their mercy freely.
Crowds were dancing, chanting and clapping as Their Lordships and the harinam party went by.
A kirtan party lead by visiting kirtanyas ‘Harinam Ruchi’ also known as ‘The worldwide harinam sankirtan party’ along with many devotees from Iskcon Brisbane yatra, Bhakti Centre Gold Coast and New Govardhan farming community participated in pulling the cart the 3 kilometers of the parade route chanting and dancing all the way.
At the end of the parade everyone enjoyed sumptuous Prasadam.
“ratharudho gacchan pathi milita-bhudeva-patalaih
stuti-pradurbhavam prati-padam upakarnya sadayah
daya-sindhur bandhuh sakala jagatam sindhu-sutaya
jagannathah svami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu me
When Lord Jagannatha moves along the road on His Rathayatra car, at every step large assemblies of brahmanas loudly chant prayers and sing songs for His pleasure. Hearing their hymns, Lord Jagannatha becomes very favorably disposed toward them. He is the ocean of mercy and the true friend of all the worlds. May that Jagannatha Svami, along with His consort Laksmi, who was born from the ocean of nectar, be the object of my vision.”
Submitted by Subhangi Devi Dasi
Iskcon Bhakti Centre Gold Coast.
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