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Srila Prabhupada's young disciple Hari-sauri had left Melbourne some months after Srila Prabhupada's May 1975 visit in search of a change of service. While in India, Hari-sauri was greatly fortunate to become Prabhupada's personal servant. His tenure began in late November 1975, and after five weeks of travelling with His Divine Grace, the party arrived in Bombay on the second-last day of December. Upon arrival in his room at Hare Krsna Land, Srila Prabhupada disclosed to his personal servants that his health had declined noticeably.

Soon after Prabhupada's arrival in Bombay, and less than two weeks before the Melbourne parade, Madhudvisa wrote again, humbly requesting Prabhupada's presence. Prabhupada replied on the last day of December, 1975:

My dear Madhudvisa Maharaja,

Please accept my blessings. Thank you for your nice invitation card. Thousands of Caitanya Mahaprabhu temples may be established all over Australia so that I may receive one invitation card at least every month. Physical health does not allow me to move very much, but my mind is absorbed in thinking of you with blessings of Krishna.

Although Prabhupada wanted to attend, he was not feeling well enough to travel. After a final exchange of telegrams and phone calls, and an assurance from Madhudvisa that the festival would go on without him, Prabhupada made his final decision: he would not attend.

And so, on 10 January 1976, the enormous chariots rolled again for Melbourne's fourth Ratha-yatra festival. Thousands were there as the parade followed a similar route to the one that Prabhupada had attended in 1974, ending at the Royal Exhibition Building with kirtana, a transcendental drama, and a sumptuous feast.


- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu