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Trevor Stephens: Prabhupada wore a mustard-coloured knitted cap that was pulled back a little on his head, with a peach-coloured turtleneck jersey, a nice pale shiny saffron kurta and dhoti, dhoti top and matching bead bag, with a white woollen chaddar over his right shoulder. Occasionally he would play karatals in time to the kirtana. Around his neck he wore a multi-coloured garland of various flowers: hyacinths, gardenias, marigolds, daffodils, cornflowers and orchids. His forehead was anointed with sandalwood paste and he carried a bamboo cane. Sometimes Prabhupada passed his cane to Satsvarupa as he played karatals or danced.

Occasionally, he would stop and wave his arms in the air, to encourage us all to dance. Even though it was rather cold in Melbourne and it was a long parade route, Srila Prabhupada appeared completely unaffected. He was totally absorbed and even oblivious to the crowd. His meditation on Lord Caitanya was so deep that it appeared that he was totally unaware that he was surrounded by surging crowds and media cameramen.

Mandakini: Actually, we didn't perceive Srila Prabhupada as walking -- it was more like he was floating down the street. It was quite remarkable. You'd have to walk very fast to catch up with him, but it appeared like he wasn't moving fast at all. This was like nothing I'd ever experienced before. And while in Srila Prabhupada's presence it was as if we were also not touching the ground. We felt very light. It was a unique experience.

Satsvarupa Goswami: Prabhupada was not only walking in a stately way with the parade, but he was also singing. His face appeared strained in an ecstatic way as he exerted himself, singing loudly with Madhudvisa's infectiously blissful kirtana.

Bhutanatha: I was the pujari on Lord Balarama's cart. Being elevated above the crowd, I could clearly see Srila Prabhupada. When he stopped and turned and put his arms in the air, the kirtana party went wild, the chanting became frenzied and Prabhupada smiled and urged them on to dance and chant by raising his arms in the air. Everyone became absorbed in the chanting, even young men and women who had had very little association with Krsna consciousness. They were all affected. Everyone was enthralled and surcharged with spiritual energy by Prabhupada's association.

Bhadra: I walked behind Srila Prabhupada the whole route, and didn't take my eyes off him. Sometimes he would say something to Vaikunthanatha or devotees that were near him. Every now and again he would turn around and stop and when he stopped, everything would stop. He would look up at Lord Caitanya with a wonderful look in his eyes. The expression of devotion on his face was beyond description, and he placed his palms together in great reverence. When he'd turn and start to walk, the whole parade would continue again.

Ugrasrava: It amazed me how the most unlikely people got into the spirit of the Ratha-yatra. I had invited a couple of big trade union leaders to attend -- and they came! The presidents of the Transport Worker's Union and the Amalgamated Metal Worker's Union walked arm-in-arm for some distance, and appeared to enjoy the festival.

Adrian: We were all dancing and chanting with Srila Prabhupada, his head tilted slightly back. Suddenly Srila Prabhupada started smiling and laughing, pointing up to some building in the distance. I glanced up, and very high, at least eight or ten stories up, stood a tiny figure - a window cleaner on a trestle. He was wiggling his hips like a harem dancer, approximating the devotees' dancing below.

A little later, a rough, dishevelled-looking older man with long hair and beard came stumbling through the close cordon of devotees. Some of the devotees had tried to stop him barging through, but he ran right up to Srila Prabhupada and put out his hand. He was certainly not the sort of person you would like to touch Srila Prabhupada, but nevertheless Prabhupada reached out, shook his hand, and looked right into the man's eyes, smiled and said, "Hare Krsna".

cont'd

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