By Hari Narayana Das
Lord Jagannath captured the attention of many thousands of people as they came to attend the 15th Papua and Nusantara Cultural Arts Day in Manokwari. Held on Tuesday (02/06/2019), Lord Jagannath Ratha Yatra started from Percetakan Sanggeng street and commenced at Borarsi Field. This activity was also held to commemorate the 16th Day of West Papua Province Reactivation Day 2019, with the theme “Unite the Knit Determination of Cultural Diversity in the NKRI Frame”. A variety of performances were displayed by 52 participants.
“To implement this transcendental bliss to the people of your country, there is immense work to be done ahead and this Ratha-yatra festival is only a bit of sample. If we get opportunity we shall be able to overflood your country with the waves of transcendental bliss, by the grace of Krsna”. SPL to Aniruddha, 7th July, 1968
The schedule was fixed on the 6th of February 2019 and the Rath Yatra team had its flights scheduled to Manokwari, West Papua. We were expecting an invitation atleast a week before the event and even appointed Puskara prabhu to update the news of the invitation. At that time Puskara prabhu was ill and was bedridden, but still he kept a track and regularly asked his friends about the festival. Up till three day before the festival, we weren’t clear of the program, which made the ratha yatra team worried and hopeless about the Rath Yatra. In hopeless, we surrendered to Lord Jagannath as everything depends His desire.
Suddenly, two days before the festival, Puskara prabhu attended the noon meeting with the tourism department and informed us that the parade would be held on the 6th of February. Without wasting time, Tapana Misra prabhu, contacted the team going to Manokwari. Tickets were issued, and the chariot team was sent the same day to prepare the chariot of the Lord. The rest of the team flew the next day from Jakarta, Palu, and Bali to Manokwari. The Lords were carried from Bali as there were no Jagganath deities in Manokwari.
“Make the Ratha-yatra festival very great success. This will be a great introduction in your city and people will appreciate it and if we can introduce successfully this Ratha-yatra festival”. SPL to Syamasundara, 4th May, 1967
Early morning the team arrived at Manokwari. Puskara prabhu drove them to Sri Sri Radha Manohara temple, which is a very simple temple in the middle of the forest. Sidharta Prabhu and Puskara prabhu serve here and the Gaura Nitai deities are so beautiful. The deities had a big smile as they are satisfied with the service done by the devotees.
After the morning temple program, the team prepares the ratha yatra. The pujari dressed the Lord with beautiful dresses and flower garlands. Other devotees strung flower garlands which would decorate the chariot. Some devotees prepared bhogas that would be offered to the Lord. Adi Deva prabhu, Ragava prabhu, and Satyaraj Prabhu prepared the chariot. After decorating the chariot, they return to the temple just in time for some prasadam.
“The faith increases in Krsna consciousness by our voluntary increase of serving Krsna. Serving Krsna is unlimited and He can accept our unlimited service, and award us unlimited transcendental pleasure in the unlimited service of the Lord. That is the meaning of unlimited.” (SPL to Brahmananda, 20th February, 1968)
At 1 Pm Devotees went to the parade. Devotees sang bhajans as the Balinese community stood by the ratha. Young men from Manokwari also participated by pulling Lord Jagannath chariot. These were the temple’s neighbors who always visited to temple to play. They always greet the devotees a warm Hare Krishna. After an hour of bhajans, the parade started. One by one, the participants were arranged into positions.
Sridar prabhu sang the Hare Krishna Mahamantra melodiously. It attracted many people to participate singing the mahamantra. At first, they missed out some words, but after awhile they could sing the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra properly.
Along the parade, locals also sang Hare Krishna Mahamantra. Prasad was profusely distributed and soon devotees ran out of prasadam to distribute. As the parade ended, the governor of West Papua welcomed the Lord by standing. Adi Prana Prabhu honoured the governor with the Lords flower garland. The governor also accepted fruits prasadam and was seen dancing in ecstasy. All people were joyful as they saw the Lord on the chariot. They came forward to have flower garland from the lord and flowers garland that decorated the chariot. After a short rest, devotees returned to the temple.
“The distribution results from the Ratha-yatra are very nice. There is no question of profit.
Distribution is the first consideration.” (SPL to Yasomatinandana dasa, 11th July, 1976)
We would like to take this opportunity to offer our ever grateful obeisances to HH Kavichandra Swami and HH Ramai Swami, the GBCs of Indonesia, for their support and guidance to always looking for new avenues for sankirtan. Our humble obeisances to HH Subhag Swami for always reminding us of the importance of the Sankirtan movement of Mahaprabhu and inspiring us with the dedication of Sriman Jayananda Prabhu, for bringing us closer to Srila Prabhupada and keeping us united in a family of ISKCON. Our gratitude to all devotees who worked hard for the success of the festival.
Jay Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subadra Devi.
Jay Srila Prabhupada.
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