Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra – ISKCON of Central NJ, Plainfield, NJ. Sunday 25th June 2016
Plainfield, NJ. Radha Krishna Temple and Cultural Center (ISKCON of Central NJ), Plainfield, NJ celebrated Sri-Jagannath Rath Yatra with sincere devotion and active participation by more than One thousand devotees – on the actual day of Jagannath-Puri Rath Yatra.
Devotees started coming to the temple and brought bhoga to be offered to the supreme siblings – Lord Jagannath (Sri-Krishna), His elder brother Lord Balabhadra and younger sister Subhadra Maharani. The Rath Yatra festival is a key component of Krishna Conscious movement, instilled by the Founding Acarya His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada – who initiated first documented Festival of Chariots in western world in San Francisco on July 9, 1967. Today Rath Yatra is celebrated in hundreds of cities around the world.
Devotees started pouring in around 6 PM and started decorating the chariot. The rituals started at 7:30PM with Rath Puja followed by Pahandi Bije, inaugurating the yatra
(procession) by breaking coconuts and cleansing the path of the chariot (Chera-Pahanra). Devotees offered bhoga to the lordships on the chariot during yatra which took the path within the temple property. The congregational chanting and dancing with musical instruments, glorifying the lordships brought many new devotees to join the procession.
Temple president Madhupati Dasa thanked the devotees for participating in Rath Yatra Event.
Lots of Bhogas were offered to the Lordships on the chariot. Devotees participated in ecstatic kirtan and honored sumptuous Jagannath-Prasad served by temple volunteers.
For downloadable pictures of the Rath Yatra festival, please click here.
Video link: https://youtu.be/2vmiSn4bes8
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