Rathayatra Celebrated by ISKCON Chicago
BY: GIRISH PARIKH
Jul 4, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (INDIA POST) — The annual Rathayatra (the Chariot Festival) of ISKCON Chicago Hare Krishna Temple was celebrated last week here. Rathayatra started at 1:30 pm at the crossing of Ridge and Devon and proceeded to Warren Park where there was a festival of India.
The murtis of Lord Balaram, Subhadra Ji (sister of Sri Krishna), Lord Jagannath; and Srila Prabhupada were carried in the 40-feet chariot. Jagannath means Lord of the Universe. Indeed, Sri Krishna is Jagannath. The deeper meaning of Rathayatra is: Bring Sri Krishna to the Vrindavan of your heart in the chariot of your body.
The devotional chanting of the mahamantra Hare Krishna and Jai Jagannath by devotees reverberated on the streets during the Yatra. Besides chanting, there were kirtan, bhajans, discourses, plays, Bharat Natyam, exhibits, and free prasadam.
Satchitananda Das sang Jagannath Ashtakam.
Six direct disciples of Srila Prabhupada, Amiya Vilasi Swami, Romapada Swami, Jaya
Advaita Swami, Bhakti Vishrambhar Madhava Swami, Bhima Das, and Malati Devi Dasi then explained the importance of festivals and the glory of Lord Jagannath.
ISKCON Chicago has organized the 10th anniversary of Srimad-Bhagavad Katha in Hindi by Radha Govinda Das Goswami, a direct disciple of Srila Prabhupada. The Katha will begin on Saturday, July 8, and purnahuti will be on Friday, July 14. Prasadam will be served every day. Sri Krishna Janmastami: Wednesday, August 16. Srila Prabhupada appearance day: Thursday, August 17. Sri Radhastami: Thursday, August 31.
