20210718 Bhāgavata-Kathāmṛta at 50th Kolkata Ratha-yātrā Festival

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
hariḥ oṁ tat sat

Jayapatākā Swami: Now 50 years have completed of the Ratha Yatra in Kolkata! Śrīla Prabhupāda had wanted that in his birthplace, the Ratha Yatra should be conducted in a grand way. Kolkata is the birthplace, therefore the Ratha Yatra should be performed in a grand way. When Śrīla Prabhupāda was a child it was called Harrison Road, and now it is called Mahātmā Gandhi Road. He along with his friends, used to have the Ratha yatra festival. Then he used to think always about Lord Jagannātha. And he wanted to go to Jagannātha Purī. When we started the Ratha Yatra in Kolkata, then he was very happy. He desired that in the world, the Kolkata Ratha Yatra should be the biggest. Jagannātha Ratha Yatra like, from the start to finish, the ulṭā Ratha Yatra is 9 days. That way we started the Ratha Yatra festival. In North Kolkata, we had near Shyāma park. Now it is in South Kolkata - in Desapriya Park. We used to do the 9 day festival in the Kolkata Maidan. This way, lots of common public visited and there a pandal was put up and there would be various cultural programs etc. Prasāda was also distributed. Bhakti Vṛkṣa and other departments would have booths where people could leave their contacts. There were book stalls, in the north, namahatta stalls, various Q&A stalls and other programs, like youth program. Then that way, people would go there and take darśana of the Lords and there various Odissi and other dances held in front of the Deities. There were special allocated areas for the life members for taking prasadam. Festival was held in a special place. This way, many programs were started and displayed. Anyway, because of the pandemic now, the Kolkata devotees are not able to do all these festivities. This way, this year, in a limited way the program has been organized. The devotees therefore are able to get darśana and get Kṛṣṇa prasāda as well.

Our human life is meant for serving the Lord. Jagannātha Ratha Yatra is a special opportunity by way of which we can serve the Lord. One has to pull Baladeva's ratha, Subhadrā’s ratha, and pull Jagannātha’s ratha. So ordinarily we give all a chance to pull. Subadhra's ratha especially to be pulled by women. In San Francisco in 1968 I helped Jayānanda prabhu in building the ratha. And this way, I can say that with Jagannātha Baladeva Subhadrā’s mercy I could become a devotee. And all the time, Jagannātha festival, Ratha yatra, I like to attend this way, it is my desire.

Now, in Purī the mahārāja has said that Ratha Yatra should be held on the same tithi all over India. In Kolkata, the Indian Bureau have decided that now in India we will have the Ratha Yatra on the same day. In Kolkata and different West Bengal parts, normally are at the same time. That is why it is not inconvenient for us. But other states like Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, South India, they do Ratha Yatra at different times. Now they have to have it the same. That way, the ratha is our special effort. And I have attended so many Ratha Yatras, via TV, I haven’t calculated how many! I think that I've attended Ratha Yatras in Australia, England, London, Birmingham, France, Italy, Germany, Toronto, and countries in south America and USA. New York, Atlanta, New Orleans, Los Angeles, but I think that in comparison with other countries, Malaysia has more Ratha Yatras. But that is predominantly a Muslim country. But the government would allow the holding of Ratha Yatra. Ratha Yatra is their foremost festival. Every center, in every city they organize Ratha Yatra in a big way. Now, just before this program, I had attended a program of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s 50 years of arrival in Malaysia.

In Russia there was Ratha Yatra.But I told that they are a cold country, there children used to be taken around in sleds. So the Ratha Yatra was in such sleds without wheels. Russia had Ratha Yatras. during summer and winter.

But nowhere else is such a big festival anywhere else as in Kolkata - 9 day festival. The devotees participate. Kīrtana, dance, many ways the devotees enjoy. Kolkata now has had Ratha Yatra for the past 50 years. In Malaysia, 50 years ago Śrīla Prabhupāda arrived in Malaysia, and they have released a stamp in honor of Śrīla Prabhupāda. Then there was a picture of Śrīla Prabhupāda and Śrīla Prabhupāda's stamps that were auctioned. What will Kolkata devotees do on the 50th year? (Devotee said: We only got permission to do on Gurusaday Road. We hope to get the birthplace of Śrīla Prabhupāda very soon on the occasion of the 125th Anniversary, in ISKCON name and hope to celebrate on 31st Aug and 1 Sept) Very good! They made a framed picture of Śrīla Prabhupāda with 10 stamps. May be you can make a picture and stamp in Kolkata. This way, Śrīla Prabhupāda’s picture could be auctioned. It is very significant that 50 years of Ratha Yatra are completed in Kolkata.

Ratha Yatra is an opportunity by which we can do devotional service to the Lord. We could pull the ratha of Lord Jagannātha. But now because of the pandemic, in Purī, other than the pūjārīs, no one else was allowed to be near or pull the rathas. In Guṇḍicā Mandir you can keep a rope and even if there is no ratha, still pulling the rope would give mercy. I heard that just touching the Ratha Yatra rope, they will have no rebirth in this world. But now during the pandemic, this is not possible. So another way could be devised to pull the ratha. Whatever, our human life is especially meant to serve the Lord. Now because of the Ratha Yatra there is a special opportunity for us to offer various services to the Lord. Some pull ratha, some kīrtana, some do pūjā. And some do cultural programs in front of Lord Jagannātha. We are showing you the stamp released in Malaysia. This can be put on an envelope and mailed to Malaysia! So, Śrīla Prabhupāda on the occasion of 125th anniversary, a coin is being released in India. Whatever, if Kolkata can think how to commemorate 50 years of Ratha Yatra completed, if there is no time for a stamp or coin, then whatever, do something special like a special picture. You can think about that. Kolkata Bhakti Vṛkṣa has created a lot of sanghas. There through Bhakti Vṛkṣas, lots of devotees are there in India. Bengali, Hindi devotees.

I have to give my Caitanya līlā class. I just want to give my best wishes to all the devotees of Kolkata and all the participants. Rādhā Govinde matir astu! Jagannātha Baladeva, Subhadrā, Sudarśana Cakra matir astu! Hare Kṛṣṇa! My best wishes to all!