Devotees celebrate festival of Rathyatra

CHICAGO: International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Chicago kept up its tradition by celebrating Jagannath Rathyatra festival with quite pomp and dignitary this year too.

The weak economy did not seem any dampening factor and over one thousand enthusiastic devotees participated in this festival of Chariot pulling, chanting Hare Krishna Mantra and dancing on the street from 6600 North Western Avenue to 3100 North California Avenue where they ended up at Croatian Cultural center for a further grand celebration.

The near four hours of celebration never had a dull moment as the ISKCON management had chalked out program nicely that would cater to the taste, demand and devotion of those attending the Yatra and subsequent program. The highlights of the program were many but a drama on Krishna Is My Friend was found really captivating.

The Gurukul students from Florida performed this play to the utter delight of those present. There was singing of devotional songs and religious discourse by Ramapad Swami of NY, Jaytirtha Swami and Chandramauli Swami. Radhanath Swami had come from Mumbai. The theme was Glory of Rathyatra festival.

Devotional songs were rendered beautifully by Soul Connection, a local organization. They sang Jagannath Ashtakam. Many Devon Avenue businessmen participated in the celebration.

Sri Jagannath Society of Greater Chicago (SJSGC) also conducted Rathyatra on June 27 in Aurora, a Chicago suburb. This was its fourth Rathyatra.

SJSGC has been organizing the Rathyatra every year since 2006 with tradition akin to the great Puri Rath Yatra. As per the legend and the tradition, the Rathyatra is now followed by over 200 cities around the world spanning geographic regions from Sydney to California, Moscow to Lagos and Malayasia to Cambodia.

Devotees believe that the Lord of the Universe (Jagannath), true to His name, comes out from the sanctum sanctorum every year to give darshan to his devotees by traveling the path to His aunt's place, the Gundicha temple. Thousands of devotees pull the chariot with devotion and joy and take it to his resting place where the Lord stays for nine days and returns through a similar celebration called the Bahuda Yatra. During the stay at the Gundicha temple throngs of people take a glimpse of the Lord and feel fulfilled with utter joy and happiness.

Bharat Sevashram Sangh, a no profit socio - religious body also in Aurora, also celebrated the Rathyatra festival. The function was attended by Ashok Kumar Attri, Consul General of India, Mrs. Usha Kiran Attri, and Purnatma Nandji of the Ashram and office bearers of the Society.  Neelamadhab Nanda organized the function with the help of other volunteers. The program started with worship to the three deities, Lord Sri Jagannath, Sri Balabhadra and Sister Devi Subhadra.

After the initial puja the three lords were taken to the chariot.  Attri was personally involved in taking the Lord to the chariot and he also performed the chhera pamhara (cleansing of the chariot and the path by a broom); a tradition performed by the King of Puri and followed elsewhere by giving the honor to the most important person in the gathering. After the Lord and His siblings were seated on the chariot it was pulled by hundreds of gathering devotees with chanting of Jai Jagannath and Hari Bol accompanied by beatings of mridangam, blowing of the conch, and ululation by the ladies. After a devotional journey the Lords came back to their abodes and rested for the day.

There was sumptuous food at the end of the journey for all the devotees which included several families from far off Bhutan. The Yatra was generously funded by sponsors like Patel Brothers, State Bank of India, Professional Mortgage Solutions, Inc, Pramukh Travels, iBusiness Inc and many generous devotees and participants.