Jai Jagannath!

BY: SAMBA DAS (JPS)

Jul 14, 2010 — VISAKHAPATNAM, INDIA (SUN) — By the blessings of Srila Prabhupada and all the Vaishnvas, ISKCON Visakhapatnam's Second Rathayatra festival turned out to be very successful, with thousands of people attending the program.

The 33 ft. high Ratham with a collapsible canopy was tastefully decorated with very beautiful flowers and balloons. There were five different kirtan mandalis apart from our local devotees singing kirtans. A.P. Chief Minister's Son-in -law, along with DIG Soumya Mishra and two other business tycoons inaugurated the festival.

Nadaswaram (Shenai) parties, kolatam (with sticks) dances, children dressed as different characters from Ramayan and Mahabharata enterted the crowds, decorated horses and continuous mass prasadam distribution of pulihara, laddu, sweet pongal, bananas, etc., was part of the procession.

600 Marwadi Mandal members distributed water packets, buttermilk, soft drinks, and snack packet throughout the procession. Since this was the Second Rathayatra, the turnout was more than last time and the Ratha had to be frequently stopped, since more shopkeepers offered Puja to the Lord and distributed a variety of sweets/soft drinks all the way. More than 200 police personnel were present throughout the program.

The procession ended at the Gurujada Kalakshetram open air auditorium where the Deities were taken on the stage and offered 501 varieties of foodstuffs. The program was then continued with aarati, bhajans, cultural program, discourse and feast prasadam honoured by 1,800 Life Members.

This program was covered by all the print and electronic media. Some newspapers gave full-page, half-page, and quarter-page articles with colour pictures. Many TV channels gave live telecast.

Click here to read the article reported in the English daily, "THE HINDU", who reported about our Rathayatra. You will also find scanned images of other Telugu newspapers here. And for a full gallery of Rathayatra pictures, please visit our gallery.

Jai Jagannath !!

your servant,
Samba das
Temple President, ISKCON Visakhapatnam