Rathyatra and Bhumi Puja at ISKCON Lucknow

BY: VRAJENDRANANDAN DAS

May 28, 2010 — NEW DELHI, INDIA (SUN) — On 15th May, ISKCON Lucknow celebrated a colorful Rathayatra. The city of Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh, the largest state in the country. This city is also known as 'Laxmanpuri'. H.G. Devkinandan Prabhu, (Zonal Secretary of UP and Rajasthan), H.G. Surapati Prabhu and H.G. Radha Ranjan Prabhu (Co-Temple Presidents of ISKCON Lucknow) and the local committee members and congregation organized this wonderful festival.

Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladeva and Subadra came up on their Ratha at 4 PM and then an Arati ceremony was performed by Sri Sushil Ansal and his wife, Smt. Kusum Ansal (the land donors for the Lucknow temple). Sri Dinesh Sharma, Mayor of Lucknow, inaugurated the Rathyatra, after the traditional broom cleaning of the road.

H.H. Mahavishnu Swami Maharaj spoke on the significance of Rathayatra and H.G. Devkinandan Prabhu delivered the welcome speech.

The Chariot began moving at 5:30 PM, with thousands of devotees pulling the cart of Their Lordships, accompanied by a tremendous kirtan performed with various Kirtineers from several cities. All along the Rathayatra procession, Their Lordships were showered with multitudes of flower petals. Several residents came out of their homes and offices to perform an Arati to Their Lordships. Prasadam was distributed throughout the yatra.

H.H. Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj,
H.H. Maha Vishnu Swami Maharaj,
H.H. Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Swami Maharaj (previously Makan Lal Prabhu),
H.G. Mohan Rupa Prabhu (Temple President of New Delhi),
H.G Nityananda Prabhu (Vice- President, Baroda),
H.G. Vraja Bhumi Prabhu (Temple President, Jhansi)
H.G. Murli Mohan Prabhu, (Co- Temple President, Vijaywada)

and several devotees from different cities attended the Rathyatra.

All along the Rathayatra, the famous Sankirtan team from ISKCON New Delhi distributed Srila Prabhupada's books. The Rathyatra finished at 8:30 PM.

The next day (16th May), Bhumi Puja was offered for the 5 acres of land that ISKCON has received from the Ansal Builders. Located in Sushant Golf City, Sultanpur Road, Amarsahid Path, Lucknow, the land is at a very prime location.

H.G. Sitalanga Prabhu (from Bangalore) led the Yajna as the Head Priest. The Yajna Mandap comprised of 11 Kundas each with a Brahmin performing the sacrifices. 108 founder donors of the city sat, along with their families.

H.H. Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj, H.G. Devikinandan Prabhu and his wife H.G. Surangi Mataji, Sri Sushil Ansal and his wife Kusum Anasal and family members were seated at the main Yajna Kunda.

Several Life Members, well wishers and devotees were present at this function. After the Yajna, H.H. Gopal Krishna Maharaj, delivered a blessing speech and thanked the donors for donating the land for the temple. H.G. Devkinandan Prabhu thanked the donors and requested the founder members to come together in order to build a beautiful temple for the Lordships Sri Sri Radha Raman Bihari.

Sri Sushil Ansal expressed his pleasure with the project and promised to help further in any way that he could, and he praised ISKCON for its activities of spreading the Sanatana Dharma.

The two-day program as was well covered by the print and electronic media. Both the festivals were well organized and very systematic. The arrangements for the visiting devotes was very good.

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Your Servant,
Vrajendranandan das
National Communications Director
New Delhi, India