We had a wonderful time at Ratha Yatra today. We arrived at the temple in morning to the scene of the Dallas flock chowing down very delicious kitcheri. I think about 35 of us from Dallas actually made our way down to New Orleans. Shortly after arriving I learning that not only would I be blessed to dance for Lord Jagannatha Baladeva and Subhadra but also I would be their driver to and from the festival.
The kirtans were great and many people who were just onlookers also came and helped pull Lord Jagannatha’s cart. From the start of the kirtan there was rain. But as you can see in the video the rain cleared and even the sun started shining its pleasing rays at Lord Jagannatha’s lotus feet.
Many joined in on the kirtan and danced the whole way down to the festival.
At the festival guests were blessed to hear presentations by both His Holiness Bir Krishna Goswami and His Holiness Bhakti Purushotam Swami. I was lucky to pick a copy of Bhakti Purushottam Maharaja’s new book Sri Ksetra Parikrama
Many many devotees lead kirtan including Akincana Prabhu from Gaura Vani & As Kindreds Spirits.
Hundreds of people took photos of Lord Jagannatha and His entourage while other reached out to catch the gifts from Lord Jagannatha’s pujaris.
At the festival I was fortunate to run into many people to speak to about Krishna. In the evening we returned to the complimentary hotel room in the Hilton courtesy of ISKCON New Orleans. At the hotel we were a little bored so we made grillz out of tinfoil.
Hare Krishna
Your humble servant,
Nityananda Chandra Das
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