By Rasautsava dasa (Bangal Padayatra leader)
On September 23, 2023, the auspicious occasion of Radhastami, the inauguration of India’s Bangal Padayatra took place at Mayapur dham.
Padayatra’s preparation began when the deity chariot was constructed under the guidance of Partha Sakha dasa, known to padayatris as the Visvakarma of padayatra. Our spiritual master, Lokanath Maharaja, says, “We should have one padayatra in each district first and then we can have many padayatras,” and our senior God-brother and former padayatri Istadev dasa is striving to achieve these desires. Under his guidance the Utkal (Orrisa) Padayatra is going on, and now it’s the turn of the Bangal (Bengal) Padayatra.
It was on Radhastami in 1976 that Srila Prabhupada gave Maharaja the instruction to go on bullock cart and spread the holy name in every town and village, and the All India Padayatra was inaugurated on Radhastami in 1984, so it was decided to repeat history on the same tithi (lunar day), with Srimati Radharani and Maharaja, the dear devotee of Radharani, bestowing mercy upon us. Thus, padayatris have a strong connection with Radhastami.
The inauguration took place in Mayapur’s Sri Sri Radha-Madhava temple courtyard. Many senior devotees such as Gauranga Prema Maharaja, Bhakti Purushottama Maharaja, Prabhupada disciple and former padayatri Akhildhara dasa, Nama-hatta director Padma Netra dasa, and senior padayatris like Prahlad Vatsal dasa and Shantiparayan dasa attended the event.
The devotees assembled in front of the beautifully decorated chariot, padayatra’s lavishly attired utsava deities having been sponsored by Ventak Narayana dasa from Ongole in Andhra Pradesh and installed with abhishek the previous day. To invoke auspiciousness a coconut was broken by the maharajas and a powerful sankirtan was going as the curtain was opened. Haribol!
Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar ki jai.
Srila Prabhupada ki jai.
Bhakti Purushottama Maharaja then performed arati, and with our chariot in front followed by Radha-Madhava’s chariot we went on procession and circumambulated the temple, also stopping at Srila Prabhupada’s bhajan kutir.
We already have oxen and are all now padayatris together serving in the Bangal Padayatra. We also have a trolley for carrying luggage and books for distribution.
It’s by the mercy of guru and Gauranga that we have been successful in starting a new padayatra. Our spiritual master is a constant source of inspiration for all of us. Please bless us so that we can be successful in pleasing Srila Prabhupada and Gurudev.
All glories to guru and Gauranga.
Mayapur dham ki jai.
