By Acarya dasa, All-India Padayatra leader
Recently I was discussing with other padayatris that the Jagannath Puri ratha-yatra would take place on June 23. Last year we had a wonderful celebration but this year it was not possible due to the Covid-19 lockdown. While we were talking, Manish bhai and his group from the school where we have been staying came to our room and I shared with them the glories of ratha-yatra. Upon hearing this their response was, “Why can’t we have a ratha-yatra here in Mahuva?” I wondered how that could be as we do not have deities of Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra maiya, and it was also questionable whether we would be allowed to congregate in public. But the devotees were of the opinion that we should celebrate, whatever the situation. Considering their enthusiasm, I agreed saying, “Jai Jagannath.”
Festival arrangements got under way on the eve of ratha-yatra with a collection of flowers and fifty-six bhoga preparations. The ratha was decorated with flowers and balloons and the path with rangolis, while Their Lordships were beautifully dressed by our pujari, Dhiranayak dasa. Manish bhai and Mahendra bhai sponsored the festival.
The procession began the following afternoon and until 6pm, with no option of walking through the village, we pulled the ratha around the Jnana Manjari vidyapitha school campus accompanied by tumultuous sankirtan and devotees dancing and singing: “Jagannath swami nayana patha gami bhava tume.” We had a photograph of Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra maiya installed on Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar’s ratha and we removed the oxen and tied ropes to the yoke of the ratha. About thirty Mahuva congregation devotees and our team of twenty padayatris collectively celebrated the event. Some devotees engaged in the seva of pulling the yoke while others held the ropes to pull the ratha. The gopis were pulling Lord Krishna from Kuruksetra to Vrindavan and we were pulling Their Lordships to our hearts.
Actually, it was a double ratha-yatra for us as Nitai-Gaurasundar had not travelled in the ratha for four months. Our Lordships are always on the road blessing whoever comes in contact, but since the lockdown we have all had to remain in one place. So Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra maiya as well as Nitai-Gaurasundar had a great time being pulled by devotees with love and devotion. After ratha-yatra the fifty-six bhogas were offered to Their Lordships and maha-arati and maha-prasad distribution followed.
Although simple, the celebration nevertheless reminded us of the Jagannath Puri festival. We all prayed to Their Lordships that the situation changes soon and we can get back to our routine padayatra.
