SRI JAGANNATH RATHAYATRA
SUNDAY 26th June 2011 - 4.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Yishun Stadium
Dear Devotees!
Hare Krishna! Please join us for this most joyous Chariot festival where Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladeva and Subadra shower us with Their mercy by coming into the open amidst great kirtan and chanting of the Holy Name!
Venue : Yishun Stadium – 101 Yishun Avenue 1 Singapore 769130
Programme :
4.00 pm – 4.30 pm : Arati, kirtan and offerings to receive Their Lordships & Bhoga Offering
4.30 pm - 7.00 pm: Rathayatra and Kirtan
7.00 pm - 7.30 pm : Discourse on the glories of Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra
7.30 pm - 8.00 pm : Maha arati and Kirtan
*Delicious and sumptuous prasadam will be served!
Please contact H.G Narottamananda Prabhu @ 98506342 or H.G Madan Mohan Prabhu @ 98523890. Alternatively, you can e-mail us at[email protected] or simply log on to www.krishnaclub.com
Please also find attached all the services that you may wish to take up for this auspicious event;
Jointly organised for the pleasure of all Vaishnavas by:
Gita Reading Society and Sri Harinam Society.
Ratha-yatra Lecture
By His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
London, July 13, 1972
“Prabhupada: Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you very much for your kindly participating in this festival, Ratha-yatra festival. This festival is coming down since five thousand years when Lord Krishna, along with His elder brother Balarama and His younger sister Subhadra, all together in a chariot came from Dvaraka to Kurukshetra. Kurukshetra is still existing, and the Dvaraka, the city, is also still existing. So according to Vedic culture, when there is eclipse, lunar eclipse, people take bath in sacred rivers. So especially they go to Kurukshetra, a pilgrimage. So Krishna along with His family members, brother and sister, came to Kurukshetra, and receiving this news, the gopis and inhabitants of Vrndavana, where Lord Krishna lived in His childhood, they came to see Him. So amongst the gopis, Srimati Radharani was the chief. And when she saw Krishna in Kurukshetra in all opulence, She said, “My dear Krishna, You are also here; I am also here. But We are missing Vrndavana. So I wish that You come along with Me again in Vrndavana and We enjoy in the forest of Vrndavana.”
This feeling of separation was preached by Lord Caitanya. So this Ratha-yatra festival is still observed in Jagannath Puri in India. And five hundred years ago Lord Caitanya participated in this festival, and He was in the mode of separation as if Radharani was taking back Krishna to Vrndavana. So this Ratha-yatra festival is a feeling festival for the Vaishnavas. Lord Caitanya taught us how to feel separation of God. Lord Caitanya never taught us that He had seen God, but He felt the separation of God very severely. Similarly, His next disciples, the Sad-Gosvamis, they also prosecuted their devotional service by separational feelings.
So this Ratha-yatra festival is very nice, feelings festival for the Vaishnava. And anyone who is participating in this festival, he’ll gradually develop his dormant love for Krishna. Thank you very much for your kindness.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Jaya!
Chant
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
And Be Happy!