Above is Calgary Ratha-Yatra This
year, 2016, was the 12th annual Ratha-Yatra and Hare Krishna Festival
Of India in Calgary. Highlighting the 50th anniversary of Srila
Prabhupada's ISKCON in North America, thousands participated in the
parade. The parade ended in Shaw Millennium Park where Prasadam was
served, Srila Prabhupada's books were distributed and there was
wonderful presentations on stage; Dance, Drama, and Hare Krishna Kirtan.
|
July 30th, 2016, The Ratha-Yatra
parade in Edmonton Alberta started at 11:00 AM and got to the
temple/festival site at 1:45 PM. The night before the festival we had a
heavy storm with hurricane force winds and rain that blew down all
the banners and several of the tents. Somehow with Krishna's mercy the
crew was able to put everything back
together before the parade arrived. At the end of
the parade thousands lined up for Krishna Prasadam and made their way to
the stage to watch the transcendental entertainment, and hear
the Hare Krishna Kirtan. The weather was very nice, sunny and warm, we
started packing up at about 5:30 PM, and by 6:00 PM we were hit by
another heavy storm; 50 MPH winds and lots of rain. We worked through
the rain and finished packing up the festival site by 9:00 PM. Everybody
showered, took Krishna Prasadam, jumped in the truck and we started to
drive. We made it to Calgary for Mangal Artik, then started for Los
Angeles. Hare Krishna!
|
Krishna Prasadam was profusely distributed along the parade route. Above, two police officers receive Krishna Prasadam from M. Satarupa dd. Krishna Prasadam Ki Jaya!
|
Above, M. Ishana dd,
distributing books in the "Vegetarianism/The Higher Taste" booth, at
the Venice Beach Ratha-Yatra. Festival Of India's exhibits are designed
not only as informative panels, but as marketing tools for Srila
Prabhupada's transcendental books. For 37 years Festival Of India's
exhibits have been helping devotees all over North America, to
distribute Srila Prabhupada's books to the masses. Hare Krishna!
|
Amala Bhakta Swami, as seen above, distributing Srila Prabhupada's transcendental message on audio. Devotees
all over North America as well as around the world are taking
advantage of this modern technology, in which Amala Bhakta Swami is
sharing with us, so we can easily listen to Srila Prabhupada anywhere. Please Click here to see a list of whats available. Hare Krishna!
|
Jaya Krishna Prabhu, seen above, The
director of the Bhaktivedanta players, the international drama troupe
based in the U.K. has been on tour with Festival Of India for most of
the 2016 tour. He has performed dramas at most of the festivals and we
look forward to his return in 2017.
|
Above is the crew from LA! Names from left to right: Jailesh, Ishan, Amala, Krishna Prema and Shyam.
|
|
Srila Prabhupada said: "So
this Ratha-yatra Festival is a mass movement for enlightening people to
this Krsna consciousness movement. We have got many other festivities
in Krsna consciousness movement. We have got Janmastami, Sri
Rama-navami, Dola-yatra, Jhulana-yatra. So there are twelve months, but
we have got twenty-four festivals as big as this Ratha-yatra Festival.
So if you kindly take to them, then as advised by Lord Caitanya,
kirtaniyah sada harih [Cc. Adi 17.31], you will always be in Krsna
consciousness, and there will be no scope of your frustration and
confusion. For this purpose especially, I came in this meeting, that you
kindly accept this humble instruction that wherever you may be, in
whatever position, in whatever condition, you kindly chant these sixteen
names [everyone chants], Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare
Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Chant again, Hare
Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama
Rama, Hare Hare. Again, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Thank you very much."
Srila Prabhupada--Ratha-yatra lecture -- July 5, 1970, San Francisco
|
Above, July 23rd 2016, Calgary, Alberta, Ratha-Yatra Parade
|
Above, at
the first-ever Festival Of India in Fort St. John, British Columbia,
Canada, Nimai, Kapila, and Krishna Das are doing Kirtan on stage.
Krishna Prasadam, delicious cauliflower pakoras cooked in Ghee,
fresh tomato chutney, as well as water melon were distributed to at
least 1000 people. More than 600 books: Chant and be Happy, Beyond
Birth and Death, Sri Isopanisad, and
Bhagavad-gitas were distributed to local residents in Fort St.
John. Everyone who was walking in downtown Fort St. John heard the holy
names being chanted. Some local people danced and did Kirtan, and the
henna booth was filled up all day- people got their henna tattoos
while enjoying Krishna Prasadam and hearing Kirtan. In Every Town
and Village Ki Jaya!
|
Above is part of the new
"History Of the Festival" exhibit. The exhibit was designed and built
by Ratna Bhusana Prabhu and the devotees in Los Angeles. We are hoping
to duplicate this exhibit so it can be presented to the general public
at all the Ratha-Yatras in North America. The exhibit features a solid
wooden wheel from Lord Jagannatha's chariot in Jagannatha Puri. Many
thanks to Ratna Bhusana Prabhu, Devala Prabhu, and all the other
devotees who helped make this exhibit. Jaya Jagannatha!
|
Above, the parade in Los Angeles always has lots of attractions. Hare Krishna!
To Do List
|
|
New Van for Transporting the men, Update,
As mentioned in the last newsletter, one of Festival Of India's long
term supporters had pledged $15,000-- as soon as we collect $30,000.
With your help we have raised the first $23,500. We just need $6,500
more to receive the $15,000 pledged donation. Please visit FOI’s PAYPAL here.
and send your tax-deductible gift today. Again, Please help
Festival of India’s crew get to all the festivals. Hare Krishna!
|
Above, celebrating Nimai's 15th Birthday. The
day we got to Spanish Fork, Utah, it was Nimai's Birthday. This year
Nimai was the youngest boy on the tour and we look forward to
him coming again next year.
|
The parade on the Venice Beach boardwalk
with 10,000 Plus people is always awesome and exciting. The massive
chariots going down the boardwalk is a wondrous site to
behold. Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and lady Subhadra were
showering mercy on everyone who witnessed the chariots or heard
the ecstatic chanting coming from the parade. Since Venice Beach is a
major tourist attraction, tens of thousands of people come to visit
everyday, allowing people from all over the world
to receive the blessing from Lord Jagannatha! As usual the
festival was a huge success and
everyone looks forward to the many more to come.
|
Above, the Cold Drinks and Smoothies booth, is
just one of many Krishna Prasadam booths at the Venice Beach Festival
Of India. Fresh Coconuts; Curd Steaks, Delicious
Snacks, Pizza, and Cold Drinks are all available for a
small fee. There is also a free feast for everyone and every year about
10,000 plates get distributed. Sri Krishna Prasadam Ki Jaya!
|
The Experience Yoga booth
has been becoming more and more popular at many festivals. Pictured
above, 12 to 15 people at a time were doing Hatha-Yoga asanas in the
Experience Yoga booth at the Venice Beach Festival Of India. After
20 minutes of Hatha Yoga the yoga practitioners leave the booth with a
copy of Srila Prabhupada's "Perfection Of Yoga" book. This experience
Yoga booth has helped devotees distribute thousands of copies
of the Perfection Of Yoga, a summary study of the 6th chapter of the
Bhagavad-Gita. Distribution of Prabhupada's books Ki Jaya!
|
A featured crew man, Krishna Shakti Prabhu, above, traveled with Festival Of India in 2011 and 2012. He directed the 2011 Festival Of India documentary, click here to see it!
Every year he helps with the LA Ratha-Yatra and now he is working
with Yadubar Prabhu on what promises to be the most important film of
the century, Acharya The Movie.
Hopefully when the movie is released Krishna Shakti will spend another summer with Festival Of India.
Hare Krishna! |
Your help is urgently needed,
Please send your tax-deductible gift today to help transport Festival Of India's crew to the 2017, and beyond, festivals.
Please visit FOI’s PAYPAL here to make your donation now. |
|
