2. The First Ratha Yatra of Srila Prabhupada

2. The First Ratha Yatra of Srila Prabhupada:

As a boy in Kolkata, Srila Prabhupada wanted a cart to perform his personal Ratha-yătră so he asked his father Gour Mohan to arrange; but it was too costly to make. Sadly, Srila Prabhupada left the carpenter's shop, crying. A sympathetic old woman approached and asked why he was crying. Gour Mohan explained that the boy wanted a Ratha-yătră cart but they could not afford it. "Oh, I have a cart," said the woman and then later she sold it to Gour Mohan.

Srila Prabhupada and his father modified the cart by fixing 16 supporting columns and a canopy on the top of the 3 foot high cart. Srila Prabhupada insisted that it must look authentic, like the big carts at Puri, so they also attached the traditional wooden horse and driver (sarathi) to the front of the cart. In addition, Srila Prabhupada personally painted the cart, copying the Puri originals. He also wanted to make homemade firecrackers to heighten the festival atmosphere but his mother stopped him. With great enthusiasm, Srila Prabhupada organized all aspects of the festival. He engaged his playmates in helping him under the leadership of his sister Bhavatarini. He also cajoled mothers in the neighborhood to cook special preparations for prasādam distribution during Ratha-yatra. Like the festival at Puri, Srila Prabhupada's chariot festival ran for 8 consecutive days. His family and playmates joined in the procession. They pulled the cart, played drums and karatālas, and chanted the holy names. Srila Prabhupada, a natural leader, led the children in chanting Hare Krsna

and in singing a Bengali bhajan, "Ki kara rai kamalini:" 

What are You doing Rãi Kamalini (Rādhikā)? 

Please come out and see. 

They are stealing Your dearmost treasure, Syama-the blue sapphire gem. 

If the young girl only knew! 

The young boy Syama, 

Treasure of Her heart, 

Is now forsaking Her.

Srila Prabhupada personally conducted all the rituals of the Ratha-yatra festival, including gorgeously dressing the deities in new outfits, offering bhoga and ärati with a ghee lamp and incense, and concluding with dandavats before the Supreme Lord. Srila Prabhupada was always ecstatically absorbed in the festival proceedings. His spontaneous spirit of pure devotion sustained the eight-day mini Ratha-yatra festival, and each successive year brought a new festival, which Srila Prabhupada observed in the same glorious way. (SP Lilamrta 1)