Snana-Yatra

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The Bathing Ceremony of Lord Jagannatha

Wednesday 22nd June 2005

This year's festival was well attended and very blissful, with everyone getting a chance to bathe Their Lordships Jagannatha, Baladeva & Subhadra.

Thanks to everyone who attended the event. See you all at Ratha-Yatra soon!!

 

 

The altar on Snana-Yatra day, nicely decorated by Priyadarsani devi dasi and Manjulali devi dasi

 

Sri Sri Radha-Gopinatha, beautifully dressed by Priyadarsani devi dasi

 

Their Lordship's Jagannatha, Baladeva & Subhadra devi, nicely dressed on Their appearance day by Manjulali devi dasi

 

Sri Sri Chota Radha-Gopinatha dressed very sweetly by Devahuti devi dasi

 

The transcendental brothers, Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, dressed by Devahuti devi dasi

 

Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva & Subhadra in Their Hati Vesha (elephant mask), put on traditionally during the 9 o'clock arati  (description here)

 

Abhiseka (bathing) photos in Flash movie Watch the Festival Flash-movie >

 

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* Thankyou everyone for the kind donations of ginger, honey and lemons to prepare ginger tea for Lord Jagannatha's recovery back to good health! *

Ratha-Yatra

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The Cart Parade of Lord Jagannatha

Celebrated 10am – Saturday 9th July 2005

 

This year's Ratha-Yatra parade went to Crows Nest, the local street of shops and cafe's, where Lord Jagannatha mercifully gave His darshan and Holy Names to the people in general. It was a beautiful sunny Saturday morning after anight of rain – always an auspicious arrangement by the Lord to purify the atmosphere ready for His annual outing.

Thanks to everyone who came for the festival. We hope to hold a larger event in the City later in the year – watch this space...

 

Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Gopinatha, dressed by Priyadarsani devi dasi

 

Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva & Subhadra devi, dressed by Manjulali devi dasi

 

Their Lordships Sri Sri Chota Radha-Gopinatha, dressed by Vijaya-Gauranga das

 

Their Lordships Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, dressed by Vijaya-Gauranga das

 

Devahuti devi dasi decorating the palanquin, as your web-servant Vijaya-Gauranga carries Their Lordships from the altar

 

Prahladananda das and Guru-shakti das make sure the Lord is safe on His palanquin, as Bhakta Micah and Bhakta Birend take the lead

 

Bhakta's Birend, Micah & Simon as the Lord exits the temple room and foyer

 

Their Lordships in the temple entrance, ready for Their parade!

 

 

Guest kirtaneer Sita-pati das on accordian, leading the morning's chanting

 

Guru-shakti performs the ceremonial arati with coconut before They set off up to Crows Nest

 

Kiwi devotee Sita-pati, down from Brisbane loft, leading a sweet kirtan for the Lord

 

The parade goes up Falcon Street...

 

Haribol!! Mataj's Damodara-rati, Manjulali, Bhaktin Amanda & Priyadarsani, in front of the procession

 

Sita-pati on vocals, as the girls lead the way through the sunny streets

 

Kadambini-Radha & other devotees in the parade

 

Bahkta Simon takes the load, with help from Bhakta Andy

 

Padmanabha holds the mike for Sita-pati Prabhu

 

Prahladananda beside the Lord's palanquin

 

Their Lordships' reach the junction at Crows Nest

 

Past Woolworths and Crows Nest Hotel in great need of purification...)

 

Bimal-Prasada Prabhu takes leave of his collection and joins the kirtan, while I try to play karatals in time to Raja-vidya's mridanga

 

Varuthapa Prabhu handing out sweets during the festival

 

The parade travels down the main street in Crows Nest – steaks? no thanks!

 

Sita-pati on the old squeeze-box, and Padmaksi with grandson Vijaya

 

Bhakta Simon holding up the Lord

 

A sunny day's chanting, as an old resident takes a flyer

 

 

The girls again. leading the way...

 

Past the cafe's...

 

Giving a few prasadam sweets to the cafe patrons

 

 

 

Prisni-garbha blowing the all-auspicious conch-shell

 

Passing Bimal-Prasada and his collection bucket, and little Vijaya again in the focus

 

Back around for one more lap of the town

 

The Lord basking in the morning sun!

 

 

'Absolute Beauty' – sounds like a desciption of the Lord...

 

Krsnangi and Bhaktin Amanda in the fire of sankirtana, as Raja-vidya provides the beat

 

Kadambini up the front as Bhakta Micah waves the camara, and the mataji's coming back down to the temple

 

Kirtan on the corner near the temple

 

And the girls give a wave as they pass the local garage

 

The Lord looking ecstatic after His annual parade

 

Prahladananda passing Their Lordships back to myself to return to Their rightful place on the altar

 

Back to Their simhasana for another year...

 

Thanks again to everyone who came, and especially the cooks who prepared the nice feast afterwards for all.

See you all next year, or sooner if the Ratha-Yatra in the City gets approval!!