Daily Diary of Puri Maharaja das
“Rath Yatra in Kolkata 2011”
Please accept our humble obeisance. All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga.
Guru Maharaj’s departure to the place where the Ratha Yatra, was scheduled to be was at about 11am. At about 11:15 am I got to the appartmentt and were almost ready. A few of the servants were present and some Matajis were in the room to take his darshan. Guru Maharaj was out in his wheelchair and was in the room for a few minutes, before being taken to the elevator. Most of the other servants walked down the stairs and headed towards the exit to take taxis to the Ratha Yatra. Servants on duty would be responsible for GM.
The place where the carriages depart was considerably closer. We took GM next to the chariot of Lord Jagannath. As many of you already know, the order of the floats is led by the Lord Balaram, followed Subadra and finally the Lord Jagannath. A few minutes later arrived a car followed by a few police patrols. Apparently it was the mayor of the city, as some spectators ran to meet him. Other important personalities and their wives had been already on the coach. A few minutes after that Guru Maharaj’s car made its appearance. Guru Maharaj was in the car for a few minutes and during this period a large crowd had surrounded.
GM was assisted into a wheelchair and taken to the front of the chariot of Lord Jagannath, the “furor Bengali” began to manifest. By leading the chariot GM still could not take Darshan of His Honor, because the personalities, pujaris, temple authorities were in front and around the Deity. Some of the authorities gave a short talk in Bengali. Finally most of them paid obeisance and received blessings from GM. After that GM had a visual contact of His Lordship and clasping his hands, he offered his obeisance. The following events would be the offering of coconut, camphor, and sweep on the street with the special brush.
The coconut was a little tense, because the crowd began to swirl around close to GM and the VIP’s. Practically there was not enough space to throw the coconuts and crash it to the ground, so most of the VIP’S did not know what to do with coconut in their hands and they lit camphor on it and threw it on the floor. Someone handed me the coconut that GM had offered, but neither had any space to complete the final part of the ceremony. So Mahavaraha told me that it happened to another devotee as we had perceived the risk of any accident so close to GM. Such was the shock when the others managed to smash coconuts on the ground,. This was the beginning of the ceremony of departure of the floats.
Then some members of government were given a special broom. They went to the chariot of Subadra where Guru Maharaj was. Guru Maharaj was given a broom to sweep for this auspicious ceremony for a few minutes then it was passed on to others. Then we had to direct the wheelchair to follow Lady Subadra and there the crowed became more intense. The first thing I noticed was that they were taking him in the midst of the crowd, so I pointed out to Mahavaraha it best to take Him to one side of the street where there were not so many people. In that way He was able to to get a better view of Lady Subadra and a better crowd control.
Then the matter became even more intense with the press people with cameras in hand, which with great passion and fury heated up the situation almost uncontrollable as they, were having major disputes with the agents and the event organisers since they were not allowed to approach important personalities, especially the mayor. About GM the thing was not of such intensity, but one way or another, the people around him also wanted to be as close to it. But the servants and some other devotees that helped us, we had the issue, almost under control. Here GM offered a small plate of aroti and executed for the other ceremonies such as offering the coconut with camphor, and sweep on a little broom. At the end He was brought before the chariot of Lord Balaram and there everything was quieter, as the other individuals had completed their part and had left. GM gave a short message about the event in Bengali.
When the ceremony ended at the 3 carriages and we were heading to his car, he returned to the servants requesting to pull on the ropes that pull the chariot of Lord Balaram. This also had the ropes of the other 2 chariots.
After that we managed to get him out of the crowd. For a few minutes He was giving the devotees darshan and blessings.
I read there that the first Ratha Yatra in Kolkata for 40 years were organized and conducted by GM at that time when he was president of the temple. Until Ratha Yatra, GM has participated in every one of them, even in the physical condition that has been found for the past 3 years.
“NIGHT AT THE Pandal”
On return GM took his prasada, afternoon break and then he prepared to direct to the pandal or place where the carriages arrived. Although expected to leave at about 6pm, were a little past 7pm to when he left the apt. The driving distance to the pandal was relatively short, with good traffic about 10 mnts or even less. A few mnts GM’s car arrived and was slowly entering the large complex of Pandal. This year, everything looked much better organized than previous years. The “Great Temple” – temporary set up, housed the Deities of Sri Jagannath, Baladeva and Subadra, looked majestic when seen from afar,,anyone would think it was a permanent temple, but everything is made of wood and the “walls” are actually lined in fabric. The large main entrancel was decorated with the name of ISKCON, each letter made of small colored lights. From this entrance to the “temple” in the complex had several kinds of “pictures” showing the pastimes of Krishna, Rama and His great devotees. All these “paintings” were also made of multicolored lights and some even had movement.
GM’s car gradually came close to the temple and some of the secretaries came down to analyze where GM would take the Darshan of Their Lordships. People began to swirl to the side of the car .GM was finally directed to the temple in his wheelchair by a kind of “roads” made of tables, built to reach and enter the different stores and places of the complex, because it is rainy season. GM first took Darshan from the temple room and then was brought closer to the deities by the side of the altar THROUGH a “corridor” made especially for those who want to make an offering of fruit or other ingredients to the deities. The place was a little crowded, so we had to wait a bit till it clears.
When GM was able to enter and park in front of the Deities, Badracaru Prabhu began to perform various ceremonies auspicious mantras for the benefit of GM. He also offered garlands to GM . GM took certain items offered to the deities, along with a ghee lamp.
Darshan of Their Lordships took for a few mnts and then he was taken to the temple room where an impromptu speech in Bengali for the present, which lasted about 20 mnts. One thing is that we still had not taken his dinner, so GM was taking his dinner in the car.
It was about 10pm when we reached the appartment and decided there to practice on the machine known as the “nustep” which he had brought from Mayapur. Although he felt tired, he was practicing for a little over half an hour. Finally after completing a certain amount of “pedaling” we led him to his room and after brushing his teeth, which I had to do completely, because GM had no strength to do it, we put him in bed. His fatigue was not as terrible as the previous day, but almost similar.
My shift ends at about 4am the next day.
At the moment I finish this diary, now at 1:30 am on July 5.
The servants caring for GM.
See photos on website!
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