The Singapore Ratha Yatra ’08 or the festival of chariots was recently concluded on 13th Jul 08. It was held at Toa Payoh Stadium in its third consecutive year running. The guest-of-honour for the festival this year, His Honourable Mr. Inderjit Singh, MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC represented the head of state for Singapore and performed the long standing tradition of sweeping as is done by the King of Orissa just before the start of pulling of the chariot.
During the festival, devotees took the opportunity to distribute the transcendental books of Srila Prabhupada as well as other paraphernalia that included Lord Jagannatha keychains, pendants, stickers, posters and even T-shirts designed by Sri Krishna Mandir’s own brahmachari. Prasadam was freely distributed to the public along with mouth-watering laddus and cakes. The three chariots belonging to Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra were beautifully decorated with newly sewn extravagant embroidery, throngs of strung up fragrant flower garlands and plenty of various coloured balloons.
Devotees and visitors alike started streaming into the stadium as early as 4.30pm and they were kept engaged at the store either by the books, paraphernalia or the ratha yatra documentary displayed on the large LCD screen. At the time of arati when the deities were on their respective chariots, the space between the stadium tracks and the stadium terraces was packed with so many people that there was hardly any space to maneuver. After the arati, His Honourable Mr Inderjit Singh flagged off the pulling of the chariot by sweeping the path leading to the chariot of Lord Jaganntha. The chariots were pulled in the particular order: Lord Baladeva, Lady Subhadra and Lord Jagannatha.
The kirtan at each of the three chariots kept everyone energised throughout the pulling the chariots. To combat thirst and encourage people to continue pulling the chariots, drink stations were positioned at the two extreme ends of stadium. Visitors spoken to felt that the festival was well organised and that they felt happy that they were part of such a wonderful and colourful festival. The festival was also published in colour in the largest selling English newspaper, The Straits Times as well as the Tamil newspaper. The success of this festival attributes to the fact the devotees at Sri Krishna Mandir follow the orders of their spiritual master, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada rigidly and preach accordingly without any liquidation to his work. Lord Jagannatha in that manner becomes pleased when His pure devotee is served properly and so The Lord of the Universe rewards accordingly.
Jai Jagannatha Ratha Yatra ki Jai! Jai Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!
During the festival, devotees took the opportunity to distribute the transcendental books of Srila Prabhupada as well as other paraphernalia that included Lord Jagannatha keychains, pendants, stickers, posters and even T-shirts designed by Sri Krishna Mandir’s own brahmachari. Prasadam was freely distributed to the public along with mouth-watering laddus and cakes. The three chariots belonging to Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra were beautifully decorated with newly sewn extravagant embroidery, throngs of strung up fragrant flower garlands and plenty of various coloured balloons.
Devotees and visitors alike started streaming into the stadium as early as 4.30pm and they were kept engaged at the store either by the books, paraphernalia or the ratha yatra documentary displayed on the large LCD screen. At the time of arati when the deities were on their respective chariots, the space between the stadium tracks and the stadium terraces was packed with so many people that there was hardly any space to maneuver. After the arati, His Honourable Mr Inderjit Singh flagged off the pulling of the chariot by sweeping the path leading to the chariot of Lord Jaganntha. The chariots were pulled in the particular order: Lord Baladeva, Lady Subhadra and Lord Jagannatha.
The kirtan at each of the three chariots kept everyone energised throughout the pulling the chariots. To combat thirst and encourage people to continue pulling the chariots, drink stations were positioned at the two extreme ends of stadium. Visitors spoken to felt that the festival was well organised and that they felt happy that they were part of such a wonderful and colourful festival. The festival was also published in colour in the largest selling English newspaper, The Straits Times as well as the Tamil newspaper. The success of this festival attributes to the fact the devotees at Sri Krishna Mandir follow the orders of their spiritual master, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada rigidly and preach accordingly without any liquidation to his work. Lord Jagannatha in that manner becomes pleased when His pure devotee is served properly and so The Lord of the Universe rewards accordingly.
Jai Jagannatha Ratha Yatra ki Jai! Jai Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!
