Devotees from ISKM Pondicherry embarked on a trip to Jagannatha Puri for the Ratha Yatra 2022. In between the journey, the devotees experienced many hours of ecstatic Harinam Sankirtan, lots of discussion on the pastimes of the Lord and lots of Mahaprasadam. The devotees would like to thank HG Karthik prabhu for the Prasadam they made so sumptuously in the beginning of the yatra. They would also like to thank HG Pavithra devi dasi and HG Prem Caitanya Das for their kind hospitality throughout the time they stayed in both Jagannatha Puri and Bhubaneswar especially in their home where they had delicious Odia style Prasadam. The young bhaktas were away from their parents but they didn’t feel their separation. On the day of the Ratha Yatra, the bhaktas pulled the Ratha of Lord Jagannatha towards Srimandir. The devotees were speechless and they ecstatically pulled them
The devotees also went to Sakhigopal temple and took the beautiful darshan, followed by Alarnath where they were fortunate enough to drink the charnamrita from the lotus feet from the original footprint of Sriman Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The devotes had beautiful darshan of Radha Giridhari at Bhaktivinoda Thakur Bhajan kutir at ISKCON Puri and Haridas Thakur Samadhi. They had the darshan of Gopi Gopinath deities of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur in Alarnath and his Bhajan kutir as well.
The young bhaktas went to perform Parikrama of whole Jagannatha Srimandir temple and the streets of Jagannatha Puri dham as well which was about 4kilometers. It was raining in the end and they had to queue for Jagannathas Suna besha darshan. At midnight, Lord Jagannatha with his siblings gave an ecstatic darshan. The devotees went to Gambhira, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya’s house and an unknown place to devotees where Radha Rasikarai was residing. They were worshipped by Shyamananda Prabhu, Rasikananda Prabhu, Baladeva Vidyabhushana as well. The deities were breath taking and the devotees never felt to leave. The devotees also got their Mahaprasadam.
Finally, they went to Badadanda Gaudiya math and had darshan of Sri Radha Nayanamani and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur in his appearance place. The devotees got sick with fever and cough from this long journey as they were sick both physically and mentally from Jagannatha Puri. However they got some spiritual inspiration to advance more in Krishna consciousness. Jai Jagannath!!!!
Vishakapatnam Railway station.
Waiting for Bhubaneswar train by midnight to reach Prem Caitanya Das home. The devotees were just about to sit and have Prasadam when suddenly a person saw them and asked for books related to Bhagavad Gita.
Sakshi Gopal Temple
Definitely Sakshi Gopal temple is one of important destinations of the yatra. By this time, the devotees have emptied their wallets as the temple priests would get lot of money from them. The temple and deities are so beautiful and they were fortunate to get their Mahaprasadam. One of the bhakta was fortunate to hold the feet of the small Sakshi Gopal deities.
