Pune, July 18: ISKCON Shri Govind Dham is set to hold its annual Rath Yatra on July 19. Prabhu Gopati Das has invited devotees to participate in this event, which promotes peace and unity. He spoke with a news agency on Saturday regarding the preparations for the Rath Yatra.
He expressed his joy in announcing the event, stating, “We are organizing the Rath Yatra from ISKCON Shri Govind Dham this year on July 19. The temple has been beautifully decorated, and a large number of devotees are expected to attend. Devotees eagerly await this festival, hoping for the opportunity to participate in the Rath Yatra.”
Prabhu Gopati Das highlighted the unique aspect of the Jagannath Yatra, where devotees pull the chariot. This year, the Rath Yatra will commence from the Celestial City in Ravet, Pune, and will proceed through SB Patil College, reaching ISKCON Shri Govind Dham by 7:30 PM. “We are thrilled that our devotees will be pulling the chariot, symbolizing how they bring the Lord into their hearts. Just as the devotees of Vrindavan experienced separation from Lord Krishna, they carried Him in their hearts and began to pull the chariot. We celebrate the Jagannath festival each year as a representation of this devotion,” he explained.
He further stated that the purpose of the Rath Yatra is to bring people together. “I am pleased to share that our founder acharya, Bhakti Vedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, initiated the Rath Yatra 60 years ago. Now, Rath Yatras are celebrated across the country, including in the USA, Russia, London, Australia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The aim of this event is to foster peace throughout life, and we are witnessing its positive effects.”
Prabhu Gopati Das encouraged people from all castes and religions to join the celebration. “I urge all devotees to come to ISKCON Shri Govind Dham on the 19th and partake in the festivities. We will be providing prasad for everyone.”
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