INVITATION  FOR 23rd LORD JAGANNATHA CHARIOT PROCESSION) ON 24 DECEMBER 2009

The 23rd Annual Jagannatha Ratha Yatra will start at 4.30pm from Nattukottai Marriage Hall (Sivan Temple) - opposite Sunway Hotel Georgetown, Jalan Baru, Penang Island & ends at Penang Chinese Town Hall at 8.00pm. The 3 chariots will be pulled by devotees & well-wishers from throughout the country.

In line with our beloved Prime Minister’s ONE MALAYSIA concept, there will be series of cultural performances along the procession route e.g. Hare Krishna Maha Mantra Chanting & Dancing, Dragon Dance, lantern procession etc.

Chariot procession routes are as per the following:-

Jln. Baru, Jln. Dato Keramat, Jln. Penang, Jln. Burmah, Jln. Transfer, Jln. Seri Bahari, Jln.Penang, Lebuh Chulia, Lebuh Bishop, Lebuh Penang, Lebuh Chulia, Lebuh King, Lebuh Cina, Lebuh Beach, Lebuh Market, Lebuh Queen, Lebuh Chulia & Lebuh Pitt-towards Penang Chinese Town Hall.

World renowned monks are expected to attend & commemorate this year end procession.  We are estimating a total of 5,000 devotees, friends & well-wishers at the Chinese Town Hall.  There would be three cultural performances by devotees. During the yearly procession we distribute 20,000 packets of sweets to the general public along the route & while we also serve about 5000 packets of free full meal prasadam (vegetarian food) at  the Chinese Town Hall.

Spiritual History In Brief

The Ratha Yatra Chariot Procession commemorates a meeting that took place on earth five thousand years ago. Once, Lord Krishna, his brother, Balarama & his sister Subadra journeyed on a chariot to Kurukshetra to observe the ancient Vedic custom of bathing at holy place of Vrindavana. They invited Lord Krishna to return with them to again enjoy loving pastimes. When the Lord consented, the devotees then pulled the chariot all the way back. Those who take part in this festival share the same feelings of the pure devotees who drew him back to Vrindavana.

Until very recent, Ratha Yatra was strictly an Indian celebration enacted in the city of Puri in Orissa. In year1965, His Divine Grace A.C. Srila Prabhupada went to the U.S.A. on his spiritual master’s orders to spread Krishna Consciousness in the West. He introduced the Ratha Yatra Procession along with the Hare Krishna movement because the inaugurator of this movement, Lord Chaitanya Mahabrabhu, actively participated in this festival. Now Ratha Yatra Chariot Procession is performed in all the major cities of the world & attended by millions of devotees around the globe.

Benefits for attending Ratha Yatra as mentioned in Vedic Scriptures

BRAHMANANDA PURANA

A person who sees the Lord’s Chariot Procession & then stands up to receive the Lord can purge all kinds of sins from the body.

BHAVISYA PURANA

A person who follows the Ratha Yatra Chariot Procession will surely be elevated to the position of achieving equal opulence with Vishnu.

In view of the above spiritual benediction, we humbly seek your assistance to disseminate this auspicious event in your program. We thank you for your grace and may the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna’s mercy be upon you.

Thank you,

Yours faithfully,

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Kishora Krishna dasa                                                                 

Organizing Chairman                                                             

H/P 016 4628459