Grand Rath Yatra Celebrations at India House
By Kusum Vyas
Last Updated: July 18, 2008
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HOUSTON: Sunny skies and light winds were Lord Jagannatha’s way of showing His approval of the first-ever Ratha Yatra, the Festival of Chariots, held last Saturday, July 12 in Houston.
The Ratha Yatra festival is perhaps the oldest continuously celebrated spiritual festival in the world. As far back as human records and memory extend, the chariots of Lord Jagannatha have rolled each summer in the ancient holy city of Jagannath Puri in Orissa, India.
Thanks to the efforts of Sri Govindaji Gaudiya Matha and the Oriya Community of Houston, Lord Jagannatha’s Chariot rolled in Houston last Saturday at the brand new India House facilities. All major Hindu organizations of Greater Houston supported this event. The Festival was a huge success and it attracted more than 2500 people, young and old alike - a healthy number considering the fact that this was the first time ever that the Festival was celebrated in Houston. It was a sight to behold and an event to remember as attendees from the Greater Houston area came to share the bliss of taking part in Lord Jagannatha’s Ratha Yatra.
The splendidly decorated chariot of Jagannatha, the Lord of the Universe, His brother Lord Baladeva and sister Subhadra, rolled down the marked route in the parking lot of India House at 5PM. Its towering red-and-blue silken canopies rose into the sky as drums, shankha and cymbals resounded in joyous celebrations. The chariot was designed and constructed in Houston by members of the Oriya Community who had worked intensely to prepare for the Festival.
The event’s highlight was the beautiful chariot pulled by the devotees. As the chariot rolled, people young and old, their eyes bright with excitement chanted Lord Krishna’s name, danced and sang their way through, as if swimming in an ocean of pure bliss. Throughout the journey, the devotees offered flowers and ‘khaja’, a traditional Indian sweet, to the Deities on the Ratha. Prior to the commencement of the procession the symbolic King of Puri, a role played by Dr. Rakesh Dhingra who appeared very royal in the traditional outfit, performed another important tradition of sweeping in front of the chariot.
Proving that there’s nothing like the original drum beats from home, a group of professional percussion artists from Kerala were specially invited to lead the procession. Apart from performing the traditional drums, the group performed Theyyam and world-famous Kathakali, which are ancient forms of art from the State of Kerala in Southern India. The beautiful costumes of these performers coupled with their captivating presentation clearly set the mood of the Festival. The group represented the Delhi Panchavadya Trust.
A host of dignitaries attended the Festival and they were full of praises. As they arrived, the Kerala group greeted them with the traditional drumbeat. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee spoke eloquently about the importance of Hindus in Texas as she presented an official recognition to the event. She said, “the Ratha Yatra will give an opportunity to the people of greater Houston to celebrate the arrival of Lord Jagannatha and reflect on His teachings and philosophy of unity in diversity”.
Other dignitaries included Councilmen Peter Brown who came dressed in typical Indian outfit of Kurta Pajama, M.J. Khan, Mayor Scarcella and Councilman Ken Mathew of Stafford, India’s Consul General Mr. Gavai and Mrs. Gavai among others. Jose Grinan anchor of FOX TV, Channel 26 was a special guest who chose to do in Rome what Romans do and turned up immaculately dressed up in traditional Kurta Pajama and Mojris from India. He said, “I hope I will be part of the next Ratha Yatra”. Mayors of three cities of Houston, Stafford and Sugar Land declared 12th July 2008 as Lord Jagannatha’s Ratha Yatra day in their respective cities.
Awed by the magnificent chariot and the traditional performers, attendees enjoyed a vast array of vegetarian food, booths and rich display of Indian classical dance and devotional music. The Festival wasn’t just a treat for the mind, but for the senses as well with colored tents offering music, cultural dances, exhibitions, stalls, rangoli and children’s activities.
Local vendors tempted taste buds with assorted array of vegetarian recipes, well suited to the mood of the Festival. Festivalgoers lined up for idli sambhar, pau-bhaji, fresh fruits juices and other goodies.
Auditory stimulation came from the stage where devotional musicians shared their soothing talents. Colorful costumes and decorations of the Deities were bliss for the eyes of the devotees. The smells of the incense and fresh it flowers provided olfactory delights. Dance performances by Manoranjan, Minati and Supradipta from Odiya were breathtakingly beautiful. The festivities lasted till late into the night.
Lord Jagannatha’s first Ratha Yatra in Houston was a great success. According to Dr. Arun Verma, the coordinator of the festival, “it was Divine intervention which directed us to hold the first Ratha Yatra in Houston as the very first event at India House so that Lord Jagannatha could also bless the newly built India House”.
Sandy, along with her future daughter-in-law, son and their 15-month-old daughter visiting from College Station, driving past and decided to stop by.
“We saw a whole bunch of people here and we were going to the mall, she said, but after seeing the Chariot and the traditional dancers, we decided this was something we could not afford to miss.” She added, “the energy here is so uplifting, the instruments are so beautiful and I will stay till the end.”
“Our society has become so atomized, it’s important we keep our connection to our roots, do something our grandparents did, and this Festival has done a lot to keep us connected” said Pramod Shah, a manager in a bank who lives in Sugar Land.
Savita from Missouri City would probably agree. She had initially come out of curiosity with some friends, then decided to saunter through the activities and see what was going on and quickly decided that she wanted to be included in the action.
Amora daughter of Jose Grinan, who bought and wore a special saree for the Festival said, “I heard about all this nice stuff going on and decided to be a part of it”. She tried almost all the dishes that were available and she was glad that she decided to come to the festival.
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