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USA January 17, 2000 VNN5289 Comment on this story Miami First Ratha Yatra Of The Millennium In America BY JAYADVAJA DASA  MIAMI, USA, Jan 17 (VNN) — To celebrate the new Millennium, Lord Jagannatha had a beautiful parade that was attended by 150,000 enthusiastic festival goers. The event was the annual Three Kings Parade on the famous Calle Ocho which took place on January 9th.The people in Miami they were very happy to receive Lord Jagannatha by clapping their hands, dancing and jumping with the devotees to the tune of the Maha mantra. As the chariot passed the media, the TV and newsmen were shocked to see the huge Jagannatha's car for the first time in Miami. TV station Channels 23 and 51 cover the parade world wide to more than 30 countries and to millions of people. The reports said that now the Hare Krishnas have become part of the community in Miami: "We are surprised to see how the Hare Krishnas are growing more and more and how they have built such a beautiful and colorful car!. Their kids look so beautiful dressed in traditional Indian costumes." There were shots of the car, Srila Prabhupada and all the devotees performing Kirtan. One of the organizers commented: "This chariot is the best float and it is the first time that I have seen such an ancient and original car: I think that it should be given first prize." Srila Prabhupada, who introduced the chanting throughout the world and the Ratha-Yatras Festivals, says "The transcendental vibration established by the chanting of Hare Krishna is the sublime method for reviving our original, pure consciousness. By chanting this transcendental vibration, we can cleanse all misgivings from our hearts and feel ecstasy coming through from the spiritual stratum... This chanting of Hare Krishna is enacted from the spiritual platform, and thus this sound vibration surpasses all lower strata of consciousness." When I was dancing in the festival, those Srila Prabhupada's words were coming to my mind and I become so grateful and indebted to him that I am feeling very ecstatic because of his mercy and I carry out little be what is Krishna Consciousness Movement. "Similarly, since the sankirtan movement was first set in motion five hundred years ago by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's desire that it spread all over the universe, the Krishna consciousness movement, in continuity of that same motion, is now spreading all over the world, and in this way it will gradually spread all over the universe. With the spread of the Krishna Consciousness Movement, everyone will merge in an ocean of love for Krishna." (C.C. Adi 13.32) The Three Kings Parade has a Christian background, it is a Latino custom to honor the three wise men who came from the East to honor Lord Jesus at the time of his birth. In previous years the devotees requested to be in the parade, but were denied on the grounds that we are not a Christian group. This year Miami ISKCON temple President Kesava Swami convinced the parade organizers to see the Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra as the Supreme Lord. Furthermore, there are thousands of Indian families living in Miami who want their culture to be represented so they can feel part of the community. The Miami temple not only holds the distinction of having the first Ratha Yatra of the Millennium, but also the last Ratha Yatra of the XX Century. On December 26th they pulled Lord Jagannath's chariot in style through the streets of Coconut Grove in the annual King Mango Parade. Every year the organizers invite the devotees to participate and distribute prasadam at Peacock Park at the end of the parade,the same park that Srila Prabhupada usually have chant his Japa, when he visited Miami on 1975, 50,000 people attended the parade, and everyone loved the Lord's chariot, marveling as the canopy was raised and lowered for the electrical wires. It was overwhelming to see so many conditioned souls receive the blessings of the Lord. We can understand why Srila Prabhupada was so eager to perform Ratha Yatras around the world. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to Lord Jagannatha!. This Festival we will celebrated every year and please all of you are welcome to come to Miami (New Naimisaranya), to have Krishna Consciousness vacation in the warm climate of this Celestial Tropical Paradise. Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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