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Mukham karoti vacalam pangum langayate girim, Yat kripa tam aham vande sri gurum dina tarinam, Paramananda Madhavam Sri Caitanya Isvaram

Today is the inauguration of our Jagannath, Baladeva, Subhadra Ratha Yatra in Kolkata. Kolkata is the birthplace of our founder acarya, His Divine Grace Abhay Caranaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He said that the Jagannath Baladeva Subhadra Ratha Yatra should be celebrated with great devotion in Kolkata. And Kolkata is part of the Gaura Mandala Bhumi in which is Navadvip dhama, the birth place of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Also Kolkata is the gateway to the dhama. This Kolkata has many devotees and the devotees of Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra are no less. And also, we request all of you that the ratha yatra be conducted in a devout manner. In this Kali yuga there are many opportunities. In the previous yugas, there was meditation, fire sacrifices and temple worship was offered to the Lord. In Kali yuga, by chanting the name and doing kirtan of the Holy names, we can get the blessings of the Lord. Also, there are crores of names and chanting just one of those names of the Lord will get our work done! Also, there is no rigid rules or regulations for this. Whatever the name of the Lord we chant, that will do the job! But, we chant Hare Krsna Maha Mantra which is recommended in the Kali Santarana Upanisad and the other puranas. Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. This way all of you chant this Hare Krsna mantra along with the Ratha yatra and chant Jai Jagannath and Jagannath Swami ki jai as you walk along! Jai Baladeva ki jai! Jai Subhadra maharani ki jai! These Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra were there 5000 years ago. 500 years ago Sri Caitanyadeva appeared, He incarnated as a devotee of Lord Krsna. He personally partook in the Jagannath Baladeva Subhadra ratha yatra. Now in the world, more than a hundred countries celebrate the Ratha Yatra. Also, this way Jagannath, Baladeva Subhadra, are offered Harinaam kirtan, dance and puja offerings in the Ratha Yatra. Now in New York, Washington D.C., London, Tokyo, and many other cities in the world celebrate Ratha Yatra. I hope that the people of Kolkata will serve Lord Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra with devotion and celebrate Their Ratha Yatra. This human form of life gives us an opportunity to offer devotional service to the Lord and also offer our affection to the Lord. If this is not there, then there is no difference between the human beings and the animals. The opportunity for the human beings to do devotional service without any barrier of caste or creed is given by Lord Jagannath who comes out and we should take this opportunity to serve Him. Haribol!

Transcribed by Jayaraseshwari devi dasi, 05 June 2019