When He Was Young
Durban, South Africa
Today was the Ekadashi, a day for abstaining from grains.
The diet is simplified. It can end up being a bit starchy
though. For breakfast renunciates, day members and guests
were fed madhumbi (a type of yam in Zulu).
Before the full day of drama practice I was asked to speak
on a segment of the life of the Guru. From the book
“Prabhupada Lilamrta” we took excerpts in particular to do
with His childhood and the organization of Ratha Yatra. To
give a brief on this pastime I thought to share some
morsels of mercy.
At age 5 he began organizing a mini festival of chariots
in his home-city of Calcutta. He enthused His young
friends to become pullers of the three 3 feet high
chariots down the street, each chariot carrying a deity of
Krishna-Jaganath, Baladeva and Subhadra. The neighborhood
women were happily involved in preparing for various
traditional food items, which were distributed to the
public as prasadam (blessed food). Some local men
approached the child organizer’s father, Gaura Mohan,
saying “why haven’t you invited us? This is a spiritual
function. This is good for us”. They were saying so in a
humorous tone.
The event, which became a local community affair, went on
for 8 consecutive days which was not uncommon for social
and spiritual programs in India. Hence at a very early
stage in His life, as a child, our Guru, Srila Prabhupada,
took a leadership role to inspire people on the spiritual
level. The first western function of Ratha Yatra (festival
of the chariots) was enacted through His inspiration in
1967 in San Francisco, so many years later.
This event is phenomenal and goes on all around the world.
It is also a walking festival, something worth indulging
in.
10 Km
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