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EDITORIAL July 31, 2000 VNN6113 Comment on this story New York Rathayatra As I Saw It BY AKHILESVARA DASA, MONTREAL EDITORIAL, Jul 31 (VNN) — Magnificent as it was, this year's New York Rathayatra did not have the luster of previous years. There were hardly any celebrities and many senior devotees were conspicuous by their absence. Even Jayadvaita, usually a dependable participant at the parade, did not show up. I noticed Jayapataka Maharaj during one kirtan and Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj, easily recognizable in his exotic head gear, was letting loose as usual on his tambourine. And what would the N.Y. Rathayatra be without Radhanath Swami, whose enthusiasm is always comforting to see. And I think I saw Rabindra Swarup Das riding on Subhadra's chariot. It was also a big surprise to see Gopal Krishna Maharaj, especially since he had just passed through Montreal like a gust of wind a few days earlier, leaving as proof of his passing a new disciple, initiated without ceremony. There he was on Fifth Avenue, busily shaking hands and giving blessings. And what else did I see? He and Adridharan, the subversive leader of the Ritviks, Iskcon enemy #1, who is conducting a court case against the movement in India. There they were, the two of them walking arm in arm like best buddies. I was sorry I didn't have my camera to capture this paradoxical behavior, that Indians seem to have mastered. That's about it for the big names. You will no doubt agree that it's not much for one of the most important festivals in North America. I should note that luck was not with us, either. Sridhar Maharaj had been given a round-trip ticket from Bombay just for the occasion, but suffered a relapse of his condition while visiting friends in California and had to be hospitalized. He had gone to California without stopping for breath or saying a word to anyone in New York before flying off to the West Coast. I guess he hoped to be able to make it back in time, but his disease-riddled body did not permit him to do so and we were thus deprived of his association. Romapada Maharaj, who has his headquarters at the New York temple, kept a low profile. This makes me think that those who were present must all be GBC's for New York. Or am I wrong? What would explain their presence? Mother Malati was also there; GBC or not. But more difficult to explain is Vipramukya Swami's brief apparitions. In fact, I really noticed his presence only on the last day of the festival, Monday morning, when he gave the Srimad Bhagavatam class for the devotees who had not yet left for their respective homes. But one thing, please, dear Prabhus! Orators should not ask for questions if they are not ready to answer them. On this particular occasion, it was a great opportunity for a sannyasi to share his realization. It was rather annoying for the audience the way -- three times -- he eluded the question. What was the question about? In two words: How is Krsna responding personally to the prayers of the general devotees? You see, there was nothing to be on guard about. But it is true that nowadays, almost any insignificant question can be potentially embarrassing. The day after the Rathayatra, I went on the traditional street sankirtan from the Brooklyn temple to 26, Second Avenue, the famous Matchless Gifts storefront where Srila Prabhupada had his first temple on arriving in the United States. It is easily a two-hour walk with an enjoyable crossing over the Brooklyn Bridge. The number of devotees was considerably down from the previous year, but still impressive. We separated into two groups. I was in the one led by His Grace Praghosh Prabhu. It was the first time I had seen him in New York. I hadn't heard anything about him for some time, though recently his name has come up here and there, denouncing the deviants and redefining what it means to be "Prabhupada's man". Whatever, his enthusiasm at leading kirtan was just right for the occasion - we really needed good kirtan leaders. The Ritviks took advantage of the occasion to profusely distribute invitations to the opening of their new center, which is just a couple of minutes by foot from Second Avenue. A couple of friends and I decided to go and have a look see. Adridharan and Madhu Pandit had come from India just for the event. On our way there, we stopped to visit Kirtanananda's restaurant. The Ritvik center is just next to Tompkins Square Park. Geographically, these three places -- Matchless Gifts, the restaurant and the Ritvik center -- are all in the same neighborhood where the Hare Krishna movement had its beginnings in America. There is a feeling of nostalgia about all three of them and it seems that they are counting on this feeling to revive the devotees' enthusiasm. So I guess we can expect the followers of Narayan Maharaj to soon open a branch in this neighborhood, too. When I walked into the restaurant, I was struck by the rustic dˇcor, which was tasteful without being snobbish. Since we had just eaten a delicious feast, we went directly up to the second floor where they have their temple, build in the same style as the restaurant. We were attracted by the deities of Radha and Krishna, bathing in simulated daylight at one end of the room. On the way to the deities, you have to pass a framed picture of the white-bearded Kirtanananda, placed on a gothic-style chair. Right next to his picture, exactly the same size and placed neither higher nor lower than it, is the photo of Srila Prabhupada. Hanging on the wall behind them is a picture of the spiritual family of New Vrindavan in the good old days when they wore western-style monks' robes. They are standing in front of that huge statue of Srila Prabhupada, made out of cement, I think, that seems to touch the New Virginia sky with a crown that caused quite a scandal in the movement back when it was built. By the look of it, they are not going to change. They are attached to their deviations. It just shows that we will have to get used to the idea of religious or sectarian pluralism. And it looks like the devotees already have: the restaurant was full of people who had spent the night in the Brooklyn Iskcon temple. We continued our pilgrimage. Earlier in the day, a devotee told me that the Montreal Ritviks were keeping their distance from Adridharan's IRM project because they find him too dictatorial. Though they did not officially participate in the opening there were some who, like me, came out of curiosity. But others are certainly sympathizers. I left as they were preparing to serve prasad even though I would have liked to hear Adridharan speak. Too bad -- or not. No, this time, Ramabhadra, the NY temple president, did not promise a better festival next year. Problems, nothing but problems. You need spiritual strength to keep pushing on these days. We offer him our obeisances, without forgetting his wife, who is a great devotee in her own right. The New York festival is under the good auspices of prasad. They still cook real feasts there. Do you know a temple where they still serve an authentic old-time prasad feast for distribution on Rathayatra day? Well, in New York at least, real culinary delights of Krishna prasad are distributed to the general population. In this, they are keeping up the tradition. And the Sunday feast for devotees and guests is positively succulent. To tell the truth, the delicious prasad, served to all without reservation, was a real proof of love. All glories to Lord Jagannath! Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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