Wednesday 30th November 2005 - 01:47Rathayatra and grand memorial festival for HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami in Lagos, NigeriaThe 3 days of festivities at the Rathayatra and grand memorial for Gurudeva were very overwhelming. Last years festival was hosted by the Ghana yatra, and the next was billed for Lagos, Nigeria. The organizing committee consisting of HH Bhakti-dhira Damodara Swami, Canakya Prabhu, Salika Prabhu, Mothers Himvati Devi Dasi and Urvasi Devi Dasi and the host (temple president) Atreya Rsi Prabhu .They worked around the clock to organize the festival. Devotees from Ghana, Togo, Benin Repoblic, Ivory Coast, and Cameroon joined the congregated devotees from all the temples in Nigeria in Lagos on October 7th.
Saturday October 8th
The Rathayatra flagged off from the Indian Cultural Association (ICA) Palm grove area to the National Stadium (venue for the grand reception). The 18 feet tall Rathayatra cart constructed on Landover was beautifully decorated. Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi were magnificent in their splendor as they bestowed their benevolent glance on the over 1000 strong procession consisting of devotees, representative of Nigerian students, and a host of onlookers. HH Bhakti-dhira Damodara Swami performed the opening aratik while the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shree Pravin Varma, assisted by his secretary and the representative of the ICA, Dr Shenoy, flagged off the procession as he broke the coconut offering to their Lordships amidst the shouts of “Jay Jagannath” which rented the air and they swept the road as the procession proceeded on the 9 kilometer long route to the National Stadium.
Heavy kirtan resounded from mobile speakers on the procession. Vetaran kirtan devotees like Srivas Prabhu, Shastra Prabhu, Ramanuja, Bhadrasena Prabhu, Vishnu Das Prabhu, Yamunajivana Prabhu, Bhakta Azeez, Bhakta David, and a host other devotees took turns leading the kirtan. Bali Prabhu came with the Gauranga Band and even provided a local Fuji band who translated the kirtan into local Yoruba dialect. The whole road was agog as HH Bhakti-dhira Damodara Swami inspired every one with his dancing. Mother Ruchira, Mother Madhavi Lata and other senior matajis were also in the procession.
At the National stadium (venue for the reception) canopies and platform with rows of chairs awaited the procession. Varaha prabhu anchored the programme; he invited Ganga Prabhu to lead the opening prayers. The dignitaries present include the Sufi master RTB Akinbile, Proffesor Nduka Okoh (Pandit Das, formal VC University of Benin, Nigeria ), representatives of the ICA, Dr Kiran Virat, Mr Nair, Bali Das and a host of other eminent devotees and admirals of Gurudeva.
HH Bhakti-dhira Damodara Swami welcomed every one and gave tribute to Gurudeva by narrating his 1st encounter, interaction and how Gurudeva has touched him. The Sufi master showered encomium on Gurudeva as the embodiment of love and leadership excellence. He narrated their encounters and how Gurudeva has been a Big brother and a very influential inspiration to him personally.
Pandit Prabhu and a host of other devotees also paid tribute to Gurudeva.
Dr Kiran Virat then launched the Special 2006 Almanac dedicated to Gurudeva.The Gauranga Band provided entertainment with lyrics of George Harrison’s song (My Sweet Lord) and other songs. Another highlight of the event was the Choreographic Acrobatics displayed by Shastra Prabhu’s sons Harry and KK as they trilled the audience to lots of splendid display of wit and talent. Lots of souvenirs like umbrellars, mugs, booklets, t-shirts, caps, etc were also distributed with prasadam. Their Lordships thus gave their audience to the crowd of people.
Sunday October 9th
The Ajao Estate temple hall was filled to capacity at mangala aratik. The main event of the day was the Sunday program, especially packaged for Gurudeva. It started at noon with the bhoga aratik. Shastra Prabhu, Vishnu das, and lots of other devotees led powerful kirtans. Canakya Prabhu then welcomed everybody and invited Srivas prabhu to give the opening speech and his tribute to Gurudeva. Srivas prabhu then took devotees into the works of Gurudeva in Africa (Nigeria in particular). He then enjoined devotees to co-operate with each other and pledged himself to assist HH Bhakti-dhira Damodara Swami in continuing the mission of Gurudeva in Africa. He told of how Gurudeva and HH Kavicandra Swami made sure he got the best medical care in India and how HH Radhanath Swami and his disciples treats Gurudeva and all his disciples with love and affection.
Shastra Prabhu in his own presentation took devotees in to Gurudeva’s pioneer preaching in the 80s at the first Lagos Temple on Coker road, Ilupeju (the temple has been moved twice before the present location at Ajao Estate). He also narrated events at the sannyas initiation of HH Bhakti-dhira Damodara Swami in Mayapur, on how happy everybody feels that Gurudeva has given us a sannyasi. He then encouraged devotees to endeavor to attend the grand opening of Gurudeva’s samadhi in India next year, while hoping that not less than 108 disciples from West Africa will attend.
Carudesh Prabhu in his presentation narrated how Gurudeva appeared at their Janmastami celebration in Ivory Coast. He spoke of challenges, how Gurudeva sent him to India, the great impact Gurudeva had on the spread of Krishna consciousness in West Africa, and how the national television had covered their Janmastami festival.
Thus the festival continued with other presentations and prasadam distribution.
Monday, October 10th
Canakya Prabhu thanked all the devotees who had assembled from various parts of Nigeria and the West Africa as well as the Indians for participating and making the festival a success and a worthwhile offering to Gurudeva (this was the theme for the festival: ‘Remember this festival is an offering to Gurudeva ’). Whilst wishing devotees a safe and blissful return to their various destinations he thanked the matajis: Mothers Himavati, Ruchira, Urvasi, Champakalata, Sacimata, Radharani, Mali, etc. who cooked for the festival.
All Glories to Gurudeva and the assembly of devotees.
Your servant,
Aniruddha Das.
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