CHICAGO: The annual Rathyatra (the Chariot Festival) of ISKCON Chicago Hare Krishna Temple was celebrated last week with fanfare and enthusiasm among devout Hindus.

Rathyatra started in the afternoon from Ravenswood near 1801 W. Devon Avenue (at the crossing of Ridge and Devon) and proceeded West on Devon Avenue. It turned North on Western Avenue and reached Warren Park where there was a festival.

The idols of Lord Balaram, Subhadra Mataji (sister of Sri Krishna), Lord Jagannath and Srila Prabhupada were carried in the 40-feet chariot.Those who led the chanting of the Mahamantra "Hare Krishna Hare Rama ...Rama Hare Hare", and "Jai Jagannath Jai Jagannath; Jai Baldeva Jai Subhadra" included Chandramauli Swami, Devakinandan Das (from Mumbai), Jai Jagannath, Prembhakti Das, and Krsna Balarama Das.

The devotional chanting reverberated on the streets and blissful kirtan enchanted those who were present. Jagannath means Lord of the Universe. Indeed, Sri Krishna is Jagannath.The deeper meaning of Rathyatra is: Bring Sri Krishna to the Vrindavan of your heart in the chariot of your body. Highlights of the festival were singing of bhajans, discourses, play, dances, exhibits, and free prasadam.

The masters of the ceremony were Mathuresh Das and Subuddhi Krishna Das. The discourses about the significance of Rathyatra, mercy of Lord Jagannath, and the importance of chanting the Holy Name in this age were presented by Bhaktipurushattam Swami (from Mayapur, India), Chandramauli Swami, Devakinandan Das (from Mumbai), and Kratudas (from Vrindavan). Five year old Shambhavi (from Milwaukee) performed beautiful Odissi dance, and Chakrapani spellbound the devotees with Kuchipudi dance.

The play "Who is a real devotee" performed by Sanjay Sharma and his group made the devotees roar with laughter. It revealed that merely performing rituals doesn't make a real devotee, what is needed is a simple and pure heart and fulfillment of one's duties. Satchitananda Prabhu sang Sri Jagannath Ashtakam which was composed by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and the bhajan "Sri Jagannath Rathyatraki jai ho".

Many people do not or cannot come to the Temple to have darshan. So Sri Jagannath becomes gracious and comes out in a chariot with His brother Balaram and sister Subhadra to give His darshan and blessings to all.ISKCON Chicago Hare Krishna Temple will celebrate Sri Krishna Janmastami on Tuesday, September 4; and Srila Prabhupada appearance day on Wednesday, September 5.