This past Sunday, Toronto’s Hare Krishna temple celebrated our annual Snana-Yatra festival. During this festival Lord Jagannatha, His brother Balarama, and His sister Subadhra are given a special abisheka (bathing ceremony). This was also the last chance to catch a final glimpse of Lord Jagannatha. Their Lordships have “mysteriously” contracted a cold while they were bathed in various substances and will be quarantined and given intensive care by their pujaris (priests) for the next two weeks.
Once they have had time to recover, they will come out of Their temple to give darshan to everyone during the Festival of India (Ratha-Yatra Festival) on July 16-17, 2011. Thier Lordships will be riding down Yonge Street on large colourful chariots pulled by Their devotees amid ecstatic chanting of the holy names! For more information please see the official Ratha-Yatra Website.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xskYerVMt8Q?version=3&hl=en_US&w=425&h=349]