JULY 2018
Khaas Baat : A Publication for Indian Americans in Florida

Florida News

TAMPA TO HOLD ANNUAL RATH YATRA ON JULY 15

By NITISH S. RELE

Tampa Bay Rath YatraThe annual Tampa Bay Rath Yatra (The Festival of Chariots and Dharma Sammelan) will take place Sunday, July 15, at Hindu Temple of Florida, 5509 Lynn Road. The festival, organized and celebrated by the Tampa Bay Rath Yatra (T.R.Y.) Association since 2006, will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the seating of Lord Jagannath, Balram and Subadhra on main stage followed by arati and puja. Then Rath Yatra will begin on the set route near the temple and then return to settle in the temple hall. After mahaprasad, there will be a cultural program. Future plans include installing the three murtis at the Sanatan Mandir (311 E. Palm Ave.) under construction in Tampa. Starting next year, Rath Yatra will be at the new Palm Avenue temple.

In India, the holy town of Puri, Orissa, home of the Lord of the Universe, Jagannath, celebrates this festival. The temple of Jagannath, also known as Krishna, in Puri is one of India’s major pilgrimage sites. The Festival of Chariots signifies Lord Jagannath’s journey from the forest into the hearts of people. The Rath Yatra in Puri will be on July 14.

Among the co-sponsors are Hindu Temple of Florida, Sanatan Mandir, Florida Oriya Association, Alachua Hare Krishna Temple and Khaas Baat.

For more information, call (813) 970-0772 or (813) 267-7660.


GAJAPATHI MAHARAJ OF PURI VISITS TAMPA

Gajapathi Maharaj and his wife Maharani Lilavati Pattamahadei

Gajapathi Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb, king of Puri, visited Tampa recently. “Adhyasevak” (treated as the first and foremost Servitor) of Lord Jagannath, he also is chairman of the Shri Jagannath Temple Managing Committee. The eldest male heir child, Dibyasingha Deb ascended the throne in 1970 at the age of 17 after the death of his father, the then Maharaja of Puri, Gajapathi Birakishore Deb. Gajapathi Maharaj was educated at Rajkumar College in Raipur, St. Stephen's College in Delhi, University of Delhi, (law degree) and Northwestern University of Chicago (law degree).

Gajapathi Maharaj and his wife Maharani Lilavati Pattamahadei were on a one-month USA trip that began in Dallas with a talk on the glory of Lord Jagannath. He also visited temples in Texas and California “and devotees wanted to know more about the Lord,” the king of Puri said in an exclusive interview with Khaas Baat. “The Oriya community since sometime back has already taken sankalp (oath) of installing Lord Jagannath, Balram and Subadhra at the newly constructed Sanatan Mandir and we pray this becomes possible.”

In Orissa, known as Utkal or Kalinga in ancient times, there is a well-established tradition of “adhyasevak” of Lord Jagannath, according to Gajapathi Maharaj. “Whichever dynasty became paramount sovereign power of the kingdom followed this tradition and the paramount king became “adhyasevak” of Lord Jagannath,” he said. “So, in addition to ruling the kingdom, he performed sacred rituals in the Jagannath temple in Puri and took up on himself the propagation of Lord’s dharma, i.e. Sanatana Ved Dharma as his first and foremost duty. So, several dynasties have come in this tradition. Our dynasty, Gangavansi, came into this tradition in the 12th century after becoming paramount kings of Orissa and built the temple of Lord Jagannath in Puri.” The king carries out all his duties as humble servant of the Lord, said Gajapathi Maharaj.

“I believe peace, harmony and prosperity can be established in society only through promotion and propagation of dharma,” said the king of Puri. “This we find is lacking in substantial manner all over the world. Just like a bird needs two wings to fly, mankind needs spiritual progress and material prosperity to make life meaningful and happy.”

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