Lord Jagannatha Ratha Yatra at Johns Creek Founders Day Parade

Lord Jagannatha Ratha Yatra at Johns Creek Founders Day Parade

The City of Johns Creek celebrated its fifth anniversary by organizing the Johns Creek Founders day Parade on the 3rd of December 2011. With the blessings and spiritual guidance from His Divine Grace Swami B.S. Tirtha Maharaj, the Founder Acharya of Gaudiya Vaishnava Association (GVA), its members participated and enthralled the spectators by performing a Ratha Yatra of Their Lordships Shri Jagannatha, Shri Baladeva and Shrimati Subhadra Devi.

Thousands of spectators who were unaware of the immense mercy they received watched the Ratha Yatra as Their Lordships were carried on a well decorated palanquin. GVA distributed Maha Prasadam on the route to everyone. Maha Prasadam is sanctified food and is the Mercy of the Lord. The crowd enjoyed the ecstatic Hari Nama Sankirtans - chanting of the holy names of the Lord - “Jaya Jagannatha! Jaya Baladeva!! Jaya Subhadra Ma!!” during the hour long Ratha Yatra. Participants carried banners of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra.
The Ratha Yatra which started from Morton Road on State Bridge culminated at the Ocee Elementary school premises. Many dignitaries including the Mayor of Johns Creek Mr. Michael E. Bodkar, Sheriffs from Roswell and Fulton county police departments were honored by GVA by presenting them with garland and shawl from the Indian Holy City of Vrindavan and the GVA yearly magazine – Bhagavat Vani.

As a finale, GVA participated at the Santa Jam celebrations held at the Johns Creek High School and entertained the crowd with wonderful Hari Nama Sankirtan. At the Santa Jam celebration, GVA was interviewed by Mr. Matthew Quinn, Editor of the Johns Creek Herald Weekly Newspaper and published the same.

At Puri in Orissa, India, Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Shrimati Subhadra Devi come out in huge chariots to bestow Mercy upon the people and its being carried out for thousands of years. GVA had done this Ratha Yatra successfully for the second year in a row.
GVA distributes various lectures given by Shrila Maharaj in English, Hindi and Tamil in audio/video media and hosts a weekly Shrimad Bhagavat Gita / Shrimad Bhagavatam class in New Jersey, Texas and Georgia. For more information please call 1-888-9GVA-USA or visit online at www.gva.in.