Boise Hare Krishna Temple and Vedic Cultural Center

July 4, 2004

Celebrate the Boise Ratha Yatra Festival on Sunday July 4th in Downtown, Boise at 6:30 PM and Pull the Chariot in the 4th of July Parade.

Rath Yatra is unique and is considered by many as the grandest of all festivals. A glimpse of Lord Jagannatha on the chariot is considered to be very auspicious. Saints and the scriptures have repeatedly glorified the sanctity of this special festival. The sanctity of the festival is such that a touch of the chariot or even the ropes with which the chariot is pulled is considered enough to confer the results of several pious deeds or penance for ages. The Skanda Purana glorifies the sanctity of the Rath Yatra in the following words:

Gundicha mandapam namam yatra hamajanampura

Ashwamedha sahasrasya mahabedi tadadvabat

"Those who are fortunate to see the Deities of the Srimandira in the Gundicha Temple, the final destination of the procession of the chariots, derive the benefits of a thousand horse sacrifices, an immensely pious deed."

SCHEDULE for Sunday, JULY 4th Ratha Yatra / Parade

The Boise City July 4th parade will start from 10th and Jefferson at 6:30 PM and will go around the State Capitol Building and proceed on Idaho street and end at 10th and Idaho. For the third year in a row we will be having a float. It must be the popularity of our Ratha Float and lively group of dancers and pulling of the Ratha by the community, that this time we are in the beginning of the parade rather than towards the end. Our Ratha (Chariot), is number 15 in the lineup compared to 50th last time.

The schedule of events for July 4th at the temple is as follows:

4:45 AM Mangala Aarti
7:30 AM Lecture on Ratha Yatra by HH Danavir Goswami
8:30 AM Shringar Aarti
8:40 AM Srila Prabhupada Guru Puja
9:00 AM Light breakfast
11:00 AM Regular Sunday feast starting with chanting
11:30 AM Lecture by HH Danavir Goswami on Ratha Yatra
12:30 PM Aarti
1:00 PM Lunch Prasadam Feast
2:00 PM Start Decorating the Ratha and the cars with garlands
4:00 PM Ratha Leaves for Downtown
5:00 PM Their Lordships Jagannatha Baladeva and Lady Subhadra leave for Parade
5:30 PM Their Lordships Jagannatha Baladeva and Lady Subhadra installed on Ratha
6:30 PM Parade starts
7:30 PM Lords Jagannatha, Baladeva and Lady Subhadra Back at the Temple
7:30 PM Maha Harinam (Chanting and Dancing at the temple)
8:00 PM Evening Prasadam Feast

Everyone is encouraged to spend the entire day at the temple. If you cannot please do make it to the Parade in downtown and Pull the Ratha (We will actually be pulling the Ratha with ropes). Also it is recommended that we all wear traditional clothes so we can show Boiseans our rich culture and diversity. In front of the Ratha there will be constant singing and dancing. The parade route is a walk of about one easy mile.

Ratha Yaatra 2004, How can you help?

Here is the list of sponsorships needed: