Melbourne's third annual ratha yatra

Kurma Dasa : Melbourne's third annual ratha yatra parade was the grandest yet; and since Lord Jagannatha's intimate and confidential servant, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was to be personally present, it was also the most auspicious.

Heading the parade was the beautiful four metre tall golden-coloured murti of Lord Chaitanya that Dhaumya had painstakingly carved for the parade. The Lord's long arms were upraised in ecstasy. His face was adorned with tilaka and circled by long, flowing dark hair. He wore a yellow silk dhoti; a long marigold garland embraced his powerful chest, reaching down to His knees.

Prabhupada looked up with great reverence, pressing his palms together in respectful obeisance. "Ah," he said. "This is arca vigraha."

In picture, Srila Prabhupada with Russel Looker (Nanda Gokul) and bearded Kunti Bhoja.