July 09, 1967 : San Francisco

Vaiyasaki: Today is Ratha-yatra day in San Francisco. For the first time the festival is celebrated outside India. The Deities are brought out one by one, escorted by an enthusiastic kirtana, and installed under a four-pillared gazebo, whose pyramid canopy is gaily covered with satin cloth. It sits on top of a flatbed truck decorated with flags, festoons, and flower garlands. Lord Jagannatha and Lord Balarama are enthroned on opposite sides to give Their merciful glances to all passersby. Lady Subhadra sits behind, majestically looking out from the back to see all the devotees. 

The parade begins at the corner of Haight and Lyon. Syamasundara is carefully driving the truck. As he navigates a steep hill, the truck's engine stalls. He tries to start it up again, but the truck starts rolling backwards. This happens several times, and the devotees are put into transcendental anxiety. At last they reach the top. From here on, the Deities get a smooth ride all the way down to the Pacific. After the parade the festival truck, complete with Deities, devotees, and canopy, heads out onto the freeway, across Golden Gate Bridge and on to Stinson Beach. 

Prabhupada sits in the living room chanting his rounds when he hears kartalas ringing "ching ching ching, ching ching ching." He goes out to greet the smiling devotees who immediately jump from the truck to offer their obeisances. He directs them to bring in Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balarama, and Lady Subhadra and place Them on top of the piano. Full of excitement, the devotees relate all the incidents of the day as Kirtanananda prepares to serve the feast he has cooked. Srila Prabhupada laughs to hear the stories, especially when the truck refused to go up the hill. He tells them that this is a Lord Jagannatha lila that was also performed at the time of Mahaprabhu. Now Ratha-yatra has come to the West, and Lord Jagannath has also brought this pastime.