We invite you to come and celebrate the 45th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in the West, Sept 18th & 19th, 2010. The festival highlight is a visit to Boston’s Commonwealth Pier, where Srila Prabhupada first stepped ashore in the USA and a yacht cruise of Boston Harbour with Srila Prabhupada and hundreds of devotees.
In 2009, fifteen of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples along with 300 devotees joined us in Boston to celebrate the 44th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in America. This year we hope to increase the size of the festival and continue to increase year over year in preparation for the 50th anniversary festival in 2015. This should be an event every ISKCON devotee aspires to attend. We ask all of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples to please bless us as we develop this momentous event and to please make ever endeavour to attend this annual festival commemorating A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s arrival in the Western world.
Srila Prabhupada’s Arrival Festival and Boston Harbor Cruise Aboard the James J. Doherty yacht, Chartered from Boston Harbor Cruises (BHC) Departure Location: 1 Long Wharf, Boston Departure time: 10:45 AM Sunday, Sept. 19th Directions to the James J. Doherty - 1 Long Wharf - http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/Directions.aspx
It was September 17, 1965 when A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami stepped ashore in Boston after a thirty-five-day sea journey on board the cargo ship Jaladuta from Calcutta, India. His mission was to fulfil the order of his spiritual master, to preach Krsna Consciousness in the West.
Srila Prabhupada has given us this amazing gift, the opportunity to learn about Lord Krsna and the chanting his Holy names. Please help us honour and celebrate our heartfelt gratitude for the love and compassion he has for us and the personal sacrifice he made for us.
It was at Boston’s Commonwealth Pier where Srila Prabhupada first set foot in the Western world and where he wrote “Markine Bhagavata Dharma” (Teaching Krsna Consciousness in America). A poem where he prays to Lord Krsna for the deliverance of the American people. “I wish that you may deliver them. Therefore, if You so desire their deliverance, only then will they be able to understand Your message.” As we can see all around us, this request of the pure Devotee to the Lord, deliverance of the American people, is happening without doubt. Just see how in only 45 years, the majority of Americans now know the name of Krishna.
Commonwealth Pier is where it all starts; this is where Srila Prabhupada asks Lord Krsna for the ability to spread the Krishna Consciousness Movement. This is a place of pilgrimage all ISKCON devotees should visit at least once in their life.
Srila Prabhupada’s Yacht cruse - Grand Sponsor $3,001
Ratha-Yatra Festival - Grand Sponsor $4,001
General Weekend Festival Sponsor Levels
$1,008, $501, $301, $251, $151, $108, $51
Anna Dhan sponsor (food distribution) $201
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Directions to 1 Long Wharf and the James J. Doherty yacht Train: Take the MBTA Blue Line to Aquarium Station. Boston Harbor Cruises (BHC) is located right beside the East end of the station (Follow the exit signs for the Aquarium). Cost is $4 dollars round trip. For full info, please visit www.mbta.com. Drive: From North: Take 93 S to exit 24A bearing right on off ramp (Government Center). Follow signs to Aquarium Wharf. BHC is located between the Aquarium and Marriott Hotel. From South: Take 93 N to exit 23 (Government Center). Follow signs to Aquarium Wharf. BHC is located between the Aquarium and Marriott Hotel.
Bus ride from Temple and Parking We will have buses available to transport the devotees to and from the festival site. The buses will be departing the temple between 9:30 AM and 10:15 AM. Cost for round trip bus transportation is $5 dollars per person, suggested donation. Parking is available for $6 full day at the Boston Common parking garage, only a 10 min walk from the Temple. Parking cost is paid to the Temple gift shop where you will receive a validation sticker.
2010 Ratha Yatra & Srila Prabhupada’s Arrival Festival Schedules
Saturday Sept, 18th Ratha Yatra & Boston Common Hare Krishna Festival 11 a.m. Ratha Yatra parade starts 12 p.m. The Deities and Srila Prabhupada arrive at festival site 12:15 p.m. Aarti and Kirtan at the Festival site 1 p.m. The Deities and Srila Prabhupada return to the Temple 1 to 6 p.m. Kirtan and Cultural presentation at Festival site 2:00 p.m. Start serving food (prasadam) at the Temple 3:30 p.m. Cultural presentations at the Temple 7 p.m. Gaura Aarti & Kirtan 7:30 p.m. Dinner Prasadam
Sunday Sept. 19 Prabhupada’s Arrival Festival 5 a.m. Depart for Commonwealth pier to greet Srila Prabhupada at 5:30 (kirtan or japa and reading from Lilamrta and Markine bhagavata dharma) 7:30 a.m. Guru Puja / kirtan at temple 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. Breakfast 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Bus ride from Temple to boat / board boat 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Boat festival at Commonwealth pier 10:30 to 11 Opening bhajan 11 to 11:05 Welcome & Open address 11:10 Puja at Commonwealth pier 11:25 Read Arrival pastime from Lilamrita 11:35 Guru puja / Kirtan 12:00 PM Remembrances of Srila Prabhupada 1:30 Prasadam feast 2:30 p.m. Return to temple 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Piyari’s Magic show 4:45 p.m. – Sunday Feast program starts 8:30 p.m - Final Aarti / Bhajan
ISKCON, INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS, THE HARE KRISHNA MOVEMENT, FOUNDER - ACHARYA HIS DIVINE GRACE A.C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI PRABHUPADA, and related word and design marks, including the Standard Seals, are trademarks of the Iskcon Governing Body Commission Society and are used under license
