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Time Again For Potomac Temple's Annual Rath Yatra

Among the many rath yatras organized by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness across America, the July 4 Independence Day Parade rath yatra in Washington DC attracts the biggest number of participants.

At the last festival more than 3,000 people participated. The parade, organised by the Sri Radha Madana Mohana Temple in Potomac and other Hare Krishna chapters, is the biggest event for the temple which has year-long activities including daily arati and weekly discourses.

The rath carries statues of Sri Jagannath, Sri Balaram and Sri Subadra. The rath yatra, as part of the Independence Day parade, has potentially one million viewers.

Accompanied by hundreds of chanting and dancing Hare Krishnas, the rath marches along Constitution Avenue. The parade is preceded by religious and cultural events on July 3. Over 100,000 vegetarian meals are distributed during the festivities.

The rath yatra not only creates publicity for the Hare Krishna movement in general but also the Potomac temple.

The temple situated on 12 acres of natural splendor is home to the deities of Sri Radha and Krishna, Sita Rama Laxmana and Hanuman and Sri Gaura Nitai.

Originally a summer camp, the land and buildings were purchased in 1976 by ISKCON and became part of its worldwide community of more than 400 temples, farms and restaurants.

ISKCON Potomac is also the administrative headquarters for ISKCON Communications and Hare Krishna Food for Life, the world's largest vegetarian relief organization.

The activities at Sri Radha Madana Mohana Temple include mangal arati, every morning at 4.30 am, for 25 minutes and is followed by prayers to Lord Narsimhadeva and then tulsi puja; Srimad Bhagavatam Class, every morning at 7.45 am: each morning a verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavat Purana)is discussed till 8.40 am.

Youth Club: The Temple Youth Club meets every Saturday. Meetings include field trips, harinam, pizza parties, dramas, study of Vedic scripture and practical application of spiritual life. Contact Vrndarani at (301) 570-6422.

First Saturday of the Month Feast: From 5 to 7 pm, bhajans, kirtans and prasadam.

Sunday Feast: From 5 to 7 pm, bhajans, kirtans, drama and free prasadam. To sponsor the festival feast call (301) 765-8948.

How to reach the temple:

From Washington DC: Take George Washington Parkway. Exit 495 towards Maryland. Get on the 495 beltway. Exit 39 -- River Road and follow signs to Potomac. After three miles you will come to Potomac Village, turn left at the traffic light onto Falls Road. Go one mile and just after the blinking yellow light of the fire department, turn left onto Oaklyn Drive. Half-a-mile after passing a small bridge look for the gray and white buildings on the right hand side. After the sign turn into driveway 10310 and drive to the bottom of the hill. The temple is a white building on the right hand side.

From 270, Exit 5 -- Falls Road. Take Falls road towards Potomac. Drive five miles past Potomac Village intersection. Go one mile and just after the blinking yellow light of the fire department, turn left onto Oaklyn Drive. Follow the directions given above.

Phone numbers; Temple, (301) 299 - 7205, Temple office, (301) 765 - 8948, fax, (301) 299 - 5025; ISKCON Communications Global, (301) 299 4797,Fax: (301) 299 5025, ISKCON Communications North America, (301) 299 9707;Rasikananda Das, (301) 765 8948; Rasikananda.grs@com.bb t.se

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