India's great strides in the UK, 75 years after Independence

On Sunday, 30 July, a drizzly London morning, the 50th annual Rath Yatra was about to begin.

- NITIN MEHTA

On a huge chariot sitting majestically were Lord Jagannath, Baldev, and Subhadra. Organised by Hare Krishna devotees, thousands of people joined the procession as it began from the iconic Hyde Park and snaked its way through London’s famous streets. People were dancing ecstatically and chanting “Jai Jagannath, Jai Baldev, Jai Subhadra”. The founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Shri AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, introduced the Sankirtan movement in the West.

Over 500 years ago, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu prophesied that the Sankirtan movement would reach every town and village in the world. Today, in many parts of the world, the Sankirtan movement is well-established and expanding at a great pace. The Rath Yatra will soon be taking place in several other UK cities as well. The word “Juggernaut” comes from the word “Jagannath”. When the English first came to the city of Puri and saw the huge chariot, they asked what it was and were told it was the Lord Jagannath. Ever since, a huge vehicle has been called a Juggernaut.