ISKCON NewsThe News Agency of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

FEATURE: Ratha-Yatra Boosts LA King Parade

By Karuna Dharini dasi

LOS ANGELES: Devotees danced, chanted, and sang their hearts out in the annual Martin Luther King Day Parade on January 15, to the delight of an estimated 250,000 spectators. One after another, dozens of parade goers ran out from their spots in the crowd, clapping or throwing their arms in the air to dance with the devotees to the sound of the kirtan.

Krsna Bhavana has entered the Hare Krishna devotees and float in the Marin Luther King Day Parade every year since 1998. Keeping with the theme of the parade, he named the entry, "The United Kingdom of the Spiritual World," using the words Srila Prabhupada used to describe the wonderful diversity among devotees of God.

"In 1998, our first year, the devotees won the 2nd place award for most colorful marching unit. I have the trophy in my shop. Ratna Busana has been very instrumental in helping to organize the parade entry. He is very enthusiastic about doing the parades," says Krsna Bhavana.

The parade is five miles long and Ratna brings a small yet exact version of a Ratha-yatra cart which he welded together for Lord Jagannatha to ride. The cart collapses and folds up for easy transport by trailer,and pays visit to several other parades, too.

There are about 300 entries in the Marin Luther King Parade, mostly flatbed trucks with signs on them or high school marching bands, but none so unusual or exotic as the devotees' entry. Krsna Bhavana writes a short explanation of the devotees' commitment to spiritual equality which is read by the t.v. announcers for the millions who watch the parade from home.

We are Equal in Krsna's Eyes
Every year one of the parade entries plays a loud recording of Dr. King as he shouts very feelingly,
"I have a dream that there will be a day when all of God's children will be able to sing together with new meaning. Let freedom ring. Let freedom ring!"

King's words remind us of the sublime words of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, who correctly predicted, "There will be a day when all of the white skinned European and Americans will march together with their Indian brothers to perform sankirtan, or the congregational chanting of God's holy names."

King's historical speech was full of deeply-felt old time African-American spiritualism. He often quoted the Christian Bible. He understood the principle that the only genuine and lasting foundation for uniting the diverse peoples of the world would be for us to see each other the way God sees us, all equal in His loving eyes, all part and parcel of Him.

Krsna Bhavana
In the heart of southeast Los Angeles, near the parade route in a long time low income African-American neighborhood, you will find two commercial buildings with a store front which goes by the name, "Mr. Wisdom." Mr. Wisdom's features fresh wheat grass juice, health foods, herbal cleansing programs and a fresh buffet of hot Krsna prasdam, food offered to Krsna.It appears just like any of those little health oriented shops until you get a take on Mr. Wisdom's wisdom.

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Mr. Wisdom is the nickname of Krsna Bhavana das. He displays the devotees' parade trophy neatly above the counters. He has been an active representative for the Hare Krsna movement in the Crenshaw district for over 20 years. Through his center dozens of people become interested in Krsna Consciousness. Speaking to people throughout the week in his store he often invites them to the Mr. Wisdom's Sunday program which includes kirtan, Bhagavad-Gita class and a free vegetarian feast.

"I am from Jamaica. I always dreamed I would go back to preach there. But somehow I have ended up preaching here," says Krsna Bhavana. "I often find that black people here who are really looking for God consciousness think that it must be coming their heritage, from Africa. I tell them, no, all parts of this world are God's property. Krsna can be found anywhere, but you must know how to look for Him. Wherever you find gold it is gold."