On a freezing September 21st, 2024, the ISKCON Lenasia Rathayatra Festival reached a highly significant and noteworthy achievement that marks a pivotal moment in its journey—its 25th anniversary.

What began as a small community event has grown into a large celebration, gathering devotees from across South Africa and the world to participate in the vibrant and sacred procession of Lord Jagannatha in the southwest of the Johannesburg Central Business District.

One of the key figures behind the festival’s enduring success is Jagannatha-Priya Das, a dedicated disciple of Bhakti Chaitanya Swami. His service to Lord Jagannatha spans nearly three decades, and his commitment has been instrumental in shaping the festival into what it is today.

For Jagannatha-Priya, devotion to Lord Jagannatha runs deep. He began his journey in ISKCON in 1993, receiving his name from Bhakti Chaitanya Swami in recognition of his unwavering service to Lord Jagannatha. As he explained, “Service to Lord Jagannatha is service to Lord Jagannatha. We know Lord Jagannatha is, in essence, Krishna, but service to Lord Jagannatha is so dear to my heart.”

Reflecting on his spiritual journey, Jagannatha-Priya described how Lord Jagannatha has become the center of his life, not just during the festival but throughout the year. “We live and breathe Lord Jagannatha 24/7. It’s part of our daily life, part of our culture. We actually started something new—we say we are ‘Jagannatha conscious.’ I know ISKCON preaches Krishna consciousness, but we preach Jagannatha consciousness because it’s 365 days a year we’re serving Lord Jagannatha.”

The Lenasia Ratha Yatra, held annually, is a spectacle of devotion, bringing together devotees and well-wishers from various communities. The festival began in 1997, right after the Gauteng devotee community moved from Hillbrow to Lenasia. After the initial festival, resources were focused on building the new Lenasia temple, which put the Ratha Yatra on hold until 1999 when construction was completed. Since then, the festival has grown into a much-anticipated annual event. The 2024 event, despite the unexpected cold weather, was no exception. ‘It was freezing cold,’ Jagannath-Priya recalled with a smile. ‘We joked about it. Some of us were saying maybe it’s going to snow, and we could make snow Jagannaths everywhere on the temple property.’ Despite the weather, the turnout exceeded expectations, with hundreds of participants braving the cold to take part in the street procession.

“We normally have four or five hundred people come out in the procession, but this year, we had much more than we anticipated,” said Jagannatha-Priya. “People came out in their droves to see Jagannatha, and it was very special. All material expectations were defied. Lord Jagannatha makes his own plans, so whatever you plan for Him, you must plan fully and never doubt.”

This spirit of full-hearted dedication has been the guiding principle of Jagannatha-Priya’s service, not only in organizing the festival but in his broader role within ISKCON. Apart from his involvement in Lenasia, he serves as a mentor and team member of ARYA (African Ratha Yatra Association), advising and assisting various ISKCON communities across Southern Africa, including Sandton, Soweto, Pretoria, and Midrand.

While the 25th anniversary was undoubtedly a high point for the festival, it was not without its challenges. Weather aside, the changing demographics of Lenasia present ongoing hurdles. As more people move closer to the city for work, the local community is said to be shrinking. However, Jagannatha-Priya remains optimistic. “If somebody is moving out, somebody else is moving in,” he said. “There’s always a community, and there’s always somebody to bring into Jagannatha consciousness and lead them on the righteous path.”

His positive outlook is reflected in his approach to the festival’s planning and growth. “Every year is a learning curve,” he shared. “We take a lot of criticisms, and my policy with everybody is, on the first meeting, we say, please come in with all your positives and all your negatives. But my policy always is: let’s take the negatives and put them in a dustbin. Let’s concentrate on the positives, build on them, and make them even better.”

This forward-thinking attitude is key to the festival’s longevity and continued success. As they plan for next year, new ideas are already in motion. “Next year’s festival will be even better,” Jagannatha-Priya promised. “We learned a lot from this year, and we’ll apply that to make sure it grows and serves as an even bigger vehicle for spreading Krishna consciousness in Johannesburg and beyond.”

The Lenasia Rathayatra is more than just a local festival; it is a spiritual event that impacts the lives of many, including those who no longer reside in the area. “I met a devotee who moved out of Lenasia 12 years ago,” Jagannatha-Priya shared. “He said, ‘We come to Lenasia every year for Rathayatra—it’s very special.'”

As the 25th anniversary drew to a close, Jagannatha-Priya remained deeply grateful and inspired. “In my day, after 25 years of having worked for a company – they gave me a gold watch…We gave Lord Jagannatha 25 years in Lenasia,” he reflected. “And we got back a million times more than a gold watch.”

With such a rich history and enduring spirit, the ISKCON Lenasia Rathayatra Festival is sure to continue growing, bringing the blessings of Lord Jagannatha to devotees for many years to come.

For those who wish to assist in the festival’s future, Jagannatha-Priya welcomes all forms of service, whether through volunteering, donations, or simply spreading the word. “Assistance is required in any form, whether it is your service, product, commodities, or funding for projects,” he said. “We’re always open to any kind of help.” For more information about the festival and how to assist or participate, devotees can contact Jagannatha-Priya via WhatsApp at +27 82 60 111 83.