Prabhupāda: Melbourne, Tokyo and many other places. And India also, in Calcutta also. So this festival, taking part in these festivals, means a step forward for our self-realization. Rathe ca vāmanaṁ dṛṣṭvā punar janma na vidyate. Simply by seeing the Lord on the chariot, one makes advancement for stopping the repetition of birth and death.
So I am very glad that you have taken so much trouble to come here. Now you will chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra along with the devotees and take part in honoring the prasādam. The prasādam is also one of the program. Our Hare Kṛṣṇa movement is standing on three principal things: chanting, dancing and eating prasādam. It is not very difficult. It is very enjoyable to chant, dance and take prasādam. And if you like, you can hear a little philosophy of this movement.
Or even if you do not understand the philosophy, even you do not read the books, simply if you take part in these three things, chanting, dancing and taking part in eating the prasādam, your life will gradually progress in spiritual advancement of life. And if you continue this, then some day will come, even in this life it may come, that you will understand what is Kṛṣṇa. And as soon as you understand Kṛṣṇa, then after leaving this body you go back to home, back to Godhead, directly. This is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā. Those who have read Bhagavad-gītā, Lord Kṛṣṇa says:
- janma karma me divyaṁ
- yo jānāti tattvataḥ
- tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma
- naiti mām eti kaunteya
- (BG 4.9)
Simply by understanding Kṛṣṇa, janma karma . . . Kṛṣṇa's appearance, Kṛṣṇa's disappearance, Kṛṣṇa's activities . . . this Ratha-yātrā is one of the activities of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore to take part in the Ratha-yātrā festival means to associate with Kṛṣṇa directly.