The 15th Shobha Yatra will be celebrated with great devotion in Southall on Sunday 23rd August 2015. The annual event organised by Shree Ram Mandir, 22 King Street, Southall is supported by many religious organisations, charities, MPs, Councillors, Ambassadors from India, Nepal, Mauritius High Commissions, Faith Leaders, Public and Private Institutions.
Umesh C Sharma, Chairman of Shree Ram Mandir Southall said, “such events are great initiatives by Shree Ram Mandir, King Street Southall who organise the Shobha Yatra every year to commemorate the birthday of Lord Krishna and at the same time promoting a spirit of co-existence improving human welfare through the message of interfaith harmony, equality, cohesion and brotherhood for people of all faiths living in our multi-cultural society. This year, we are blessed to have the presence of His Holiness Pujya Sanjeev Krishna Thakurji from Vrindavan India who will be gracing the event.
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The streets of Southall will reverberate with chants of devotional singing as over 5,000 thousand devotees from across the UK will sing and dance all the way to the rhythmic beats of cymbals and drums and walk in a procession passing many places of worship along the way. The Shobha Yatra (Procession) will culminate in a free vegetarian feast.
Arun Thakur, Treasurer of Shree Ram Mandir commented, “the Shobha Yatra event is renowned as being one of the largest processions outside of India and Southall will be illuminated by the wonderful colours and sounds of the annual festival – a vibrant celebration and exhibition of India’s spirituality and culture in the city. We are so fortunate in Southall to have such diverse and inclusive festivals organised by various faiths. We thank all our dedicated volunteers for their support in putting together this annual event”.
The Shobha Yatra will start at 11.30am, from Shree Ram Mandir, 22 King Street, Southall, UB2 4DA and will follow a designated route through Southall. Thereafter, Preeti Bhoj (Vegetarian Dinner) will be served from 2.30pm at the Temple. Our sincere thanks to the Anand Family of Brilliant Restaurant Southall for providing the food every year.
For further information please contact:
Umesh C Sharma: 07903804656
Arun Thakur: 07958275633
VIDEOS OF PREVIOUS SHOBHA YATRA CELEBRATIONS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcpjtwzCWhE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uR2M1rIOwc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um0QMUrNC10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZBBeip-YjQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0zbzyI__JE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMzuhaTr-Kg
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ABOUT THE SHOBHA YATRA:
The annual Shobha Yatra organised by Shree Ram Mandir Southall celebrates the earthly appearance of Lord Krishna, who is described as God Himself. The Shobha Yatra is one of the biggest religious festivals to be celebrated in the UK – a day of deep spiritual renewal and celebration that effectively finishes an old year and begins a fresh one. Lord Krishna reciprocates in unique, personal ways with every devotee who offers Him love—He is the most adorable, mischievous son, the most romantic partner, the most compassionate friend. At the Shobha Yatra, devotees celebrate Lord Krishna in all of these aspects. For just as Lord Krishna reciprocates individually with His relatives and confidantes, he responds to the distinct feelings and desires held most deeply in the heart of every single worshipper.
The day is celebrated with great zeal and devotion. The Lord Krishna devotees observe fast for the entire day and night, worshipping him and stay vigil throughout the night listening to his tales, reciting hymns and singing devotional songs from the Bhagwad Gita. The birthplace of Lord Krishna, Mathura and Vrindavan in India celebrate this occasion with great enthusiasm and splendour. Religious plays or Raslilas are performed to recreate events from the life of Lord Krishna and to honour his love for Radha. Devotees gather to these pious places to celebrate Janmashtami. On this auspicious day, homes and temples are decorated and illuminated beautifully. Singing and dancing is marked as the celebration of this festive all over northern India. At midnight, the figurine of infant Krishna is bathed and laid in a cradle, which is rocked, amidst the ringing of bells. In the state of Maharashtra, people enact the Krishna’s childhood attempts to steal butter and curd from earthen pots which were beyond his reach. A similar earthen pot is suspended high above the ground and groups of people form human pyramids and try to reach the pot and break it. The town of Dwarka in Gujarat which is Krishna’s own land witnesses hordes of visitors gathering here for celebrations.
Lord Krishna said: “One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, takes his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode. O Arjuna” – Bhagavad-gita 4 -9
About Pujya Sanjeev Krishna Thakurji:
Pujya Sanjeev Krishna Thakurji was born on 23rd December, 1984 to a Vaishnav Brahman family at the sacred and renowned place of Paigaon in Vrijbhumi known as Sant Nagaji’s place of “Tapa” i.e. spiritual sadhna. At the tender age of 12 years, Thakurji graced “Vyaspeeth” (the pious seat occupied by a Guru for delivering sermons) by the blessings and consent of his Guru. He offered the first flower (parvachan i.e. holy sermons) of Bhagwat Katha, at the lotus feet of Krishna, his object of reverence and devotion in Village Phalen in Vrijbhumi. Thousands of people congregated at this village when they came to know that a young 12 years child with divine glow on his face was speaking on Bhagwat in an extraordinary way with a rare style and expressions. Even the scholars and renowned kathavachaks were stunned by the unique and other-worldly style of narration in a touching way by a little boy without referring to any texts or prepared notes. Impressed and spell-bound, they all prophesied that this 12 years old boy would become a distinguished kathakar soon.
Pujya Sanjeev Krishna Thakurji has accomplished over 250 kathas all over the country and abroad including the main Dhams of Vrijbhumi like Varindavan, Govardhan, Radhakund, Barsana and holy places of Chitrakut, Badrinath, Shuktal, Haridwar, Dwarka, and in Leicester, Nottingham, London and Birmingham. Pujya Sanjiv Krishna Thakur Ji’s kathas are also shown regularly on Aastha TV across the World.
Sanjay Jagatia
Director/Secretary General
Hindu Council UK