The Spirit of Jagannath Mishra Festival – Chanting, Dancing & Feasting

Radhanath Swami

Today’s festival is based on this principle - honoring Jagannath’s prasada. Yesterday, Gaura Purnima, we had a feast of dancing and Hari katha and so many wonderful devotees to associate with, beautiful darshans, abhishekams and it ended with a simple ekadashi feast. That is our tradition. But Chaitanya Mahaprabhu loved to see his devotees taking prasada. So, on this day, the Utsava of Jagannatha Mishra, is the day all the devotees celebrate the glorious appearance of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by eating a grand feast in honor of his mercy. So, we are not going to go late tonight because tonight is feasting. There is chanting, dancing and feasting. We have already covered the other things but tonight, we must bring a conclusion to this festival. So, the reason we don’t want to go so late tonight, but the reason we do not is so that you can very nicely sit down and take your time and serve prasada.