Kalia’s Dream Journey: Divine Puri Rath Yatra Memories

Deceitful Kalia 🥺🌺

The chariot moves, its wheels rolling. Devotees are pulling the ropes—Basuki, Swarna Chuda, Shankha Chuda—dragging them along the Bada Danda (the Grand Road). A fountain of joy overflows in all directions. Srikhetra (the holy city of Puri) resounds with the sounds of bells, conches, bugles, and trumpets. The devotees are overwhelmed with emotion. With song and dance, Puri is transformed into Vaikuntha, the celestial abode.

The street is filled with devotees, all eager for a glimpse of the black-hued one, the one with the peacock feather crest, the Enchanter of the Universe (Jagamohana). To see his unique stance, his large, round, unblinking eyes, his gentle smile, and his dark complexion makes a mridangam (a holy drum) play within the heart. The brother and sister, followed by him, journey to meet Mother Gundicha—oh, what a captivating sight flashed before my eyes. My Lord Kalia, seated on his chariot, was moving forward with a happy heart.

The celestial city trembled with the sound of “Hulahuli” (ululations). Srikhetra vibrated with song and dance. The elder brother (Balabhadra) was in the lead, followed by the turmeric-faced Mother of the Universe, Maa Subhadra. Trailing her, my precious Kalia moved forward at a slow, graceful pace. From a distance, as my yearning eyes gazed upon my Lord, dressed in his yellow silk, the very soul of my soul, and saw those two large, limpid eyes, for a moment it felt as if I had attained heaven.

At that moment, two drops of tears fell from my eyes. And as I spoke the words of my heart, it felt as though the curve of His reddish lips fulfilled all my hopes and desires, and I forgot everything else. Upon seeing Him, my hands rose in prayer on their own. As the name of ‘Hari’ fell upon my ears, my own lips began to chant it. Having Him so close felt like attaining the greatest bliss. After I had my fill of looking at Kalia, I touched his lotus feet to my forehead and felt immense joy.

At that very moment, who knows who, but someone called out, “Get up! Why are you still sleeping? It’s late!”

I lay silent for a moment, a wave of sadness washing over me. Then I thought, it’s true that Kalia may not have called me to him in reality, but on the path of a dream, he took me to Purushottam Kshetra. I didn’t even realize when the night passed and morning arrived.

Kalia is so deceitful! It’s true that he didn’t call me to Srikhetra. But in the palace of my dreams, he pulled me with his sacred rope to his Ghosha Yatra, the Shri Gundicha festival.

I pray, O Kalia, that you will surely turn this unforgettable dream into reality. That you will pull me to your divine abode.

Relive your divine Kalia dream. Bring Puri’s bliss home.