Recently, former U.S. President Donald J. Trump was attacked during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He narrowly escaped but suffered an injury to his right ear, causing it to bleed. The attack resulted in the death of the attacker and two other people. Following this incident, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Trump a speedy recovery. This event made headlines worldwide, but an interesting fact related to this is Trump’s connection to India’s Jagannath Yatra.
Currently, in India, the Jagannath Yatra is taking place. This festival involves taking the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra out of the temple and bringing them among the people. The Yatra, held in Puri, Odisha, attracts millions of devotees. This festival is not only celebrated in India but also abroad. Donald Trump has a connection to a similar Jagannath Yatra in New York.
The Rath Yatra in New York
This story dates back to 1976 when ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) decided to hold a grand Rath Yatra in New York City with three chariots. At that time, the World Trade Center was located in Manhattan, which was later destroyed by terrorists in 2001. ISKCON needed a large space in Manhattan to construct the chariots and to conduct the Yatra.
Finding property in Manhattan was extremely expensive and challenging, but Tuson Krishna Das chose the Pennsylvania Railroad Yards for this purpose. This was the only option available for ISKCON. Tuson contacted the corporate company that owned the property and requested that they allow ISKCON to use the area for a few days for constructing the chariots.
The company informed Tuson that the land was about to be sold and that the new owners would decide whether to allow ISKCON to use it. The new owner of the land was none other than Donald J. Trump, who would become the President of the United States 41 years later.
Donald Trump’s Decision
Tuson wrote a proposal and sent it to Trump. Trump invited Tuson to the Four Seasons Restaurant, where the land purchase process and document exchange were taking place. Donald Trump gave ISKCON written permission to use the land. He could have rejected the proposal but chose to allow the Rath Yatra to take place there. It is not known why he made this decision, but it is now seen as a divine intervention.
ISKCON’s Perspective
ISKCON’s Vice President and spokesperson, Radharaman Das, views this incident as a divine intervention. At that time, Donald Trump was just 30 years old, and ISKCON was celebrating its 10th anniversary. This event became the first Rath Yatra in New York. When ISKCON representatives approached Trump with the proposal, they also brought Mahaprasad (sacred food). Trump’s secretary initially indicated that such proposals were usually rejected. However, Trump read the letter, ate the Mahaprasad, and accepted the proposal. Subsequently, they managed to obtain police permission, making the Rath Yatra possible.
In the Present Context
Donald Trump’s decision has earned him a significant place in ISKCON and Jagannath Yatra history. Perhaps it is due to his participation in the virtuous act of the Jagannath Yatra that he survived a dangerous attack. This incident also shows how a small decision can have a long-term impact and how religious and cultural events can have global significance.
Thus, the connection between Donald Trump and the Jagannath Yatra is an amazing and interesting story, which is recorded in the annals of history and has its influence seen in current events.
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