Srila Prabhupada's arrival in the USA

What is Srila Prabhupada's arrival in the USA?

At 5:30 AM on 17 September 1965, thirty-five days after leaving Calcutta, the ship Jaladuta reached Commonwealth Pier in Boston with Srila Prabhupada on board. Two days later it docked at a Brooklyn pier. The Vaishnava calendar follows the lunar date of his arrival rather than the English one, so in 2027 devotees mark the day on Wednesday, 22 September.

Significance

Srila Prabhupada crossed the ocean to fulfil the wish of his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who wanted Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's message carried to the West. Mrs. Sumati Morarji had arranged his passage, and he had a sponsor in America. He left Calcutta with a suitcase, an umbrella and a supply of dry cereal.

On 18 September, aboard the Jaladuta in Boston Harbor, he wrote a Bengali poem, Markine Bhagavata-dharma, praying to Lord Krishna for the mercy to convince the people of the West of the message of Srimad-Bhagavatam. One line reads:

But I know Your causeless mercy can make everything possible because You are the most expert mystic.

Markine Bhagavata-dharma, Jaladuta, Boston Harbor, 18 September 1965

How to observe it

Read Markine Bhagavata-dharma with its English translation, and imagine that first morning: the grey Boston dawn and a pierfront warehouse lettered "A & P". Chant extra rounds in gratitude. To thank Srila Prabhupada for the gift that crossed the ocean, share Krishna consciousness with one person who has not heard of it, through a book, a plate of prasadam or a conversation.