Page - 69 - in Mobile Culture Studies - The Journal, Volume 4/2018

Mobile Culture Studies. The Journal 4 2o18 Debora Baldelli | Parading in the city’s public space 69 logue. For the devotees, the Harinama is a moment of staging, in which the “role” of devotee should be presented well. The intention is to present the devotee as a cheerful, light and happy person, even though it may be a “staging”. I believe the Harinama is a unique moment in which being a devotee is put to the test of the other‘s gaze, being an exercise in vindication of the city, which is also his. Ratha Yatra Festival and the legitimization of the Hare Krishna Movement in the public space of Lisbon “This extraordinary festival, which originated in India, in a city called Jagannatha Puri, is celebrated all around the world. Every year thousands of people in hundreds of cities par- ticipate in this unique celebration. Ratha Yatra means Festival of Chariots and celebrates the return of Krishna to his home in Vrindavan after a long period of separation from their relatives and friends. An atmosphere of joy invades the streets all along the parade’s path, where colours and sounds blend harmoniously with the constant singing of the maha-man- tra Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. In the end, there will be a great meeting with various activities, music, dance and distribution of delicious vegetarian preparations.” (Description of Ratha Yatra published at www.rathayatralisboa.pt) In the year 2016, the devotees began to perform a festival called Ratha Yatra, which is usually held once a year. Ratha Yatra is also known as the Chariot Festival, initially celebrated in the city of Jagannatha Puri in India. The Hare Krishna Movement has organised this same festival for decades in several cities such as London, Paris and New York. It is the activity that gives the high- est visibility to the Hare Krishna Movement nowadays. Unlike the Harinama, where the primary goal is to introduce the practice to the local citizens and raise funds for the temple, the Ratha Yatra has at its base the proposal to unite different groups, entities and migrant communities in a collec- tive performance through the streets of the city center, thus creating a kind of citizenship parade. Harinama is the mantra singing through the streets of the city for the spreading of spiritual practice, distribution of books, asking for donations and to invite visitors to the Sunday Festival and the restaurant, the temple‘s main source of income. The musical practice is regarded as a means of communicating Krishna consciousness and enabling people of widely varied backgrounds to find meaning in life (Ibid.:470). This con- gregational devotion, centring on collective musical practice, therefore stimulates individuals’ spiritual experience (Fahy 2010: 5). In Lisbon, the festival serves as a grand parade through the streets of the city centre, starting from Largo do Intendente to Ribeira da Naus. Throughout the route taken by the Ratha Yatra, the Hare Krishna mantra is sung and, like a carnival block, its lyrics and melody is repeated by most who follow the parade, thus integrating Lisbon citizens and visitors in the spiritual prac- tice. The Ratha Yatra should also be seen as a result of the attempts of Hare Krishna Movement to participate in the city‘s expressive practices that follow the “diversity” and “multiculturalism” proposed by Lisbon City Hall.