One's childhood devotion to Krishna, rooted in previous lives, naturally fructifies into serious spiritual service in due course of time.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Room Conversation With Yadurabara About Early Life & Childhood Ratha-yātrā Festival — August 12, 1973, Paris 730812R1-PARIS [27:03 Minutes] Conv_730812R1-PARIS Prabhupāda: ...of the same age of neighboring quarters, they will join. There will be feast, procession, saṅkīrtana, everything in miniature form. And my father would spend. He will not hesitate.
Yes. Therefore, my father’s friends used to joke that "Ratha-yātrā ceremony is going on at your home, and you do not invite us. What is this?" Father would reply, "They are all children playing." "Oh, children playing. You are avoiding us by the name of children." It was regular procession.
And for eight days there was feasting. Yadubara: That was at the same time as the big procession?
Prabhupāda: Huh? Yadubara: That was the same time as the big procession?
Prabhupāda: Yes. During the Ratha-yātrā festival. Eight days, eight different varieties of foodstuff my mother would cook and offer to Jagannātha. Daily bhoga-ārātrika, decoration with flowers.
It was regular. Yadubara: What did the cart look like?
Prabhupāda: Eh? Yadubara: What did the ratha cart look like? Just a miniature of the one at Purī?