KOLKATA: As the frontrunner in the US presidential race was hit in the ear in an apparent assassination attempt by a gunman at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Iskcon recalled Sunday Donald Trump's association with the first Rathyatra in New York nearly half-a-century ago.
Iskcon Kolkata vice-president Radharamn Das called Trump's narrow escape divine intervention. "In July 1976, Donald Trump had come to the rescue of Iskcon devotees looking for a large space to construct the raths by providing his train yard for free. Today, during the Rathyatra festival, it was Lord Jagannath's turn to return the favour," Das said.
Assistance from the then 30-year-old emerging real-estate mogul had made the first chariot procession of Lord Jagannath on New York's Fifth Avenue possible in 1976.
Finding a huge empty site close to Fifth Avenue in New York where the chariots could be built was never going to be easy.
Devotees of Iskcon who were planning a big bang 10th celebration of the organisation with a grand Rathyatra in New York had knocked on the doors of every person possible, but in vain.
A few days later, the Iskcon devotees learnt that Donald Trump had purchased the old railway yard. Devotees then went to his office with a big basket of Maha Prasadam and a presentation package.
His secretary took it but warned: "He never agrees to this kind of thing. You can ask but he is going to say 'no'."
Three days later, Trump's secretary called up the devotees saying: "I don't know what happened but he read your letter, took a bit of the food you left, and immediately said, 'Sure, why not?'"
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.Subhro Niyogi is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India,...
Read MoreSubhro Niyogi is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, and his job responsibilities include reporting, editing and coordination of news and news features. His hobbies include photography, driving and reading.
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