The city of Agra has had the immense fortune of becoming one of the primary leela-sthalis of Shri Maharaj Ji. He had first arrived here in 1940. Since then, up until around 1975, Shri Maharaj Ji had kept visiting Agra multiple times a year, showering His immense grace and bliss upon the residents here.
This is a brief description of the 'rath yatra' procession in Agra which took place in January of 1957, after Shri Maharaj Ji was awarded the title of 'Jagadguruttam'.
The rath yatra had started at 11am in the morning. A large truck was beautifully decorated with flowers and the silver Jagadguru throne was placed on top. The throne too was shining incredibly bright and was also decorated with various flowers, etc. In front of the truck were a few bands which were playing enchanting tunes of keertans.
Shri Maharaj Ji arrived wearing beautifully shiny yellow garments, followed by a devotee who was carrying the silver Jagadguru umbrella over His head. Shri Maharaj Ji was also wearing the silver Jagadguru sandals, which were gifted to Him by the Vidvat Parishad. Shri Maharaj Ji climbed on top of the truck and sat on the throne. That scene was incredibly attractive.. Shri Maharaj Ji in bright golden robes sitting on a silver throne, amidst various exotic flowers.. this scene was looking exactly like Jagadguru Shri Krishn sitting so majestically on His throne in Dwarika. It is totally beyond words to even describe that beauty. Shri Maharaj Ji's chest was also slightly visible, as the robes were not tightly tied.. this immensely added to the beauty.
Shri Maharaj Ji was chanting various keertan while sometimes sitting, sometimes standing. The most notable keertans were 'Radhey Govinda Bhajo, Vrindavan Chanda Bhajo' and 'Bhajo Giridhar Govind Gopala'. Shri Maharaj Ji's voice in those days was incredibly enchanting. Sometimes Shri Maharaj Ji would take breaks and sit down silently.. then the keertan bands were continue the same keertan.
The procession stopped many times in between, where devotees overcome with love, performed aartis. Throughout the entire procession, flowers were being showered from the roofs of the buildings and from all sides. It almost felt as if the gods in heaven were expressing their immense gratitude and love for Shri Maharaj Ji that they were in fact showering the flowers, not the satsangees. Every once in a while loud chants of 'Jagadguru Kripalu Ji Maharaj Ki Jai!' were purifying the entire atmosphere.
In the end when the procession reached it's final destination, Shri Maharaj Ji's aarti was performed on an enormous scale. Some scholars of Kashi were also invited to this procession, who were reciting the auspicous vedic hymns during Shri Maharaj Ji's aarti. It was such a pious scene.
--- This photo is not of that scene. This was taken in the 1960s during Shri Maharaj Ji's lectures in some city.