11th Annual Festival of the Chariots & Ratha Yatra Parade
Jacksonville Beach, FL Saturday, August 15, 2015
Rathayatra is an Indian multi-cultural parade followed by a cultural festival. There is live music, singing, classical dance, books, bazaar, and lots of free delicious vegetarian food. The Ratha Yatra Parade is the oldest known parade in the world. A free feast will be served continuously from 4 PM onward. City Council member Ms. Christine Hoffman will inaugurate the festival at 4 PM at the Seawalk Pavillion bandshell. The Parade begins at 4 PM at the bandshell, goes first North & then back South directly on the beach, ending back at the bandshell by 6 PM at which time the cultural program begins. The festival continues till 9 PM. This awesome festival draws about 1,500 people every year.
The festival is sponsored by ISKCON of Alachua, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness whose Founder/Acharya, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, came to America from India forty-nine years ago and introduced the timeless tradition of the Festival of the Chariot (called Ratha Yatra in India). Since the 60’s this festival has been held yearly in over 100 major cities in the United States, Canada, and all over the world. Nine Ratha Yatras are held yearly in the state of Florida: Miami, Jacksonville Beach, Tallahassee, Orlando, Tampa, Gainesville, Daytona Beach, Clearwater Beach & St. Augustine.
All are warmly invited to attend this joyous, colorful festival, free of charge. Take advantage of a rare chance to experience the vibrancy of India, right here in Florida. Questions? email Bhadra das at Bhadradas@gmail.com or Nartaka Gopala dasi at nartaka@windstream.net
For more info see our website www.festivalofchariots.org or http://facebook.com/rathayatras
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