Devotees gather under the majestic chariots, eagerly anticipating the start of the Durban Festival of Chariots 2025 procession.
Since its humble beginnings on Durban’s beachfront in 1988, the Durban Festival of Chariots (DFOC) has become a cherished part of the city’s cultural landscape. Organized under the auspices of ISKCON in Durban, in a collaboration between the Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple and the New Jagannath Puri Temple, the festival has consistently offered the public a vibrant and accessible experience of Krishna-conscious culture.
Champakalata Dasi, the Festival’s Communications Officer and Public Relations Officer, reflected on the journey. “The first ever Rathayatra Festival was held in Tongaat in 1980, with our second effort to follow in Chatsworth thereafter. We then moved to the beachfront eight years later through the foresight and efforts of Indradyumna Swami,” she said.
Although the devotees paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival has since resumed with renewed energy, now marking its 34th or 36th year on the beachfront, depending on how one counts the years. This discrepancy arises from a previous shift in the festival’s dates, moving from Christmas to Easter, and the recent year lost due to the pandemic-related global shutdown.
This year’s festival, held over the Easter weekend, embraced its tradition while introducing fresh elements to deepen public engagement. Champakalata described the mood: “The highlight for us was the spirit of cooperation among all the devotees. Everyone made sacrifices in the true spirit of devotional service.”
Read More https://iskconnews.org/durban-festival-of-chariots-2025-honoring-the-past-inspiring-the-future/
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