By Atma Tattva Das
Over 10,000 people gathered to celebrate unity in diversity through devotion, culture, and color in Sandton, Africa’s richest square mile. On the first weekend of May 2025, weather forecasts predicted a sharp drop in temperature, but sunny conditions prevailed during the fourth annual Rathayatra Festival. Organized by ISKCON Sandton in partnership with the Africa Ratha Yatra Alliance (ARYA), this year’s event, themed “Culturally Many, Spiritually One,” attracted over 10,000 attendees from May 3 to 4, transforming the streets of Sandton into a vibrant display of spiritual expression.
The chariot procession, a focal point of the festival, drew around 6,000 people who joined in pulling the ornately decorated cart of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva, and Lady Subhadra. Adorned with hundreds of bright marigolds and accompanied by mridanga, jembe drums, and soul-stirring kirtans, the procession coursed through Africa’s wealthiest square mile. Cameras flashed as onlookers captured the sight of Their Lordships, who glided through the city amidst an atmosphere of celebration and unity.
This year marked the 122nd Rathayatra organized by ARYA, an alliance dedicated to expanding the Festival of Chariots across the African continent. The Sandton event continues to grow in impact and scale, serving as a model of spiritual celebration infused with cultural inclusivity and community engagement in the Gauteng province.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-sandton-hosts-its-fourth-annual-rathayatra-festival-with-grand-success/
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