By Divya Prabhanda Das
This September, ISKCON Croatia celebrated its 40th anniversary with the Zagreb Ratha Yatra and the Maha-Abhisheka of Srila Prabhupada as the closing ceremonies. In 1983, ISKCON was registered in Zagreb not only for Croatia but for the whole of former Yugoslavia. Besides the devotees from all parts of Croatia, devotees from the Slovenian, Bosnian and Serbian yatras also joined the celebration.
The celebration started with the 9th Zagreb Ratha Yatra, attracting the attentio
By Atma Tattva Das
In a remarkable tribute to the spiritual legacy of His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami, Soweto Ratha Yatra 2023 on September 30, 2023, is set to be an unparalleled event of devotion and transcendence. This year’s festival holds profound significance as it marks the first celebration of this grand event since the passing of Kadamba Kanana Swami earlier this year in March.
The Soweto Ratha Yatra, an annual tradition envisioned by His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami, promises to be
This weekend, ISKCON communities are hosting festivals worldwide, from Color Festivals in Columbus, Ohio, and Moundsville, West Virginia, to Ratha Yatra processions in Bulgaria, Brighton, and Bloomington.
Festival of Color at Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, New Vrindaban, WV. Jai Krishna and Ananda Groove Band on stage.
ISKCON Columbus, a growing community in Ohio, is holding their first-ever Color Festival and less than 100 miles away in Mason (near Cincinnati), devotees are guiding a Ratha Yatra
By Phuspitaa Naaidu
On September 2nd, in a remarkable display of devotion and cultural unity, residents of Batam, Indonesia, witnessed the Jagannath Ratha Yatra festival. As part of the esteemed Indonesian Cultural Week, known as “Pekan Budaya Indonesia,” this festival illuminated the depth of tradition and the spirit of togetherness, surpassing the expectations of the organizing committee. You can watch a beautiful video about the celebration here.
“Pekan Budaya Indonesia,” the Indonesian C
“Prabhupada was now surrounded by devotees, and I brought out the photo package prepared by Ramesvara Maharaja, which detailed the magnificent observance of Ratha-yatra by the disciples in Los Angeles. Prabhupada became ecstatic seeing the bright, colorful photos, which were as good as a movie. As he examined each, he seemed to be diving deeper and deeper into an ocean of nectar. Of the photo showing hundreds of people waiting in line to see the doll exhibit, he triumphantly stated, ‘I told
In the heart of South Africa, a dedicated team of devotees has come together to form the African Ratha Yatra Alliance or ARYA. Led by Baladev Jagannath Das, the coordinator of programs and logistics, ARYA has been enthusiastically working to bring the devotional vibrancy of Ratha Yatra festivals to different corners of Africa. In a recent interview, Baladev shared the inspiring journey of ARYA and shed light on the challenges they have faced along the way.
The origins of ARYA can be traced back
The City of Leicester became a sea of colour as Krishna devotees gathered from around the country to attend the vibrant Hare Krishna festival on July 2, 2023. Located in the East Midlands region of England, Leicester is a vibrant and culturally diverse city with a rich history. It’s known for its historic landmarks, such as Leicester Cathedral, and its thriving arts, music, and sports scenes.
A thunderous pahandi ceremony was performed as the magnificent Deities of Jagannath, Baladeva, and Sub
Jaya Jaganatha Jaya jaganatha Jaya Baladeva Jaya Subhadra!
On the the 25th of June, the city of Love was inundated by the Names of Jaganatha, Baladeva and Subhadra in what is known as the Ratha Yatra—the procession of the Lord of the universe. During this 35th annual Jaganatha festival, thousands of devotees gathered in place the la Chapelle to pull the chariot of Lord Jaganatha Baladeva and Subhadra into the streets of Paris. “Everyone was astonished to see the decorations on the Ratha car.
Th
June 28- Tragedy struck during a ‘Phera Rath’ (return chariot) procession in Kumarghat, Tripura, where multiple devotees died of electrocution when a chariot top made contact with a 133kv overhead cable during the parade. The fatal incident occurred around 4:30 pm on Wednesday. Emergency personnel were on hand to help extinguish the flames and give medical aid to victims, many of whom have now been transported to a local hospital.
Different news outlets are reporting the number of deaths betwee
On the 20th of June, 2023, the city of Jhenaidah in Bangladesh celebrated the three grand Ratha Yatra, a vibrant and significant event in the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition.
Rath Yatra, the grand procession of Lord Jagannath, is a momentous spiritual event celebrated annually in the city of Jhenaidah, Bangladesh. Jhenaidah District, located in southwestern Bangladesh as part of the Khulna Division, holds special significance in the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition due to its connections with renown
A grand celebration of the Jagannath Ratha Yatra was held in Chandai Kona, Sirajganj, under the guidance of His Holiness Subhaga Swami Gurumaharaj. The auspicious occasion of the Rathayatra festival brought together devotees to celebrate the divine presence of Lord Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra Maharani.
HG Haridev Prabhu, a disciple of HH Subhag Swami, wholeheartedly tried his best to bring together people from all walks of society to seek Jagannath’s mercy. This festival took place for th
Speaking about Ratha Yatra during a July 12, 1973 lecture in London, Srila Prabhupada said, “Organize this all over the world. They will be saved. They will understand Krsna.” For the last fifty years, devotees have taken up this instruction with great success, and this 2023 season has seen record numbers at events across the globe. New York City, in particular, saw a surprising number of participants at its peaceful procession down Fifth Avenue on June 10th. The event was even covered by a le
Today is Ratha-yatra day.
It is a great honor, privilege, and pleasure to be here on the auspicious occasion of Snana-yatra. The first deities of Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra in ISKCON were discovered in San Francisco in 1967. One of Srila Prabhupada’s early disciples, Malati dasi, saw a small figure in an import store, Cost Plus, and brought it to him. When Prabhupada saw the figure, his eyes opened wide. He folded his palms and bowed his head in respect. Then he said, “You have brought
The annual festival of Jagannath Rath Yatra will be celebrated at the global spiritual headquarter of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Sri Mayapur Dham, Nadia.
Each year the devotees endeavour to raise the bar by adding new dimensions to the celebrations. The deities of Lord Jagannath, Baldev and Subhadra will be seated on three different carts and taken out in a grand procession. The scriptures mention that whoever takes darshan of the gleeful grin of Lord Jagannath sea
By Sachin Bhardwaj and Arundhati Devi Dasi
Devotees recently celebrated the Ratha Yatra festival in the streets of Eindhoven, Holland. Their Lordships, accompanied by marching bands and patriotic floats, bestowed darshan upon the enthusiastic crowds of Eindhoveans.
The ISKCON Eindhoven community has been organizing this annual Ratha Yatra Festival there every year since 2007. This year, more than 3,000 visitors enjoyed the Ratha Yatra and Indian culture with food, Indian clothing, and artifa
The small town of Anchorage, Alaska, was filled with excitement on April 27, 2023, as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness devotees organized the first ever Rath Yatra festival in the area. The event was the culmination of preparation by the devoted volunteers who worked tirelessly to bring the ancient festival to the modern world.
Anchorage, a city located in Southcentral Alaska, is known for its beautiful scenery, stunning glaciers, and diverse wildlife. It is home to more than
By Atma Tattva Das
The Durban Festival of Chariots, one of the largest Ratha Yatra festivals outside of India, returned to the Durban North Beach Front this year for a second time after COVID restrictions in 2020. The festival, which has been running for almost forty years, allows devotees to come together and celebrate the glory of Lord Jagannath.
Organized through the cooperative efforts of many devotees, the festival is also a significant financial undertaking, costing over 2.5 million rands
The City of Miami published an article on their website advertising the Coconut Grove Mango Strut Parade “For over 30 years, Miamians have kept the tongue-in-cheek parade alive with satirical costumes, marching bands and floats, usually with a facetious focus on local, national and global events from the last year. The parade also features actual marching bands, such as the New Orleans Funeral Marching Band and local high school marching bands, and local groups like the Grove Jugglers and the C
By Samudrasena das
Batam is the largest city in the Riau Islands Province of Indonesia, across the Strait of Singapore, the third-largest city in Sumatra region and the eighth largest city in Indonesia. Located 20 km off Singapore’s south coast, it is an industrial boomtown, an emerging transport hub and part of a free trade zone, the Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore Growth Triangle. Previously in 2015, there were only five families practising Krishna Consciousness in Batam, however now there are ma
By Bhakti Rasa Devi Dasi
On November 6, 2022, Iskcon Cidade São Paulo held another Ratha Yatra, which took Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra to Avenida Paulista, where thousands of people watched and followed the parade of the Deities.
Despite the unpredictability of the weather, roadblocks that could have prevented the arrival of the car, costs, and all the necessary logistics for such a large event, the reunion of Lord Jagannatha with His devotees aroused intense emotions and sprea
