Amidst thousands of tourists in the picturesque destination, the ISKCON Gold Coast, Bhakti Centre Surfers Paradise hosted their annual Festival of Chariots, commonly known as Ratha Yatra. This vibrant celebration held along the coast not only signifies a cultural and spiritual milestone but also reflects the perseverance and dedication of the local devotees and community.
The early years of organizing the Rath Yatra were not without obstacles, said Madhavananda Das, a prominent figure from the
By Syama Mohinī Devi Dasi and Nama Priya Devi Dasi
On February 10th, hundreds gathered in Phoenix, Arizona, for the annual Jagannatha Ratha-Yatra parade hosted by ISKCON of Phoenix. In addition to the procession, a festival was held at the Steele Indian School Park, which included book distribution, yoga and meditation, henna and face painting, children’s activities, cultural programs, dance presentations, and the distribution of 1,000 plates of prasadam. Though inclement weather threatened th
Devotee youth and young adults from across Florida participated in the annual Gasparilla Parade held in Tampa, Florida, on January 20th, bringing the mercy of Lord Jagannath to the third-largest parade in the United States.
According to the city of Tampa, the Gasparilla Parade welcomes a crowd of around 300,000 every year to celebrate the legendary pirate Jose Gaspar’s invasion of the harbor. The parade, often referred to as the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, features a lively procession of pirate
ISKCON Coyhaique held its fourth annual Ratha Yatra Festival of India event on January 27, 2004. It included a procession of Lord Jagannath’s chariot with harinam sankirtan, followed by book and prasadam distribution, cultural exhibitions, and activities for children at the Plaza de Armas de Coyhaique.
Coyhaique, located in the Aysén Region of Chile, is the region’s largest city and serves as a commercial and administrative center. Nestled amidst the picturesque Patagonian landscape, Coyhaique
On December 9th, ISKCON devotees joined representatives from other faiths (Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu) at the annual interfaith gathering held at the Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya, Thailand. They offered kirtan for the thousands in attendance and provided prasadam and Srila Prabhupada’s books in booths at the event.
The annual interfaith gathering honoring Thailand’s King was held on the day before the Pattaya Ratha Yatra. Pattaya, a popular coastal city in Thailand, is known
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
