SANTA MONICA, CA - The Temple of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) at Watseka Avenue here held its 33rd Annual Festival of the Chariots Parade on August 1 which started at the Santa Monica Civic auditorium and ended on Venice Beach.
In the morning the idols were taken from the temple and installed in three beautifully decorated chariots, the towering canopies of which were splendidly draped in yellow, green, red and blue. Along the sides, balloons swayed in the gentle breeze wafting through the compound of the Santa Monica City auditorium as the holy carts were embellished with flowers and finery. Hundreds had gathered to participate in the Rath Yatra and serve Lord Krishna by helping haul the chariots along the streets of Santa Monica and Venice to its allocated spots on the beach.
Vice President of the L.A. Chapter of ISKCON, Arcita Das told India Journal that the significance of the Ratha Yatra and the subsequent festivities at the beach was that normally the deities of Lord Krishna are worshipped inside the temple but this is one day that Lord Jagannatha, his sister Subhadra and Lord Baladeva emerge out in the open so everybody has a chance to see them in all their glory and spend a while experiencing their spiritual side, away from thoughts of the material world one has become so attached to.
The lead chariot carried the idol of Lord Jaggannatha, followed by one which housed his sister Subhadra and the final one in which was placed the idol of his brother Baladeva.
Following the blowing of conches the Rath Yatra started in real earnest led by motorcycle police escorts going south on Main Street from downtown Santa Monica. It took a few joint heaves on the ropes by the two rows of devotees to get the huge 40 ft high and 25 ft long chariots with 6ft steel wheels to get moving but once the momentum was established they were drawn comfortably down the streets accompanied by chants of “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna- Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama – Rama Rama Hare Hare.” As it proceeded the number of dancers and percussionists kept increasing and by the time it arrived at Venice Beach several hundred devotees had joined the yatra along the way
At Venice beach throughout the day there were several hours of bhajans, cultural programs, spiritual family activities and discourses. The live entertainment was performed on three stages featuring international kirtan and dance artists. Booths at the site provided books, publications, videos, religious CDs and gift items of Indian art, fashion apparel and accessories and souvenirs. Arrangements were made to provide a vegetarian feast for about 20,00 visitors .It is estimated almost 50,000 people visited the venue and participated in the various activities.
Arcita Das joined the movement in 1973 and has attended every chariot festival ever since 1996 when he moved permanently to Los Angeles. Asked what changes he had witnessed over the years he said that the earlier years the yatra had been more elaborate with elephants heading the procession to the beach, but had been scaled down later. However, he was happy to note that the religious fervor with which the devotees participated had not diminished in any way and he was delighted that the numbers joining the festivities was increasing year by year.
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