Experience Ratha Yatra: Festival of Chariots and Festival of India on Sunday, October 8th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Morrisville. It’s free to attend and even includes a free feast.
The festival of chariots is a more than thousand-year-old Indian tradition that takes place in cities all over the world, including London, New York City and Toronto. Millions of people have experienced this procession.
Here is some history on the festival of chariots, from the festival’s website:
Ratha Yatra literally means Chariot Festival. Ratha Yatra originated over 2,000 years ago in the ancient city of Jagannatha Puri India in the state of Orrisa. The festival celebrates Lord Krishna’s return to Vrindavan in response to the longings of his most intimate devotees. Sri Krishna, his brother Balaram and sister Subhadra are brought from Their temple and placed upon three large, gorgeous chariots which are pulled by devotees, accompanied by melodious chanting of the Lords Holy Names. Millions of people from around the world descend upon of Jagannath Puri every year to celebrate this colorful and ecstatic festival.
Ratha Yatra was first performed outside of India on July 9, 1967 in San Francisco under the supervision of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder-acarya of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness. Today the Festival of Chariots is held in more than one hundred locations around the world.
The parade in Morrisville will start at the Morrisville Fire Station, 200 Town Hall Drive, and proceed to Church Street Park, 500 Cricket Pitch Way, where the Festival of India will take place.
The festival will include:
- Free vegetarian feast
- Fun activities for kids
- Dance performances
- Face painting
- Drama performances
- Gifts and food stalls
