By Festival of India (RathaYatra) is the International Society for Krishna Consciousness biggest street festival
Was held in Chinguacousy park in Brampton where 100s of people came and pulled the Jagannath Ji’s Rath arround the park and felt blessed. Chants of Maha Mantra “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.. Hare Rama Hare Rama.. Rama Rama Hare Hare” was echoing all the directions.
After the Rath reached the main celibration spot were 100s of devotees already waiting to have Dharshan of Jagannath Ji. Place was filled with Cultural and spiritual activities. Kids performed Keertahan, Songs, Dance, Drama and much more. Many VIPs including the politicians of this area were there to get blessed and share their support.
As usual people were buzzing in many stores , Gopi Dots, Henna and Bhavath Geeta book sale arround the place. Also the ISKCON special Veggie food distribution along with water mealon and snacks were distributed and every one thoroughly enjoyed.
The first Rathyatra outside India was initiated by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (founder of ISKCON) happened on July 9, 1967 in San Francisco. The Lord of the Universe (Lord Jagannath) now parade in major cities all over the world such as London, Paris, New York, Durban, Rome, etc.
People around the globe came attracted to the joyful and colorful Rathyatra festival. Thousands throng the streets to pull the giant chariots, chant and dance and enjoy tasty blessed food given to all joining in a celebration to honor the appearance of Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra.
Featured a wooden chariot pulled by hand in a grand procession. All the way through there is melodious singing, chanting and dancing to rhythmical drums and cymbals. The procession ends with a stage shows, a festival and delicious vegetarian feast. Throughout the entire Ratha Yatra festival there was constant singing and chanting of the maha-mantra:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare..
It was a big hit with hundreds of people attending the fourth RathaYatra at Chinguacousy park. The highlights were the pulling of the chariots, and the kids’ activities and ecstatic musical performances.
Today it is much more – it’s a global cultural phenomenon. It’s celebrated in over 100 countries and 500 cities, from Boston to Belfast to Brisbane; and from Dublin to Dubai to Dnepropetrovsk. In fact, New York boasts of its own annual Ratha Yatra for twenty-six years. Breaking across geographical and cultural boundaries, Lord Jagannatha’s Ratha Yatra demonstrates the universality of spiritual love.
The Ratha Yatra, an annual festival that dates back to centuries, even millennia. Back in those days, it was more for the residents of Odisha, Bengal and some nearby states. But In summary, the Ratha Yatra manifests an expansion of divine love from the temple to the rest of the city, and indeed the whole world. And it offers us an opportunity to elevate our devotional love from separation to union, from disconnection with the divine to re-connection.
In 1966, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada established ISKCON in order to make ancient vedic(religious) teachings accessible to everyone across the globe. Today, ISKCON is comprised of more than 350 centres, 60 rural communities, 50 schools and 60 restaurants worldwide.
ISKCON Brampton offers a wide array of learning opportunities in Peel for those interested in learning about Vedic Studies. The Centre also offers classes in yoga, vegetarian cooking, dance, health and well-being for both children and adults.
On Sundays at 11am-2pm, the Centre, is open to the public and offers free vegetarian feasts, along with music and Vedic discourses by ISKCON guest speakers. There is a Sunday School for children (ages 5-15).
The ISCON Brampton Vedic Education Center has around 500 members.
Phone-416-648-3312
Iskcon Brampton Address:
173 Advance Boulevard, Unit#41
Brampton,
ON, L6T 4J4
