The Festival of the Chariots, or Ratha-Yatra as it's known in India, is an ancient festival in which chariots of 3 Deities – Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra, are pulled by ropes through many cities of the world. Originating thousands of years ago in Puri, in India's state of Orissa, the festival has made the Guiness Book of records as the oldest running festival in the world. The smiling faces of these Deities has become a familiar site to many, and the beauty of the event is that everyone can take part by pulling on the ropes of the chariot.
Traditionally there are 3 chariots – one for each carved wooden Deity form, though in Sydney all 3 Deities are placed together on the one chariot, and in front of them is the statue of ISKCON's Founder, Srila Prabhupada.
2006 saw the first large event in Sydney's CBD since the early 1980's, although the event had graced the towns of Newcastle, Wollongong and Campbelltown, plus a childrens version in North Sydney each summer.
Poster for the festival
Statue of ISKCON's Founder Srila Prabhupada,
and His Holiness Ramai Swami on the front of the chariot
Congregational chanting (kirtan) with mridanga drums
Pulling the ropes of the chariot in Hyde Park
Procession moving through Sydney's streets
Guarding the wheels of the chariot
Following the chariot down to Darling Harbour
Some of the children dressed up for the occasion
In the temple room at Darling Harbour with The Deities of Jagannath, Baladeva & Subhadra
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