Events

Festival of the chariots, you know it’s really sweet, when the Lord of the Universe is coming down Main Street!

                                                                                 -Song by Nirantara dasa

Nothing charms devotees and the public alike more than the Ratha-yatra parade of Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra. Approaching its forty-first year, preparations for the Festival of the Chariots at Venice Beach will begin months in advance by obtaining permits, preparing tons of equipment, making mega orders for food and flowers, hanging posters and flyers everywhere, contacting the media and collecting donations. Volunteers from all directions arrive and Watseka Avenue becomes well adorned with the Lord’s devotees.

Many come as early as two weeks in advance for the preliminary festival called Snāna-yātrā, the bathing ceremony of Jagannatha. Everyone gets to help, offering fragrant bath ingredients that include mango juice, honey, milk, yogurt and ghee.

The Ratha-yatra parade occurs two weeks later when Jagannatha comes out from His traditional period of seclusion after His grand bathing ceremony. He mounts His chariot for the Ratha-yatra parade and any person who pulls on the attached ropes becomes liberated from the cycle of samsara. Prasadam, kirtan, transcendental books, enlightening exhibits and colorful entertainment is lavished upon tens of thousands of surprised participants. Since 1977, Los Angeles Ratha-yatra has served up over half a million plates of delicious vegetarian meals to many guests  of the celebration.