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ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The Los Angeles Festival of Chariots event, also known as Ratha Yatra, began in 1976. The Jaganatha Ratha Yatra is the oldest street festival in the world, originating from the Indian costal town of Jagannatha Puri, India. Along with a crowd of over one million people, the chariots in Jagannatha Puri are pulled using ropes to its final destination.
Srila Prabhupada, the Founder Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) took the Ratha Yatra festival all over the world, with the festival now taking place in cities all across the globe.
Images from the 2nd Los Angeles Festival of the Chariots, held in 1977. The three chariots can be seen proceeding along the beach in Santa Monica and the Venice Beach Boardwalk.
The inaugural event in Los Angeles took place along Venice Beach, attracting a diverse crowd of participants and onlookers. Over the years, it has grown in scale and popularity, becoming a significant cultural event in the city. The festival features the traditional chariot procession, cultural performances, musical kirtans (devotional songs), free vegetarian feasts, and a vibrant marketplace offering arts, crafts, and literature.
The Festival of the Chariots in Los Angeles not only honors ancient traditions but also promotes messages of peace, unity, and spiritual well-being, drawing thousands of attendees from various backgrounds each year.
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