Perth celebrates Chariot Festival of India

Dance, marches through Forrest Place with the possibility to also pull the Chariot, Kirtan Meditation, live music performances, Spiritual Books & Gift Shop, Henna Art, Face Painting, and much more were among the various activities at the Perth Festival in 2021.

The event, which offered free admission as well as complimentary food and refreshments to all attendees, drew throngs of individuals with their families and friends.

Ratha-yatra, or the Festival of Chariots, has been held in India’s sacred city of Jagannatha Puri for thousands of years, and more recently in cities around the world, including the streets of London, Paris, Sydney, Tokyo, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York’s renowned Fifth Avenue.

Jagannatha is another name for Krishna, and it refers to the Lord’s ecstatic form with huge eyes and rough features, which is carried on a massive chariot during the festival and venerated in an old temple in Jagannath Puri’s centre.