Festival of Chariots & Holi Mahotsav 2015
28-29 March, Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour
Everyone is welcome!
Iskcon Sydney in association with Bhavan Australia and the Holi-Mahotsav, the Festival of Colours, is proud to present the Jagannatha Ratha Yatra – the Festival of Chariots!
For
the first time since its inception the parade this year will begin and
end in Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour. This is the festival site of
the Holi-Mahotsav – the Festival of Colours, which this year will be
held over two days: March 28 and 29.
The Festival of Chariots itself will be held on Saturday, March 28. Starting from Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour, at 2.30 pm, the parade will travel travel through the heart of the city and will return to the starting location at Tumbalong Park by 4.30 pm. For more details please visit: http://rathayatra.com.au
The Festival of Chariots itself will be held on Saturday, March 28. Starting from Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour, at 2.30 pm, the parade will travel travel through the heart of the city and will return to the starting location at Tumbalong Park by 4.30 pm. For more details please visit: http://rathayatra.com.au
This
beautiful Festival of Colours has its beginnings in a number of ancient
traditions in India, where the common theme is the victory of
enlightenment over darkness. As the culture of India has been warmly
welcomed in every nation of the world in recent decades, the celebration
of Holi has been embraced by people of all backgrounds and cultures on
every continent.
In
Australia, this beautiful festival of colours, friendship and harmony
was introduced in Sydney twelve years ago by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Australia. The event is a mixture of culture, spirituality and
entertainment for all. The festival includes music and dance
performances which will commence on Saturday morning and continue until Sunday evening.The Festival of Chariots is part of the Holi Mahotsav again this year
The
Festival of Chariots, Ratha Yatra, is incorporated into the Holi
Mahotsav. This year the expanded parade of chariots will commence from
Tumbalong Park and, after traversing the centre of Sydney returns to
Tumbalong Park.
The Jagannatha Ratha Yatra – the Festival of Chariots – is first and foremost a great parade of the people, of singing and dancing, and above all of pulling the chariots off Jagannatha, Balaram and Subhadra as they take to the streets to offer their blessings to one and all.
Everyone is welcome to join in, everyone should join in, indeed the Festival of Chariots can extend to hundreds and thousands of people all coming together in happy celebration as they draw the chariots along, pulling on the ropes, playing musical instruments, waving flags, blowing conch-shells, singing and chanting.
So, on the most basic level just come along and take part. All you need to do is turn up, join in, and have fun as you’ve never had before!Want to do more?
- Come early to the festival site and help decorate the Chariots. Bring flowers, festoons, ribbons, tinsel, incense, whatever can be used to add colour and excitement to the festival floats.
- Volunteer as a wheel guard. We need 16 big people to carry the poles guarding the wheels and making sure no one gets too close to the chariots.
- Help distribute leaflets advertising the grand parade. Thousands to give out on the day itself. Just see the parade organisers at the festival site.
- Just come on down, get involved, there is always plenty to do!
The Festival of Equality!
The Festival of Chariots is the ultimate celebration of equal opportunity and of the innate oneness that exists within us all – in spite of any and all external difference. Before Jagannatha, the Lord of the Universe, no one is neither high or low, no one is black or white, there is no consideration of gender or age, caste or creed; before the Supreme such concepts simply lose their meaning.This is exemplified by the tradition of having the King himself assume the role of menial servant, sweeping the road before the chariot of the lord with a broom made of gold. On this one day everyone, regardless of externals, has an equal chance of directly approaching Jagannatha, the transcendent Lord of creation, render some small service, and receive his all-auspicious blessings. This is the ultimate day to be happy, and the ultimate way to become happy!
HARE KRISHNA
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