Ratha Yatra literally means Chariot Festival. Ratha Yatra originated over 2,000 years ago in the ancient city of Jagannatha Puri India in the state of Orrisa. The festival celebrates Lord Krishna’s return to Vrindavan in response to the longings of his most intimate devotees. Sri Krishna, his brother Balaram and sister Subhadra are brought from Their temple and placed upon three large, gorgeous chariots which are pulled by devotees, accompanied by melodious chanting of the Lords Holy Names. Millions of people from around the world descend upon of Jagannath Puri every year to celebrate this colorful and ecstatic festival.
Ratha Yatra was first performed outside of India on July 9, 1967 in San Francisco under the supervision of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder-acarya of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness. Today the Festival of Chariots is held in more than one hundred locations around the world.
