ISKCON's Jagannath Rath Yatra in Mumbai draws huge crowds

The annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, organised by International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), today got off to a colourful start amid fanfare and religious fervour at the iconic Shivaji Park grounds here.
About five lakh people converged at the venue to participate in the yatra and devotees pulled the chariot of Lord Jagannath, spokesperson of ISKCON (Girgaum Chowpatty) Lucky Kulkarni said.
ISKCON claimed this is the second largest chariot festival in the world after the main festival organised every year at Puri in Odisha.
According to ISKCON's spiritual leader Radhanath Swami, "The chariot festival of Lord Jagannath is celebrated every year by lakhs of people at Puri in Odisha since ages. Srila Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON, decided to celebrate the festival all over the world as everyone cannot go to Puri."

The highlight of the yatra was a huge stage erected in the form of a ship replicating 'Jaladuta', the vessel which ISKCON founder Prabhupada had boarded in 1965 to go to USA, Kulkarni said.
Besides the yatra, the two-day festival consists of display of exhibits, cultural performances, lectures and drama. Winners of Gita Champions League (based on recital of the holy book) were given prizes today.

ISKCON has also organised a medical camp and religious discourses tomorrow.
Prabhupada organised the first Rath Yatra in 1967 in San Franciso, US. Since then Rath Yatra is organised all over the world, including the US, the UK, South Africa, Europe, Poland, New Zealand and Australia.

Last year, devotees had organised a Rath Yatra in Pakistan as well, the ISKCON spokesperson added.