Today, Rathayatra is celebrated in major cities all over the world. This is a gift from Srila Prabhupada, the ISKCON founder-acharya who brought Krishna awareness to the West. Srila Prabhupada aspired to see this event celebrated gloriously in every city, and he guided and inspired his disciples to make it a global phenomenon. Srila Prabhupada arranged the first-ever Rathayatra in the western world on July 9, 1967, in San Francisco. The celebration has since extended to numerous more nations.

It was so well-liked by 1975 that San Francisco’s mayor formally declared Rathayatra Day to be observed. In more than 150 nations and more than 700 cities and towns, ISKCON currently hosts Rathayatras.

Rathayatra as a concept was not new to Srila Prabhupada. He used to adore Lord Jagannath when he was little. When Abhay (later known as Srila Prabhupada) was five years old, his father set up a tiny Ratha. The young boy would conduct Rathayatra in his Burrabazar neighborhood, giving the kids prasadam. Later, as Srila Prabhupada zealously preached around the world, this childish pastime evolved into a global celebration.

This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the ISKCON-organized Kolkata Rathayatra. In 1972, the first Rathayatra was initiated in Kolkata, India, by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder Acharya of ISKCON. With over two million attendees, Kolkata’s rath yatra has grown to be the second biggest in the country after Puri’s.

The theme of this year’s Rathayatra is the 150th birth anniversary of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada Maharaj, the founder-acharya of Gaudiya Matha and the guru of ISKCON’s founder-acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

On July 7, 2024, at 2:00 pm, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal, Sushri Mamata Banerjee, will officially inaugurate the Rathayatra from the ISKCON Temple, which is situated at 3C Albert Road, Kolkata-700017.

The Rathayatra route is as follows:

“Rathayatra (Sunday. July 7, 2024, starting at 2 pm from ISKCON Temple at 3CAlbert Road)->Hungerford Street ->AJ.C Bose Road -> Sarat Bose Road -> HazraRoad -> S.P.M Road -> A.TM Road ->Chowringhee Road -> Exide Crossing -> J.L. Nehru Road -> Outram Road -> (Straight to Brigade Parade

Ground).

The route for Ultarathayatra (Monday, July 15, 2024, starting at noon from Outram Road near Park Street Metro): Brigade Parade Ground -> Outram Road -> Left Turn -> JL. Nehru Road -> Dorina Crossing > S.N. Banerjee Road -> Moulali Crossing -> CIT Road -> Suhrawardy Avenue > Park Circus 7-point crossing -> Shakespeare Sarani -> HungerfordStreet -> 3C Albert Road (ISKCON Temple).

In addition to the three chariots of Jagannath, Baladev, and Subhadra Devi, there will be three trolleys and ten mini-vans on the day of Rathayatra and Ultarathayatra where kids will portray various pastimes of the Lord and His devotees. In a few minutes, a group of devoted painters from South India will pass in front of the three chariots and paint the streets of Kolkata with lovely designs using natural, organic gulal for the Lord’s pleasure. Renowned kirtaniyas with dozens of mridangas and kartals will perform heartfelt and thunderous kirtans in front of each chariot. A prasadam bus will be midway in the one-kilometer-long procession, dispensing Jagannath prasadam to all.

From July 8 to July 14, 2024, Lord Jagannath and His Divine siblings will reside at Brigade Parade Ground (next to Park Street Metro Station), where a large mela will be held. Daily hours for serving hot kichadi parasadam are 3:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Every day, renowned performers from India and elsewhere will take the stage, including the dance group of Dona Ganguly and Padma Shri award-winning dancers.

The audience will be enthralled with cultural programs that feature dance, drama, kirtans, shadow dance, and pravachans.

Priyanka Dutta