VERY April for the past 21 years Durbanhas celebrated the colourful and joyful

Festival of Chariots.Also known as Rath Yatra, meaning a

journey or procession of chariots, it is aHindu festival marking the return of thedeity Lord Krishna to his home inVrindavan, India.

Krishna is considered, amongst otherthings, a Supreme Being.

Entertainment like dances and musicare an important part of the festival, alongwith food stalls, and a spectacular fireworksdisplay.

This year’s event will take place from10-13 April at the Pavilion Grounds, NorthBeach.

Event organiser Champakalata Dasisaid: “Each year there is something uniqueand new.

Musicians from America have been

invited. A shipment of the latest Indiangarments and jewellery have also come in.

“The festival costs over a million randand we depend on the goodwill of thecommunity. There is no profit made. Allwork is done on a voluntary basis.

Cooking starts as early as 3am, inreadiness for the day’s event.”

Dasi said some 250 000 people wereexpected to attend and each guest wouldreceive a vegetarian meal.

“There will be a street parade ofchanting and dancing devotees who willdraw a life size chariot of Lord CaitanyaMahaprabhu, a deity. “We will beintroducing the concept of ‘simple livingand high thinking’ which our founder andspiritual master instructed us to live by.

“Currently, we have an organicvegetable farm at the temple in Chatsworthand we shall replicate this to some degree

at the festival, teaching the public how togo about starting and maintaining theirown vegetable patche at their homes.”

There are many other religioushighlights at this year’s festival.

Apart from the traditional chariotpulling, there will be a “Go-puja,” meaning“worship of the cow”.

Devotees will build a replica ofGovardhan Hill in India, which has specialsignificance to Lord Krishna, out ofsemolina pudding and handmadechocolates, biscuits and sweetmeats.

These will be placed to replicate therocks, trees and other features of the hill.

There will also be an on-site temple forvisitors. Local and international guests willattend, including local singer KumariAmbigay, the Silk Road Bhajan Band fromKazakhstan in Asia and Bhakti Marg Swamifrom Canada.

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Festival of Chariots going strongwords ROMITA HANUMAN | pictures SUPPLIED