Kolkata Prepares for 53rd ISKCON Rath Yatra Festival on July 7

Kolkata, West Bengal, is getting ready for the 53rd edition of the ISKCON Rath Yatra festival, which will take place on July 7. This year’s festival is special as it celebrates the 150th Birth Anniversary of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada Maharaj.

The festival will be inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the ISKCON temple located at 3C Albert Road, near Minto Park. The chariots used in the festival, featuring Jagannath and Baladev, are 46 years old, with Baladev’s chariot standing at 38 feet tall. The broken wheel of the chariot weighs 250 kg and has a diameter of 6 feet.

Radharaman Das, Vice President of ISKCON Kolkata, highlighted the significance of the event, stating, “After Puri, the Kolkata Rath Yatra is the largest in the world. Last year, more than 2 million people participated in the 9-day festival. The three chariots used in the procession are very special and have a unique design.”

The Rath Yatra route stretches 6 to 7 kilometers from the ISKCON Kolkata temple, and the ‘Ulta Rath Yatra,’ or reverse procession, will follow on July 15. Das mentioned, “Every year, the number of participants increases by two to three lakhs, based on our experience. Since 20 lakh people attended last year, this year we are preparing for 2.3 to 2.4 million participants.”

Das also expressed gratitude for the support from the administration and emphasized that the Chief Minister’s presence will greatly contribute to the festival’s success, particularly in terms of ensuring security. “The administration provides great support every year, and the Chief Minister personally inaugurates the event. This year, too, if the Chief Minister inaugurates the Yatra, it will significantly aid the festival, especially in terms of security,” he said.