Festival of chariots promises exhilarating showcase along North Beach
Thousands of chanting and dancing devotees, accompanied by traditional Indian musical instruments, tug along the chariot ropes through the streets of Durban’s beachfront area, when the effervescent Festival of Chariots come to town.
FOR Hare Krishna devotees and visitors to Durban, Easter weekend has become synonymous with Ratha-Yatra, the Festival of Chariots. The festival from April 18-21 proudly boasts of being the only free, exclusively spiritual and intrinsically cultural festival in the province,.
According to the festival co-ordinator, Champakalata Dasi, preparations are well underway, “A traditional part of the festival is naturally the chariots’ procession. Three 15m high chariots festooned with hundreds of flower garlands and colourful canopies towering across the 10m wide structure will be manually drawn.”
Activities will include body art with a spiritual dimension in the form of henna, mehndi and face painting. Visitors will get an opportunity to pose questions to monks who will respond based on ancient Vedic wisdom; a treasure trove of spiritual knowledge will be available in the book tent; and those interested in meditation can participate in mantra meditation on sacred beads whilst walking on 108 steps.
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“The cultural entertainment line-up includes Umita Kalyan accompanied by the Drisha Music Academy, ‘Annalakshmi’ the stand-up comedian, Keeran Eshwarlall, Isaiselvamani V Karthigasen and a host of other renowned musicians and dancers. Bhakti Marg Swami from Canada is coming to South Africa. A breathtaking aerial fireworks display will light up the Durban night skies on Saturday evening.”
Children will enjoy a spiritual wonderland at Krishna’s Kids Karnival, with opportunities to participate in spiritual activities.
This year, the processions will take place on Friday, April 18 at 11:00 from the South Beach (opposite Tropicana Hotel), heading in a northerly direction on the Upper Marine Parade and turning at Mini Town into the Lower Marine Parade, reaching the festival site – the lawns of the Bay of Plenty next to the Sunken Gardens, opposite the Elangeni Hotel.
A second shorter parade will take place on Monday, April 21 at 17:00, leaving from the festival site (Bay of Plenty lawns), heading south on the promenade. Admission is free.
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