Months of preparations culminated in the spectacular Festival of Chariots held on Saturday. This festival, which is celebrated internationally, is also known as the Ratha Yatra.
SEE VIDEO HERE: Festival of Chariots celebrated in Estcourt

Devotees pull a colourful chariot, on which Lord Balram, Subadhra and Lord Jagganath are seated. The event started from 10am at the Estcourt Town Hall with International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) devotees singing songs of praise and adorning the deities on the chariot.

Thereafter the significance of the festival was explained before a ritual offering a coconut was observed. Soon, it was the highlight of the day, the pulling of the chariot.

Locals and visitors positioned themselves on either side on the chariot and pulled on the ropes through the streets of the central business district. Singing, chanting and dancing could be seen as the chariot made its way back to the town hall.

When the chariot returned, everyone present partook in a sumptuous lunch, whilst browsing the stalls and taking a moment in the meditation tent.

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