Mysuru:  The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is organising the 20th annual grand Ratha Yatra Festival tomorrow (Jan.6). The inaugural function will be held at the Palace Anjaneyaswamy temple at 4.30 pm in the presence of Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji along with former MLC G. Madhusudhan as the chief guest. The ceremonies will be presided over Madhu Pandit Dasa, President, ISKCON Society and Chairman of The Akshaya Patra Foundation.

The colourful festival will begin from the Palace Anjaneya Temple at 5.30 pm and proceed through Gandhi Square, Sayyaji Rao Road, Small Clock Tower, Devaraja Urs Road, Narayana Shastri Road, Ramaswamy Circle, JLB Road, RTO Circle, Ballal Circle, New Kantharaja Urs Road, Jayanagar 2nd Main Road and conclude at ISKCON temple on 18th Cross, Jayanagar.

The Ratha Yatra will be accompanied by procession of various cultural troupes. These will include chanting of Vedic mantras by students from Sanskrit College, Sankirtana by ISKCON devotees, 35-feet high Ratha carrying the deities of Sri Krishna-Balarama and Prasadam distribution in leaf cups to over 30,000 people.

Significance of Ratha Yatra

Man has been relentlessly striving to achieve peace and happiness on the basis of universal brotherhood. Great Philosophers, Thinkers, politicians, and leaders have all tried to steer humanity toward a happy, peaceful, and problem free world. In spite of their sincere efforts, we are facing a situation filled with hatred, animosity and calamities. The ancient Vedic scriptures point out the basic fallacy in our attempts. To achieve universal brotherhood, we must first accept a universal father. Without a common father, how can there be brotherhood?