7th Annual Clearwater Beach Festival of Chariots and Ratha Yatra Parade
MEDIA RELEASE
Contact: Bhadra das 352 316-4560 or Bhadradas@gmail.com
WHAT: An Indian multi-cultural parade and festival will be celebrated with entertainment for the whole family. There will be live music, singing, classical dance, books, bazaar, and lots of free delicious vegetarian food. The Ratha Yatra Parade is the oldest known parade in the world.
WHEN: Saturday, May 7, 2016. There is a cultural program at the Pier 60 Pavilion from 1 PM to 4:30 PM. The Parade begins at 1 PM at the Pier 60 Pavilion, and returns there at which time the free feast begins. The cultural program continues till 4:30 PM
WHERE: The Pier 60 Pavilion at 1 Causeway Blvd.on the beach, Clearwater Beach.
WHO: All are welcome. Free admission. Wholesome fun for the entire family.
SPECIAL: VERY VISUAL event with colorful traditional costumes and flower decorations. Photography is permitted.
If you’ve ever dreamt of visiting colorful, exotic India, we have a treat for you. Get a taste of India without leaving Florida on Saturday, May 7, 2016. The 7th Annual Festival of the Chariots & Ratha Yatra Parade, an Indian multi-cultural extravaganza, will take place on the beach at the Pier 60 Pavilion on Clearwater Beach from 1 PM to 5 PM.
There will be lots of family-friendly activities and entertainment: live music and dance acts and classical Indian dance. But the big draw is the delicious vegetarian food. There will be a sumptuous feast served free of charge to all. There will also be a free hatha yoga class taught by the Lotus Pond Yoga Studio starting at 1 PM., so bring a yoga mat if you want to join in.
The procession route is about 2 miles long and can be easily walked by all age groups. It begins at 1 PM at the Pier 60 Pavilion and returns to the same location. The parade will move in a leisurely fashion, stopping here and there along the route, giving way to song and dance. The procession’s unique feature is a huge chariot with a blue, red and yellow canopy decorated with swans, lotus flowers, flags, Hanuman and a brass chakra on top. This chariot has two very thick ropes attached to it that are over one hundred feet long. These ropes are pulled by the parade-goers, propelling the chariot along the parade route. Riding on the Chariot are the beautiful Deities of Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra, decorated with stunning silk outfits & real flowers. It’s a vision from another world. Accompanying the procession is lively Indian music and dancing, backed by double-headed mrdanga drums & karatala hand cymbals. It’s an ecstatic, exciting event.
The festival is co-sponsored by ISKCON Alachua, the USF Tampa Bhakti Yoga Society and the Lotus Pond Yoga Studio. The Founder/Acharya, of ISKCON (the International Society for Krishna Consciousness), His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, came to America from India fifty years ago and introduced the timeless tradition of the Festival of the Chariot (called Ratha Yatra in India). Since the 60’s this festival has been held yearly in over 50 major cities in the United States, Canada, and all over the world. Nine Ratha Yatras are held yearly in the state of Florida: Miami, Jacksonville Beach, Tallahassee, Orlando, Tampa, Gainesville, Daytona Beach, Clearwater Beach & St. Augustine.
All are warmly invited to attend this joyous, colorful festival, free of charge. Take advantage of a rare chance to experience the vibrancy of India, right here in Florida. Questions? You may visit our website at www.festivalofchariots.org or contact Bhadra das at 352 316-4560 or Bhadradas@gmail.com
http://festivalofchariots.org/
Please see a video of the St. Augustine Festival two weeks ago at this link: firstcoast.tv/festival-chariots-2016/