An attraction of the annual Festival of Chariots is the grand chariot processions along the Durban beachfront
Image: Supplied
The city’s beachfront is set to come alive over the Easter weekend, from April 3 to 6, as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) hosts its annual Festival of Chariots (Ratha-Yatra).
The four-day celebration, held at the Bay of Plenty lawns on North Beach, promises to be a captivating blend of spiritual enrichment and cultural celebration.
According to the organisers, the event will offer a rich blend of spirituality, culture, and family-friendly entertainment, running daily from 11am to 9pm.
Visitors can expect a continuous programme of music, dance, and drama, alongside a complimentary vegetarian meal served to all attendees.
Devotees were hard at work painting wooden pieces for the chariots
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The centre piece of the festival remains the grand chariot processions. Three 15-metre-high chariots, adorned with colourful canopies and flower garlands, will be pulled by hand along the beachfront promenade. Thousands of devotees and spectators are expected to participate with singing, dancing, and traditional music.
The main procession will take place on Friday, April 3, starting at 11am from South Beach and proceeding towards the Bay of Plenty. A shorter, concluding procession is planned for Monday, April 6.
The festival grounds will be transformed into a vibrant tent city, featuring a range of interactive and spiritual experiences. These include a spiritual discussions tent where festival goers can engage with monks and teachers, a book tent offering spiritual literature, and guided meditation sessions incorporating mantra chanting and a symbolic 108-step walk.
A temporary temple pavilion will house the deities of Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra, allowing visitors to participate in traditional offerings such as fruits, flowers, lamps, and incense.
Attendees can also enjoy henna, mehendi, and devotional body art.
This year’s cultural programme will feature performances by local and visiting artists. A new addition to the programme is the current trend of bhajan jamming where popular musicians and DJs such as Aap Ka Suraj, DJ Dhoti and Shiv Shuffler will belt out the fusion of devotional music set to contemporary beats.
A major highlight will be the theatrical production “Shiva and Sati,” a dramatic presentation exploring themes of devotion, sacrifice, and divine love.
The Krishna’s Kids Karnival will feature arts and crafts, treasure hunts, a junior cooking competition and interactive games.
A fireworks display is scheduled for Saturday evening, promising to light up the Durban skyline.
Apart from the free vegetarian meals, the onsite Govinda’s take-away, will offer a variety of vegetarian options, from savouries and roti rolls to burgers, pizzas, and desserts.
Admission to the festival is free.