RATH YATRA ISKON VADODARA

The Ratha Yatra festival celebrated by ISKCON in Vadodara is a grand spiritual procession where devotees chant, dance, and pull beautifully adorned chariots through the streets. The festival's name comes from two Sanskrit words: Ratha, meaning chariot or carriage, and Yatra, meaning journey or pilgrimage. The chariot carries the deities Lord Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra, with Lord Jagannath worshipped alongside his elder brother Baladeva (Balarama) and his sister Subhadra.The Ratha Yatra in Vadodara is organized by ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), widely knownas the Hare Krishna Movement. ISKCON is a Gaudiya Vaishnava religious organization, dedicated to spreading the teachings of Bhakti yoga—the devotional practice of loving and serving Lord Krishna, whom followers consider the Supreme Lord. The movement’s core beliefs are rooted in Hindu ures, particularly the Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata Purana. Through festivals like Ratha Yatra, ISKCON continues to promote spiritual awareness, community participation, and devotion to Lord Krishna.