In Pics: Glimpses from the 55th Kolkata Ratha Yatra
Here's why you should pay a visit to the 55th Kolkata Ratha Yatra
Subhadrika Sen
While Puri hosts the biggest Ratha Yatra Festival, Kolkata is no less behind. This year the ISKCON hosts the 55th Ratha Yatra in Kolkata Maidan. The tall pandal has mythological motif carvings all over its body while the interiors boast of space for the darshan and quiet meditation. Weekday or weekends, there is always a crowd inside the pandal for the darshan. After the darshan you get instant fruiit / phal prasad. Spend some time listening to the melodious bhajans which seem like a trance. Very often you would see devotees swaying to the tunes of Hare Krishna. After the main darshan you can opt to see the chariots up close or do a parikrama wth a beaded mala handed over to you. The Rath / chariots are beautifully decorated with fresh flower garlands, intricate handcrafted runners, and colourful handdrawn motifs. On your way out, stop by at the merchendise and food stalls to take home traditional sweets like laddoo and Khaja as well as the Mahaprasad. The Ratha Yatra is in progress till July 24 (Ulta Ratha). Devotees and viewers can walk in to Maidan Math between 2pm - 9pm everyday.