Art and spirituality: Kolkata gears up for ISKCON Rathayatra festivities from today
This year, Lord Jagannath's chariot will roll on newly fitted tyres originally designed for Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft, replacing the Boeing 747 tyres that had been used since 1977.
The nine-day festival kicks off with a grand mela at the Brigade Parade Ground on June 25, ahead of the main chariot procession on June 27. The mela will continue till July 4 and offer free khichdi prasadam to devotees daily from 3:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
Cultural performances by acclaimed artists, including Dona Ganguly's dance troupe and Padma Shri awardees, will light up the evenings with dance, drama, kirtans, and spiritual talks. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to visit the mela on July 3 to offer aarti and join in prayers for peace and prosperity.
The main Rathayatra procession will take place on Friday, June 27, beginning at 1 pm from the ISKCON Temple at 3C Albert Road.
The chariots will travel through Hungerford Street, A.J.C. Bose Road, Sarat Bose Road, Hazra Road, S.P.M. Road, A.T.M. Road, Chowringhee Road, Exide Crossing, J.L. Nehru Road, and finally reach the Brigade Parade Ground. The return journey, or Ultarathayatra, will be held on Saturday, July 5, starting from Outram Road near Park Street Metro and concluding at the ISKCON Temple .
The chariots are a feat of engineering. Lord Jagannath's Ratha is 38-ft tall with a collapsible canopy for easy navigation through Kolkata's roads. It now features tyres used in India's frontline Sukhoi-30 fighter jets. Subhadra Devi's chariot, the smallest, is also collapsible with iron wheels, while Lord Baladev's Ratha stands 36 feet tall with four large iron wheels, showcasing strength and grace.
Adding to the spectacle, artists will decorate the route with vibrant street art using organic gulal. Kirtaniyas from across the world, accompanied by dozens of mridangas and kartals, will lead soul-stirring kirtans. Children's tableaux and prasadam buses will enrich the festive experience, which draws over two million participants annually—making it the second-largest Rathayatra after Puri.
'The festival highlights that in a world often consumed by conflict, unity and devotion can foster peace, as seen when devotees from Russia and Ukraine danced together before Lord Jagannath's chariot in Kolkata. last year. This celebration, inspired by Srila Prabhupada's vision, calls for spiritual awakening and global unity,' said Radharaman Das, Vice President ISKCON
Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics.
With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences.
Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
T-Series re-shares Adipurush song right after Ramayana first glimpse, gets roasted: 'Why do they want to remind people'
The much-awaited first glimpse of Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, and Sai Pallavi's Ramayana was unveiled today (July 3), and the internet can't stop gushing over it. However, eagle-eyed fans noticed that T-Series, the producer of Adipurush, also shared the Jai Shri Ram song from the film on YouTube shortly after the Ramayana introductory video dropped, sparking speculation about its timing and criticism online. Adipurush, the critically-panned 2023 film, was also an adaptation of Ramayana. Fans slam T-Series for sharing Adipurush song just after Ramayana first glimpse released. T-Series uploaded the video of Jai Shri Ram from Adipurush, featuring Kriti Sanon, Prabhas, and Saif Ali Khan, almost immediately after the first glimpse of Ramayana was released on Thursday afternoon. The internet was quick to question the timing. One Reddit user wrote, 'I've got to give it to Bhushan for milking every opportunity to get some money back on his investment in Adipurush.' Another commented, 'The timing is unreal—just as the Ramayana teaser released. Pre-planned?' Others added, 'Jealousy at its peak.' Given how poorly the film was received when it was released two years ago, one Redditor wondered, 'Why do they want to remind people of this again?' As soon as the Ramayana teaser dropped, social media users began drawing comparisons with Om Raut's Adipurush. Many felt that the teaser of Nitesh Tiwari's film was 'better than the entirety of Adipurush.' The internet couldn't stop praising the 'Hollywood-level VFX' of Ramayana, with some even suggesting that Om Raut should take notes. For the unversed, Om Raut's mythological action film Adipurush was heavily panned by both critics and audiences for its poor screenplay, dialogues, and visuals. Featuring Saif Ali Khan as Ravana, Prabhas as Lord Rama, and Kriti Sanon as Sita, the film failed to impress at the box office. Despite a budget of ₹ 550 crore, it reportedly earned only ₹ 393 crore worldwide. About Ramayana Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. The music, composed by Oscar-winner Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman, has become one of the teaser's standout features, alongside the impressive VFX. The film will be released in two parts: the first slated for Diwali 2026 and the second for Diwali 2027.
Economic Times
8 hours ago
- Economic Times
Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi's Ramayana first look out. Check plot, cast, release date and other details
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Plot of Ramayana An all-star cast and once-in-a-lifetime collaborations Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Popular in Panache What to expect from Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana? Behind the scenes: Hollywood meets Indian mythology Ramayana Release Date In what could be one of the most ambitious cinematic retellings of Indian mythology, the first look of Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita, has finally been revealed. Helmed by National Award-winning director Nitesh Tiwari, the film is not just another adaptation—it's a grand cultural statement crafted on a global canvas with some of the world's top creative minds 5,000 years ago, Ramayana reimagines the revered Indian epic with cutting-edge VFX and a larger-than-life scale. The visual-heavy first look, released on Thursday, features stunning CGI work created by Prime Focus and DNEG, an Oscar-winning visual effects company known for their work on Dune. The result is a glimpse of ancient India that feels vivid, epic, and by Namit Malhotra and co-produced by actor Yash, who also plays the role of Lankesh (Raavan), the film promises not just visual brilliance but emotional depth and Ranbir and Sai Pallavi is Sunny Deol in the role of Lord Hanuman, while Ravi Dubey plays Laxman. In what's being hailed as a historic collaboration, two Oscar-winning composers—Hans Zimmer (Inception, Gladiator) and A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire)—are joining forces for the film's music. This marks the first time these music titans are working together, creating high expectations for the film's sonic reported that Namit Malhotra, founder of Prime Focus and CEO of DNEG, described the film as more than a movie, calling it a "cultural movement for every Indian around the world." He added that this version of Ramayana reimagines the landscapes, creatures, and battles with the scale and splendour they Nitesh Tiwari also told IANS that Ramayana has been designed to honour the soul of the original story while matching the scale of the world's biggest cinematic universes. 'It's a tale that has endured across millennia because it speaks to something deep and eternal within us,' he said. 'We are not simply making a film. We are offering a vision — one rooted in reverence, shaped by excellence, and made to transcend borders.'To ensure global standards of action and design, the crew features legendary stunt coordinators like Terry Notary (Planet of the Apes, Avengers) and Guy Norris (Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa). Production design is being handled by Ravi Bansal (Aladdin, Dune: Part Two) and Ramsey Avery (Tomorrowland, Captain America), bringing to life the grandeur of Ayodhya and Lanka with authentic detail and imaginative film is being shot in IMAX format and will be released in two parts. Part 1 of Ramayana will hit theatres in Diwali 2026, followed by Part 2 in Diwali 2027. With a visionary team, a powerful story, and a cast that blends mass appeal with artistic integrity, Ramayana is shaping up to be more than just a movie—it could be the definitive retelling of the epic for this generation and beyond.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Stars and devotees come together for grand Ratha Yatra in Rajpur Sonarpur
Sukalyann D Entourage Inc enhanced the Shri Jagannath Ratha Yatra in Rajpur Sonarpur for the second year, with Ssukalyan choreographing the roadshow after returning from America. The carnival featured over 60 dancers, crew, and actors like Swastika Mukherjee. The live presence of Shri Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balaram was the highlight, captivating attendees. Sukalyann D Entourage Inc once again added sparkle to the Shri Jagannath Ratha Yatra , in Rajpur Sonarpur. For the second consecutive year, the grand roadshow was choreographed by Ssukalyan himself, fresh off his return from America. The vibrant carnival saw participation from over 60 dancers and crew members, alongside actors Swastika Mukherjee , Debparna, and Shrabanti. This year's showstopper was the live presence of Shri Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balaram, drawing major attention from attendees. Currently back in Kolkata, Ssukalyan is juggling multiple Durga Puja commercials and Mahalaya preparations, but remains deeply moved by the spiritual energy and blessings received during the Ratha Yatra celebrations.
