Devotees of Bhagwan Jagannath organised a Rath Yatra in Sydney and even the rain could not stop the Chariot Festival.
The event was organised in Sydney’s Liverpool suburb on 2nd July in celebration of the annual Rath Yatra that takes place in the ancient Indian city of Puri.
Traditionally the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra consists of Bhagwan Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and younger sister Subhadra being carried on chariots constructed and decorated by devotees and volunteers. The festival is attended by hundreds of thousands of devotees every year.
To mark this important event in the Hindu calender, devotees around the world celebrate this festival by taking out mini versions of the chariots in the cities they live in.
In Australia this year, the Chariot Festival was celebrated in Canberra and Melbourne along with Sydney.
The Chariot Festival in Sydney this year was attended by Indian Council General in Sydney, Manish Gupta and Indian-origin councillor of Liverpool City Council, Charishma Kaliyanda.
Take a look at the vibrant and colourful pictures and video from the festival.
Pictures and Video courtesy Krishna Kesava Das
