Ratha Yatra

Every summer, Jagannath – the Lord of the Universe – his brother Balarama, and his sister Subhadra are taken out of the temple and brought to the streets to bless everyone with their loving glances. The grand chariot festival, Ratha Yatra, has been celebrated for thousands of years in the Indian city of Puri (Odisha), attracting over 1 million people. Since the Krishna Consciousness Movement took root in the USA in the mid-1960s, this traditional chariot festival has also taken place in the West. Today, we find this colourful festival in many cities around the world – from Los Angeles to Tokyo, from Oslo to Durban – and since 1978, also in Switzerland.

The festival is accompanied by a parade (starting at the Chinagarten and ending at Bürkliplatz), a stage program with a Kirtan concert, dance and martial arts, and an Indian bazaar with vegan/vegetarian dishes.

We look forward to celebrating this colourful and joyful festival with you.