London Ratha Yatra

[Guest guest]

Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,

 

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

On 20th June 2004 ISKCON UK celebarted its 36th Annual London Ratha Yatra.

In honour of the 108th anniversary of the appearance of Srila Prabhupada

this years event was historic ... for the first time we had three chariots

carrying Their Lordships throught the streets of London. The chariots

arrived at Trafalgar Sq. in the heart of the city where they were positioned

in front of the city land mark, the National gallery (please see photos

attached). For ISKCON UK it was a historic event, which also attracted very

nice media coverage, as well as messages from the Prime Minister & Mayor of

London in which they publicly recognised ISKCON's contributions (please find

messages below).

 

We send this news to you the global vaisnava community for your pleasure and

pray for your blessings so we may continue to endeavour in our efforts to

glorify Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga.

 

your servant,

 

Varsana dd

on behalf of ISKCON UK

 

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Message from UK Prime Minister Tony Blair

 

"I am glad to have this opportunity to convey my support for the 36th annual

Ratha Yatra Festival and to signal the Government's strong commitment to

diversity and the contribution it can make to Britain today. We are

determined to see the kind of dynamic society in which people from different

ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds can truly celebrate what we have

in common as well as retaining and being proud of our distinctive

identities.

 

I very much welcome events such as this, which will help us all to celebrate

the values and benefits of diversity whilst developing a greater sense of

shared values. This festival sees different communities coming together, but

also shows the positive expression of belief that is characetristic of the

Krishna consciousness movement and of British Hindus more widely."

 

 

TONY BLAIR

 

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Message of support from Ken Livingston, Mayor of London, for the

International Society for Krishna Consciousness for their 36th Annual Ratha

Yatra Festival (Carnival of Chariots).

 

 

"It gives me great pleasure to wish International Society for Krishna

Consciousness every success for their 36th Annual Ratha Yatra Festival

(Carnival of Chariots).

 

I would like to congratulate the International Society for Krishna

Consciousness for its work and achievements to date and for the positive and

valuable contributions it makes to London's multicultural community.

 

I am delighted to have this opportunity to wish the International Society

for Krishna Consciousness every success in the future."

 

(personally signed)

 

Ken Livingstone

 

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In past ISKCON events, that made it into the media, usually there would be a

great emphasis on the event being a Hindu festival, so it was encouraging

that this year there was clear acknowledgement of the Krishna Consciousness

movement and clear reference/naming of the Ratha Yatra festival as an

ancient/historic festival in all the press captions:

 

 

Below captions on some photographs from Reuters & Associated Press which

found themselves in UK national press:

 

 

A Hare Krishna devotee is seen aboard a chariot during the Rath Yatra

Chariot Carnival in London on June 20, 2004. The traditional Jagannath Rath

Yatra is a celebration over 5,000 years old, observed in the ancient holy

city of Jagannath Puri in Orissa, India making it the oldest street festival

in the world.

 

 

The Hare Krishna Rath Yatra Chariot Carnival passes by Piccadilly Circus in

London on June 20, 2004. The traditional Jagannath Rath Yatra is a

celebration over 5,000 years old, observed in the ancient holy city of

Jagannath Puri in Orissa, India making it the oldest street festival in the

world.

 

 

A young girl takes part in the Hare Krishna Rath Yatra Chariot Carnival in

London on June 20, 2004. The traditional Jagannath Rath Yatra is a

celebration over 5,000 years old, observed in the ancient holy city of

Jagannath Puri in Orissa, India making it the oldest street festival in the

world. The festival first came to London in 1969, where it has been

faithfully observed every year since

 

 

A girl dressed as Krishna takes part in the Hare Krishna Rath Yatra Chariot

Carnival in London on June 20, 2004. The traditional Jagannath Rath Yatra is

a celebration over 5,000 years old, observed in the ancient holy city of

Jagannath Puri in Orissa, India making it the oldest street festival in the

world. The festival first came to London in 1969, where it has been

faithfully observed every year since

 

 

The Hare Krishna Rath Yatra Chariot Carnival makes its way to Trafalgar

Square in London on June 20, 2004. The traditional Jagannath Rath Yatra is a

celebration over 5,000 years old, observed in the ancient holy city of

Jagannath Puri in Orissa, India making it the oldest street festival in the

world

 

 

Girls dressed as Krishna (L) and Radharani ® take part in the Hare Krishna

Rath Yatra Chariot Carnival in London on June 20, 2004. The traditional

Jagannath Rath Yatra is a celebration over 5,000 years old, observed in the

ancient holy city of Jagannath Puri in Orissa, India making it the oldest

street festival in the world

 

 

Girls dressed as Krishna (L) and Radharani ® take part in the Hare Krishna

Rath Yatra Chariot Carnival in London on June 20, 2004. The traditional

Jagannath Rath Yatra is a celebration over 5,000 years old, observed in the

ancient holy city of Jagannath Puri in Orissa, India making it the oldest

street festival in the world. The festival first came to London in 1969,

where it has been faithfully observed every year since.