Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 City Park will come alive with colour, music, and spiritual energy on June 22 as the city hosts its second annual Ratha Yatra festival.
The Hindu celebration invites everyone to join in a journey of faith, culture, and community.
Organized by the Kelowna Hindu Cultural Society and ISKCON Saranagati Temple, the event features a parade from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. That will be followed by festivities including Bhakti Kirtan (devotional singing), yoga, cultural dance performances, vegetarian and plant-based food, a kids乌鸦传媒� play area, and a cow petting zoo.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a spiritual event 乌鸦传媒� a spiritual Hindu event,乌鸦传媒� said Kelowna City Councillor Mohini Singh, who is of the Hindu faith and a passionate supporter of the festival. 乌鸦传媒淩atha means chariot, and Yatra means journey. We take the chariot and walk in the name of God. It乌鸦传媒檚 about remembering that God is everywhere and within.乌鸦传媒�
Ratha Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival, has its origins in India. The festival involves pulling large, ornately decorated chariots carrying deities through the streets, allowing devotees to have darshan乌鸦传媒攁 sacred view of the divine.
The Kelowna event has a Canadian flavour.
乌鸦传媒淲e had well over a thousand people last year from all over the Interior,乌鸦传媒� Singh said. 乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 even a village just outside Ashcroft 乌鸦传媒� a community of Caucasian people who have embraced the Hindu faith. They bring sacred cows they imported from India.乌鸦传媒�
Singh added that what makes this event special is its inclusivity.
乌鸦传媒淭his is what celebration of different religions looks like in Canada,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淚t brings together people of all different backgrounds. It乌鸦传媒檚 a public event 乌鸦传媒� if you乌鸦传媒檙e walking by and see the procession, you can just join in. It乌鸦传媒檚 all free, and we welcome everybody.乌鸦传媒�
