Kolkata is gearing up for the 54th Annual Rathayatra organized by ISKCON Kolkata, set to begin on June 25. The celebration carries the theme of “Let Peace Prevail” .
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.
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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
