8th Annual Festival of the Chariots and Ratha Yatra Parade Jacksonville Beach, FL Saturday, May 19, 2012

Rathayatra is an Indian multi-cultural parade followed by a cultural festival. There is live music, singing, classical dance, books, bazaar, and lots of free delicious vegetarian food. The Ratha Yatra Parade is the oldest known parade in the world. There will be a cultural program at the bandshell from 3 PM till 6 PM. The Parade begins at 1 PM. at the beach near 8th Avenue and goes to bandshell by 3 PM at which time the free feast and cultural program begins. The festival continues till 6 PM. Jacksonville Beach Mayor Jacksonville Beach Fland Sharp will be present & is a regular participant at this festival which draws about 1,500 tourists each year. WHERE: The Bandshell on the beach, Jacksonville Beach. WHO: All are welcome. Free admission. Wholesome fun for the entire family. SPECIAL: VERY VISUAL event with colorful traditional costumes and flower decorations. Photography is permitted. Add chariots and a mini tour of India to the exotic things one might see during a Saturday stroll at Jacksonville Beach. Get a taste of India without leaving Florida on Saturday, May 19, 2012. The 8th Annual Festival of the Chariots & Ratha Yatra Parade, an Indian multi-cultural extravaganza, will take place on the beach & at the bandshell in Jacksonville Beach from noon to 6 PM. There will be lots of family-friendly activities and entertainment: live music including the famous Mayapuris dance and music troupe, classical Indian dance, books. The big draw this year is the Festival of India along with delicious vegetarian food. There will be a sumptuous feast served free of charge to all.

The procession route is about a mile long and can be easily walked by all age groups. It begins at 1 PM from the beach near 8th Avenue and goes to Bandshell. The parade will move in a leisurely fashion, stopping here and there along the route, giving way to song and dance. The processions
Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada www.festivalofchariots.org Email id: donate@festivalofchariots.org. Contact: Bhadra das 352-316-4560 or Nandini at 352-234-3108

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY for KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS

unique feature is a huge chariot with a blue, red and yellow canopy decorated with swans, lotus flowers, flags, Hanuman and a brass chakra on top. This chariot has two very thick ropes attached to it that are over one hundred feet long. These ropes are pulled by the parade-goers, propelling the chariot along the parade route. Riding on the Chariot are the beautiful Deities of Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra, decorated with stunning silk outfits & real flowers. Its a vision from another world. Accompanying the procession is lively Indian music and dancing, backed by double-headed mrdanga drums & karatala hand cymbals. Its an ecstatic, exciting event. The festival is sponsored by ISKCON of Alachua, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness whose Founder/Acharya, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, came to America from India forty-five years ago and introduced the timeless tradition of the Festival of the Chariot (called Ratha Yatra in India). Since the 60s this festival has been held yearly in over 100 major cities in the United States, Canada, and all over the world. Nine Ratha Yatras are held yearly in the state of Florida: Miami, Jacksonville Beach, Tallahassee, Orlando, Tampa, Gainesville, Daytona Beach, Clearwater Beach & St. Augustine. All are warmly invited to attend this joyous, colorful festival, free of charge. Take advantage of a rare chance to experience the vibrancy of India, right here in Florida. Questions? Call: Bhadra das at 352 316-4560 or Bhadradas@gmail.com or Nisha (Nandini) at 352-234-3108 or nishaji@gmail.com Tamp Bay Times Article April 27, 2012 http://soc.li/g0Qltvk St Augustine Ratha Yatra last month: http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2012-03-24-0 Last years Ratha Yatra in the news: http://news.iskcon.com/node/2901

Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada www.festivalofchariots.org Email id: donate@festivalofchariots.org. Contact: Bhadra das 352-316-4560 or Nandini at 352-234-3108

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY for KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS