Rath Yatra is the popular international annual parade festival of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
It features a wooden chariot pulled by hand accompanied by singing, dancing, drums, cymbals and culminates in an afternoon of music, drama and dance exhibits.
The event is accompanied by a parade that starts at 1pm from (The Mahatma Gandhi Statue) Victoria Bridge, along Deansgate, onto St Ann’s Street, up to Saint Ann’s Square where it will remain for the duration of the event.
There will be a small rolling road closure in operation, from 1pm, along Deansgate: from the junction with Cateaton Street, to the junction with St Ann Street. The parade is expected to last no longer than 20 minutes.
The festival itself is due to start at 12.30pm where official representatives will perform the opening ceremony with the parade roll-off at 1pm. Following from St Ann’s Square there will be an afternoon cultural event which will run from 2pm to 5pm and will consist of several small tents featuring displays of different aspects of Vedic culture gathered around a performance area where drama and classical Indian music will be performed.