Date & Time

Sept. 23, 2023 12PM - 7PM

Location

On the Ben Franklin Parkway

Attendence

5000+ people

Special Guests

Visiting from India

***IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT***

Dear Devotees,

Happy Radhastami and all glories to Lord Jagannatha.

We are unable to have the Ratha Yatra Parade and Festival at Eakins Oval on Saturday September 23rd, due to intense winds and rain that are being forecasted.

There will be a Jagannatha Festival at the Temple on Saturday from Noon – 6:30 p.m.

It is important for us that you know what factors went into this sad decision. I apologize for the lengthy message below, but please continue to read because it contains information that will be helpful for you.

The Ratha Yatra Team met this morning at 7 a.m. to decide on the direction of Saturday’s Festival. We have been meeting twice a day recently and delaying a decision with the hope that something in the weather forecast would indicate that the weather pattern will change. Unfortunately there was no indication of this happening.

24 hours before the festival a decision had to be made because key components of the Festival such site presentation and chariot both come from 10 hours away.

The type of rain and storm we are expecting matters. This is not a case of possibility of rain showers, or a high chance of an afternoon thunderstorm patch that could miss us. This is a nor’easter and all indications are we are going blanket the region from Maryland to New York with high winds.

We consulted with the Festival of India, located in North Carolina, who provides the tents, stage and festival set up. He told us that he would not set up the tents if there are high winds as predicted because it would not be safe. To set up the site requires 10 hours of work, so we could not wait until Saturday morning to make a decision.

We consulted with devotee who brings the chariot, who needs to travel 10 hours to Philadelphia. He was very reluctant to set up his chariot given the expected weather conditions. As many of you know the amount of Prasadam prepared for our Ratha Yatra is tremendous taking many days to arrange. These devotees needed to know what purchase and prepare accordingly.

Ratha Yatra is our biggest preaching festival of the year. In that spirit, all indications look like it will be a miserable day for all and the public will be a no-show.

The question is what’s next? Can we get a rain date? There was no rain date given to us by the City but the Ratha Yatra Committee is actively in communication with the City to explore possible dates later this Fall. We do know that next week is not available. There are serval factors involved so we probably won’t have an answer for about a week. There is a strong desire to be able to hold a Ratha Festival this year in Philadelphia, let’s see what Lord Jagannatha arranges.

Tomorrow will not be a complete wash. We will have a Jagannatha Festival at the Temple from Noon to 6:30 p.m. It is important for devotees to gather during times like this and support each other. At all times we give thanks, knowing that Lord Jagannatha is in control of everything and that He has some special plan in this situation.

There will be kirtans from special guest kirtaniyas, the stage program that was going to be performed at Ratha Yatra will be performed and Jagannatha’s Ratha Yatra prasadam feast will be served.

If you were planning on coming to cut vegetables for the Ratha Yatra today, we still need your help in preparing tomorrow’s feast. Vegetable cutting will begin today at 1:00 p.m. and continue into the Radhastami Celebration at 6:00 p.m. tonight.

If you have have any questions or concerns about the Ratha Yatra that you would like to share please reach out to any member of the Ratha Yatra team members: Vamana Dev dasa ( Chariman), Vishnugada dasa, Devi Deva dasa, Dronacarya dasa, Caitanya Chandra dasa, Sita Devi dasi.

On behalf of the Ratha Yatra Team,
Your servant,
Dronacarya dasa

 

 

Join us on the Ben Franklin Parkway, Sept. 23rd, Noon to 7 pm

Our BIGGEST festival of the year is this weekend! This year the Hare Krishna Street Fair and Festival of India (Ratha-Yatra) celebrates its 50th anniversary on September 23rd! We are back on the Ben Franklin Parkway and at Eakin’s Oval (in front to the Art Museum) and hope that you’re looking forward to celebrating as much as we are!

Saturday September 23rd- Parade and Festivities at Eakin’s Oval
12 Noon – 7 PM

World famous Lord Jagannatha will be having a welcome party – coming out to see friends and devotees as well as passersby. This year the parade route starts at noon at 16th and Ben Franklin Parkway (2 blocks from Love Park) in Center City Philadelphia. The parade will cruise west down the Ben Franklin Parkway. In the center will be a mighty flower-decorated chariot pulled by the participants.

This year’s parade and festival will be enlivened by kirtan singers coming from around the globe! As the parade makes its way toward the Art Museum, singing and dancing all the way, participants will arrive at the festival site at Eakins Oval. There you’ll find a wonderful bazaar with lots of free food for the body, mind and soul waiting for you- a Vegan/ Vegetarian feast, Cultural Programs by International presenters, Yoga presented by facilitators from various Yoga studios, Seminars on the bhakti philosophy by world-class speakers, a Kid’s area to engage the young minds, and much more!

Festival Highlights

Hand & Face Painting

Pull the 36 ft chariot

Spiritual Exhibits

Dance & Singing Performances

Food, Jewelry, & Clothing Vendors

Parade Route

Parking

There are several parking options available for festival visitors.  Shuttle service (pick up/drop off) will be available for all the visitors from the Parade Start Location at 16th & Ben Franklin Pkwy and Callowhill parking lots on the festival day.

Parade Start Location
16th & Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Festival Site Location
2600 Ben Franklin Parkway
(Eakins Oval/Philadelphia Museum of Art)

Public Transportation

Parade Start Location

Suburban Station/ JFK Plaza/ Love Park/ City Hall stations have stops for all regional rails, the Market-Frankford line, and the Broad Street line, Please check SEPTA website for bus routes.

Eakins Oval / Philadelphia Museum of Art

SEPTA

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) serves the Philadelphia region with subway-elevated, light rail, trackless trolley, bus routes, and commuter rail lines. SEPTA bus routes 7, 32, 38, 43, and 48 currently serve the Museum area.

PHLASH

The Phlash Downtown Visitor Shuttle provides direct service between Penn’s Landing, Center City, and the Museum. Operated several months out of the year by the Philadelphia Trolley Works, the Phlash uses distinctive purple trolleys and runs every twelve minutes between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. For up-to-the-minute Philadelphia area traffic reports, dial SmarTraveler at (215) 576-5678 (or on cell at #211).

Out of Town

PATCO – (856) 772-6900 or (215) 922-4600  The PATCO Speedline is an easy way to travel between southern New Jersey and Center City, with trains running approximately every 15 minutes during the week and every 20 minutes on weekends.

NJTransit Connection at Trenton Station

Amtrak – 1-800-USA-RAIL  Amtrak offers convenient, comfortable trains with several routes making stops in Philadelphia. Trains arrive and depart from 30th Street Station, just a few minutes away from the Museum.

Free Shuttle

Free shuttle service (pick up/ drop off) will be available for the visitors from assigned locations in city of Philadelphia. Please make use of shuttle service and enjoy the festival.

For shuttle reservations, contact 215-247-4600.

Shuttle Stops

Shuttle Schedule

From 6 AM – 10 AM   (Multiple trips depending on traffic and police detours)

  • Temple
  • Eakins Oval
  • Callowhill Parking
  • Temple

From 10 AM – 12:15 PM   (Multiple trips depending on traffic and police detours)

  • Eakins Oval
  • Callowhill Parking
  • Eakins Oval

From 2 PM – 4 PM   (Multiple trips depends upon local traffic and police detours)

  • Eakins Oval
  • Callowhill Parking
  • Eakins Oval

From 4 PM – 9:30 PM   (Multiple trips depending on traffic and police detours)

  • Eakins Oval
  • Callowhill Parking
  • Temple
  • Eakins Oval

Final and Last trip back to Temple will be around 9 pm.

Contact

Philly Ratha Yatra Festival

PHLRY8@gmail.com

(267) 968-6825