Blast

The religious festival of Ratha Yatra is more than five thousand years old and is celebrated by Hindu's.

The tradition is observed in the ancient holy city of Jagannath Puri, in Orissa, India. Millions of pilgrims attend the festival and new chariots are built each year - making it the oldest street festival in the world!

The first UK Ratha Yatra was held in London in 1969 and since has been re-enacted in cities throughout the UK.

Leicester hosts the second biggest Ratha Yatra festival in Europe after London.

This year devotees led a 50 foot yellow and red chariot which was pulled on wooden wheels. The chariot symbolises the return of the Hindu God Lord Krishna to his home in Vrindavana.

The parade set off from Humberstone Gate at 13:00 and made its way along Belgrave Gate and Belgrave Road. Throughout the parade, the followers chanted Lord Krishna's name, danced and sang their way through the streets - pulling the red and yellow chariot along on its huge wagon wheels.

The park was filled with people of all cultures and children singing, dancing and chanting the Lords name. There were a number of marquees that was home to multimedia presentations, a children's area which enabled face painting, colouring and many other numerous activities.

This year's Ratha Yatra was a huge success with an amazing turnout. The festival brought the community together and an enjoyable day was had by all who attended.

During the celebration there was an overwhelming feeling of peace and serenity created by the religious significance of the occasion. It was great to see so many different people come together to make yet another festival for the people of Leicester to be proud of.

The original story of Ratha Yatra is very beautiful. The Hindu God Lord Krishna grew up in Vrindavana in India, and had great loving friendships there with all the residents, including the cowherd boys and girls.

When Lord Krishna grew up, He became a King and moved away from his childhood friends.

After many years the residents of Vrindavana came to see him. But he seemed so different to the mischievous cowherd boy they all knew and loved. In an attempt to re capture the past the residents kidnapped him and tried to bring him back to Vrindavana on a chariot.

Being with Lord Krishna - the people felt simultaneous loving emotions of closeness and separation. The Ratha Yatra festival is a modern expression of this pastime.