Greater Huston Rath Yatra
SKAI Foundation

July 17, 2015

Greater Houston Rath Yatra:
1. Houston Rath Yatra - An Eening wiht Mayapuris, Dancing with Daandiya (at Voice Of Asia) read more...
2. India Festial: Greater Houston Rath Yatra 2015 (at Indo American News) read more...

July 11, 2014

Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra Fast Becoming a Tradition at Durga Bari read more...Open file

July 04, 2014

Devotees Pack the Breezy Discovery Green Grounds During Rath Yatra read more...Open file

The Festival complete Report by Sujata Srikanteswaran, Houston: Over 4000 Houstonians witnessed the grand Chariot Festival of the Lord of the Universe, “Jagannath Ratha Yatra”, on Saturday, July 13, 2013 at the Discovery Green Park in Houston. The wide eyed and beautifully smiling siblings - Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra cast Their cooling and soothing Divine glances on the Houstonians, offering them respite from the hot summer weather.

The Chariot festival traces its roots back to a long standing tradition of ‘Sri Kshetra’ - Puri, in Eastern India, where The Annual Ratha Yatra Festival at Jagannath Puri commemorates the summer vacation of Lord Jagannath, with His elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, from the main Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri, India to a neighboring temple, Gundicha Mandir.

To make the glories of Jagannath known to everybody on this planet Earth, His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder Acarya of ISKCON, made Lord Jagannath’s mercy accessible to people outside India by introducing the tradition of celebrating Lord Jagannath’s Ratha Yatra outside India. Following the same spirit and tradition, ISKCON has been celebrating Ratha Yatras for more than 35 years, across India and in all major cities of the world to fulfill one of its core purposes to systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all people in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness - ISKCON, Houston and Char Dham organized an unprecedented three Chariot parade through the streets of downtown Houston, with hundreds of Houstonians chanting and dancing in devotional fervor for the pleasure of the Lordships . The Chariots, that are replicas of the Jagannath Puri Rathas, were designed in Puri and assembled locally. Special 2.5 feet tall deities, carved out of wood, replicas of the original Puri Deities were also brought from Puri. Similar to Jagannath Puri deities, these deity forms are also adorned with seven layers between wood and paint signifying the living form of the Deities.

A glimpse of Lord Jagannatha on the chariot is considered to be very auspicious and scriptures have repeatedly glorified the sanctity of this special festival. Devotees from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and other places in the US came to participate in the festival. The chariots and ropes used to pull the chariots were thronged by enthusiastic devotees, as even a touch of the Chariot or the ropes is considered enough to confer the results of pious deeds or penance for ages.

Several booths including Books/CDs, Henna, Food and Face painting were set up in the arena, to educate people about the rich Indian culture, food, Vedic philosophy and spirituality.

The cultural programs kicked off with a sweet Odiya Bhajan rendition by Mrs. Kabita Sahoo and Sonali Mohanty. This was followed by an impressive Dance Drama featuring Lord Krishna and Jagannath pastimes, organized by Natya Lila COPA Dance School with children from Hare Krishna Dham. The Mayapuris, renowned kirtan band from Florida took the event to yet another level with their energetic chanting of the Holy Names and Mrdanga (Indian drum) presentation. On a more meditative tone, was the Yoga Presentation by Yoga Master Robert Bousany. HG Varsana Devi Dasi regaled the audience with nectarean Vaishnava Bhajans. There were several dance performances from the Royal Scottish Country Dance Group, Nrtya school of Dance, Laksmi Dance Company, Polish Dance Group of Greater Houston, Bharathadarsana School of Classical Music and Dance, Masala Bhangra Works, making it a truly International cultural event in honor of the Lord of the Universe, Jagannath. The MC’s for the evening HG Nityananda Dasa, President, ISKCON Dallas and HG Kalasudha Devi Dasi did wonderfully at keeping the audience informed about the festivities and happenings throughout the event.

Councilwoman, Mrs. Helena Brown was the Guest of Honor and Congresswoman Hon. Sheila Jackson-Lee the Chief Guest appreciated the Houston Community for putting together a grand festival and urged the need for many such festivals in the future to showcase the diverse but unified Houston culture. Proclamations from United States Congress and City of Houston conferring this day as Festival of Chariots day were presented. HG Saranga Thakur Dasa delivered vote of thanks and honored Dr. Surya Sahoo and Kabita Sahoo of Char Dham Temple.

Such a grand festival would not have been possible without the untiring services of volunteers from Hare Krishna Dham Houston and Char Dham Temple in The Woodlands, the generous sponsorship of SKAI foundation, and of course the Divine mercy of the Lord of the Universe, “Jagannatha”.

Greater Houston Rath Yatra (July 13, 2013) was a grand success... Open file

Greater Houston Rath Yatra was celebrated on July 13, 2013,and Bahuda Yatra was celebrated on July 21, 2013 in association with ISKCON and Durgabari.

For news article visit:

http://issuu.com/indoamericannews/docs/e-newspaper07192013

http://issuu.com/indoamericannews/docs/e-newspaper07262013

June 01, 2013

SKAIFoundation will celebrate Deva Snana Puja on Jun 23, 2013 (Sunday) at Drgabari.

Pic 3 May 31, 2013

Char Dham Hindu Temple and Durga Bari Society celebrate The Greater Houston Rath Yatra on July 13, 2013.



May 11, 2013

CharDham and ISKCON in 2013 Houston Art Car Parade
( http://www.iskconhouston.org/alpha/archives/116146 )

March 08, 2013

SKAI Foundation is organizing a Chariot Procession during the Greater Houston
HOLI Festival to be held on March 24, 2013 at Seabourne Creek park, Rosenburg, TX.

Celebrated Events

  • Free family event featuring chariot pulling by Devotees and Kirtan
  • Free lunch prasadam
read more...

June 30, 2012

Char Dham Hindu Temple celebrated Bahuda Yatra (Return Rath Yatra) on Saturday, June 30, 2012 from 3 PM to 7 PM in association with Houston Durga Bari Society
read more...

June 29, 2012

Durga Bari Holds its First Ratha Yatra Despite the Heat
read more...

June 1, 2012

SKAI Foundation is pleased to announce that Char Dham Hindu Temple will celebrate Ratha Yatra jointly with Durga Bari. Here are the details:

1. Devasnana puja will be performed on Sunday, June 03, 2012 in the morning at 10:00 AM at Durga Bari. Lunch will be served following the puja.

2. Ratha Yatra will be held on Saturday, June 23, 2012 at Durga Bari. Breakfast and Lunch will be served for this event.

Durga Bari is located at 13944 Schiller Road, Houston, TX. There will be NO fund raising activities on both the above said religious events. Char Dham Hindu Temple will sponsor Lunch for Devasnana puja, and also for breakfast and lunch for Ratha Yatra. Please bring your family and friends to both these events.

We definitely need some volunteers for the above events. Please reach out to your friends for voluntary participation.

About Char Dham Hindu Temple visit http://skaifoundation.org
About Durga Bari visit http://www.durgabari.org

September 15, 2011

SKAI Foundation makes a donation to the the Interfaith of the Woodlands' Food Pantry to help the needy during the upcoming holiday season.

September 02, 2011

SKAI foundation is pleased to announce that it will construct, operate, and maintain "Char Dham Hindu Temple" in The Woodlands, TX. The site is located on S.H. 242, at the intersection with Northway Drive, about three miles west of Interstate 45 North. It is envisioned that in addition to Char Dham Hindu Temple, the proposed site will have a cultural center, a Yoga center, and priest quarters.

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