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Festival of Chariots

Saturday 11 May
King George Square
11 am – 4 pm

BE PART OF THE CELEBRATIONS, FUN AND FESTIVITIES

Bring the family along and help pull a huge colourfully decorated wooden chariot through the streets of Brisbane city. Enjoy live entertainment, dancing, music, market stalls, delicious foods, a ‘free’ meal and much more!

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WHAT’S ON

The people of Brisbane will help to pull a huge wooden chariot through the streets of Brisbane
Enjoy live music, on stage performances, dancing and much more
Take in a broad range of interesting and diverse market stalls
Entertain the kids with face painting and other fun activities
Experience a wonderful selection of delicious Indian delicacies
Soak up the brilliant colours, flavours and culture of India
Find a seat, relax and enjoy a sumptuous ‘free lunch’ of Indian favourites

TIMETABLE

11.30am
Everyone will assemble in King George Square to help pull the chariot through the streets.

Route: Adelaide, Edward, Queen and Creek Streets, returning to the square via Adelaide Street

12.30 – 4.00pm
Festival activities in King George Square

CULTURE · COMMUNITY · SPIRITUALITY

The Street Parade

This isn’t the first time that Brisbane is setting the Festival of Chariots. Following our success last year, we are back with a bigger and brighter event, full of excitement for all the family.

Festival program

12:30 INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC – RAGAS

by Murali Ramakrishnan – Flute & Ravi Singh – Tabla

12:45 OPENING CEREMONY

1:00 INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE – BHARATANATYAM by Kirthana

1:10 MRIDANGA DRUMMING by Govardhana dhari & friends

1:20 THE STORY OF JAGANNATH – DRAMA

1:50 YOGA by Hot Flex Yoga

2:00 DJ DAN

2:10 FESTIVAL OF CHARIOTS – TALK by Kalasamvara

2:30 INDIAN DANCE – GHOOMAR by Swadha Sharma

2:40 SHYAM DANCE

2:50 SONGS OF THE SOUL by Vraj & friends

3:00 MC DAN – KRISHNA HIP HOP

3:10 MRIDANGA DRUMMING by Govardhan dhari & friends

3:20 JAGANNATH ASTAKA – DANCE by Premanjali & friends

3:30 SACRED SOUNDS – KIRTAN by Kadamba Kanana Swami

4:00 THANK YOU GOODBYE

PARADE LEAVES KING GEORGE SQUARE AT 11:30 AM

FESTIVAL AT KING GEORGE SQUARE BRISBANE FROM 12:30 PM TO 4 PM

THE STORY

The chariot festival of Lord Jagannatha (the Lord of the Universe) originated 5,000 years ago in India on the East Coast of Orissa, in a city called Jagannath Puri.

This festival involves taking the deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra on hand-drawn chariots through the streets. On this day the deities come out of the temple to offer blessings to all living entities. This festival is performed in a mood of love and devotion and evokes auspiciousness, harmony and good will for all!

The Festival of Chariots was introduced to the west in 1967 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness. This festival is now celebrated annually in major cities such as Moscow, New York, London, Rome, Berlin, Paris, Los Angeles, Toronto, Kuala Lumpur, Auckland, Johannesburg and many more!

The parade has its basis on a famous story from the scriptures of India: Krishna, playing the role of a rich, powerful king, ventures on His chariot with a secret notion to return to the place of His sweet memories, where He lived as a child growing up in a rural cowherd village. On the way He pauses to rest his horses and some old former village friends discover Him. They pick up the ropes that yoke the horses to His grand chariot and affectionately force Him to return with them to His old home.

The Festival of Chariots is organised by a dedicated group of volunteers who all belong to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also well known through their charity arm – The Hare Krishna Food for Life. A passionate and talented group of people, they have already had experience with other major festivals like the Golden Moon Festival in Forest Lake, Spring Flare in St Lucia and the Le Carnaval Spirituel travelling show