Rath
Yatra Festival
29 June 2003, London,
UK
On Sunday 29 June
2003, over 3000 devotees participated in a spectacular Rath
Yatra through the streets of Neasden and Wembley. The colourful
procession, lead by Akshar Marching Band, featured two beautifully
decorated floats, one carrying the murtis of Bhagwan Swaminarayan,
Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami and Pramukh Swami Maharaj and
the other bearing the murti of Jagannathji. The procession stretched
for 1.5 km and also featured four dance groups and devotees
of all ages carrying banners with inspirational messages and
singing devotional songs. Along the 5km-procession route, thousands
of people witnessed the colourful scenes and gained inspiration
from the messages.