ISKCON Gita Nagari to host 44^th country style Ratha Yatra after two-year hiatus.

After a two-year hiatus due to the global pandemic, ISKCON Gita Nagari is gearing up to celebrate its 44th Annual Ratha Yatra on Saturday, July 30, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Gita Nagari Eco Farm, Port Royal, Pennsylvania.

“This is probably the only Ratha Yatra in ISKCON North America and possibly the world which is done country-style. Imagine singing and dancing to the Holy names of Krishna surrounded by nature, cows, and fresh air. It is truly a delight, especially to devotees who need a break from the busy city life”, said Yasodeva Das, lead organizer of the festival.

The procession starts from the temple of Sri Sri Radha Damodara and goes all the way up to Gita Nagari’s “Govardhan Hill” and then back to the stage area where devotees will entertain Their Lordships and all guests with a lineup of stage performances. The whole procession is done within the ISKCON property.

The stage performances include a kid’s musical by the New Vrindavan Traveling Troupe, Odissi dances by Isha and Kushi Ray, Gita Nagari musicians, bhajans by Sarvatma, and Friends and Rama Raya’s Kirtan Group from New York bringing in the transcendental taste of the Big Apple to rural Pennsylvania.

This year, the Gita Nagari Ratha Yatra will also be joined by TSI (The Sanga Initiative), a youth-powered organization that operates across North America to create a network of young devotees to support and empower each other. TSI’s Gita Nagari Summer Retreat is from July 28, 2022 – Aug 1, 2022, at Gita Nagari Eco Farm, and more than 100 youths are expected to attend. One can imagine the energy these youths will bring to the festival.

“It’ll be a day of chanting, dancing, meeting old friends, and feasting. We have three buses coming from New York alone! We look forward to your association”, Yasodeva added.

Gita Nagari Ratha Yatra is one of the most awaited Ratha Yatras on the east coast. Gita Nagari is only a short drive from most major cities on the East Coast. 4 hours from New York City, 3 hours from most towns in New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C.

This festival is funded by the gracious donations of the community and friends of Gita Nagari. To donate, please click here.