ISKCON held its 14th annual Ratha-Yatra festival in Ludhiana, Punjab this December 19th.

Thousands of devotees from India and around the world attended the chanting parade, which covered five kilometers and was welcomed by people from many cross-sections of society.

A promotional “scooter rally” held two weeks before by members of ISKCON Youth Forum had been effective in drawing a large local turnout—in fact, so many people thronged the streets that the city’s District Administration had to divert traffic onto different routes.

As the Lord of the Universe rolled down the beautifully decorated roads in His huge chariot, He was also greeted by ISKCON devotees from Vrindavan, New Delhi, the U.S.A., Russia, Ubekistan, and the Ukraine.

Chief Minister of Punjab S.Parkash Singh Badal was chief guest at the Ratha-Yatra festivities, which concluded around midnight.

Also attending were GBC and BBT Trustee Gopal Krishna Goswami, Zonal Secretary Mahaman Dasa, ISKCON Kurukshetra President Sakshi Gopal Dasa, and ISKCON New Delhi President Mohan Rupa Dasa.