On May 19th, about 120 devotees participated in the second Ratha Yatra in Israel (and in the entire Middle East) held at Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park, one of the largest parks in the country, with over 16 million annual visitors. Tel Aviv is also where the first preaching center was established in 1994.

In July 2022, the first-ever Ratha Yatra in the Middle East was held in the coastal city of Haifa, known for its openness to multiple religious traditions. In addition, Haifa is the worldwide headquarters for the Baha’i faith.

Devotees process with small Deities.

Kavicandra Swami was on hand for the festivities and is now leading a multi-day Harinama tour in Eliat following the celebrations in Tel Aviv. Kavicandra Swami, the current GBC for Israel, has been closely involved with the yatra since 1996.

The day’s program included a maha harinam, katha, kirtans, and a children’s program. In addition, about 400 plates of prasada were shared, and around 30 books were distributed during the day.

You can follow the ongoing activities and events in Israel, as well as see more photos and videos from the festivities on the yatra’s Facebook page.

Photos courtesy of Manjari Prema Dasi.