Wed Jun 25 02:30:11 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is preparing for its 54th Kolkata Rathayatra festival, with celebrations beginning on June 27th, 2025 at the Jagannath Temple in Digha, West Bengal. This year marks the first Rathayatra at the newly inaugurated Digha temple, expected to draw over 200,000 visitors, including international devotees. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate the Digha festival and later attend ISKCON’s Kolkata event on July 3rd. The Kolkata Rathayatra, second in size only to Puri, anticipates over 2.3 million attendees. This year’s Kolkata chariot will feature tires from a Sukhoi-30 aircraft, replacing the Boeing 747 tires used for the past 48 years. The festival will also include a larger pandal replicating the Puri temple, a website for tracking the chariot, and various cultural programs.
**News Article:**
**Millions Expected as Kolkata Prepares for Grand Rathayatra Festival**
**KOLKATA -** Millions of devotees are expected to descend upon Kolkata and Digha for the 54th annual Rathayatra festival organized by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Festivities kick off on June 27th, 2025, at the Jagannath Temple in Digha, marking the first Rathayatra at the newly established coastal temple.
“We anticipate over 200,000 visitors in Digha on the first day alone, including devotees from Russia, China, and Ukraine,” stated Radharamn Das, ISKCON Vice President and Spokesperson. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who inaugurated the Digha temple in April, will inaugurate the festival and later attend ISKCON’s Kolkata celebrations on July 3rd.
The Kolkata Rathayatra, considered second only to Puri in grandeur, is expecting a staggering 2.3 million participants over nine days. This year’s procession will feature a unique element: the chariot’s tires have been replaced with those from a Sukhoi-30 fighter jet, replacing the Boeing 747 tires used for nearly half a century.
“It took us a long time to find the right tires,” Das explained, addressing concerns about using fighter jet tires. “In the eyes of the Lord, no animosity can prevail, even in times of war.”
ISKCON has also prepared a larger pandal at the Brigade Parade Grounds, designed as a replica of the renowned Jagannath Temple in Puri. A dedicated website, kolkatarathyatra.live, will allow devotees to track the chariot’s progress in real-time. The festival will feature a variety of cultural performances, classical dance, plays, and kirtan by award-winning artists. Devotees will also be offered bhog and prasad at ten locations throughout the city, with the deity receiving over 108 different food items.
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