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Krishna carnival lights up London | Krishna carnival lights up London |
(about 14 hours later) | |
The chariots were pulled by rope through the streets of central LondonLondoners are used to seeing juggernauts rumbling through their streets, but this was a very different kind of heavy traffic. | |
It was a riot of colour in the heart of the capital - three 40-foot-high wooden chariots pulled from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square, accompanied by a colourful crowd singing, chanting and dancing their way along the route. | It was a riot of colour in the heart of the capital - three 40-foot-high wooden chariots pulled from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square, accompanied by a colourful crowd singing, chanting and dancing their way along the route. |
Britain's Hare Krishnas were holding their 40th annual Rathayatra Carnival of Chariots, a street festival which brings together a mixture of devotees and bemused onlookers. | Britain's Hare Krishnas were holding their 40th annual Rathayatra Carnival of Chariots, a street festival which brings together a mixture of devotees and bemused onlookers. |
The ancient ceremony originates in Jagannatha Puri in India - giving British colonial forces a new word to describe a huge, lumbering vehicle. | |
'Everyone's happy' | 'Everyone's happy' |
The UK Hare Krishna movement hopes the day brings a touch of fun and celebration to London's thoroughfares. | The UK Hare Krishna movement hopes the day brings a touch of fun and celebration to London's thoroughfares. |
But organiser Varsana Devi Dasi said the worshippers who used ropes to pull the three chariots - one each for the deities of Jagannatha, Subhadra, and Balarama - did not face an easy task. | But organiser Varsana Devi Dasi said the worshippers who used ropes to pull the three chariots - one each for the deities of Jagannatha, Subhadra, and Balarama - did not face an easy task. |
We just want everyone to have a good time Praghosa Das | We just want everyone to have a good time Praghosa Das |
"It's quite an effort to pull them - the chariots are huge," he added. | "It's quite an effort to pull them - the chariots are huge," he added. |
"The wheels are made by the same wheelsmiths who make the Queen's carriages. | "The wheels are made by the same wheelsmiths who make the Queen's carriages. |
"But everyone's happy to help out - it's a lot of fun and you always end up having a good time." | "But everyone's happy to help out - it's a lot of fun and you always end up having a good time." |
When the procession reached its destination at Trafalgar Square, organisers had laid on entertainment, face-painting, information about Indian culture and enough vegetarian food for 35,000. | When the procession reached its destination at Trafalgar Square, organisers had laid on entertainment, face-painting, information about Indian culture and enough vegetarian food for 35,000. |
Praghosa Das, leader of the UK's Hare Krishnas, said he hoped passers-by would have their days brightened up by the carnival. | Praghosa Das, leader of the UK's Hare Krishnas, said he hoped passers-by would have their days brightened up by the carnival. |
The 47-year-old Dubliner - born Paul Murphy - first became interested in the movement when he landed a job working in a Hare Krishna-run vegetarian restaurant in 1980. | |
Bhuta Bhavana Das became interested in eastern philosophy at university | Bhuta Bhavana Das became interested in eastern philosophy at university |
"I'm glad the sun's shining today. It's meant to be a celebration and we just want everyone to have a good time," he said. | |
"Our founder Srila Prabhupada said our way of life is simply 'chanting, dancing and feasting', and that's what we're giving everyone here today." | |
Other converts to the faith said they enjoyed the festival's openness and inclusiveness. | Other converts to the faith said they enjoyed the festival's openness and inclusiveness. |
Bhuta Bhavana Das, a 32-year-old youth worker, became interested in the movement while he was studying philosophy at the London School of Economics. | Bhuta Bhavana Das, a 32-year-old youth worker, became interested in the movement while he was studying philosophy at the London School of Economics. |
"The great thing about today is that you have loads of Christians, Muslims, people of all faiths and none. | "The great thing about today is that you have loads of Christians, Muslims, people of all faiths and none. |
"The whole point of Hare Krishna is that there are many different paths to enlightenment - it's not about saying 'My God is better than your God.'" |