From Puri to Prague: Ratha-Yatra festival brings chants and chariots to Old Town

Tucked down a dirt path from the Městečko u Benešova train station, just past a bright yellow-and-orange gate, lies Farma Krišnův Dvůr, one of the Czech Republic’s oldest Hare Krishna communities.

Founded in 1990 after years of operating underground during communism, the farm, which is open to the public for its communal Sunday feasts, is best known for supplying Prague’s Govinda vegetarian restaurant and organizing the annual Ratha-Yatra festival.

This festival, returning for its 18th annual edition this Sunday, June 29, is a wave of color and chanting, as participants in bright saris and dhotis sing traditional mantras with drums and cymbals and pull a towering chariot through the streets of Old Town.

Prague joins a worldwide Hindu tradition that started in the Indian city of Puri over two thousand years ago and has become a global celebration, from New York to Nairobi. We spoke to Radhika S. Mádhava from International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), the local event organizer about what to expect at this weekend's event.

“The name Ratha-Yatra comes from the Sanskrit. Ratha means chariot, and yatra means journey or pilgrimage. This tradition celebrates the journey of Lord Jagannath, a form of Krishna, as he returns to his devotees in the village of Vrindavan,” she said. Mádhava explains that both devotees and onlookers pulled the chariot to symbolize the shared spiritual journey and the divine coming closer to the people.

Founded in the U.S. in the 1960s and known for its chanting, feasts, and outreach, the Hare Krishna movement, though rooted in a branch of Hinduism and inspired by Indian tradition, is primarily comprised of Czechs and their supporters who joined after the Velvet Revolution in Czechia.

According to Mádhava, the Prague edition of Ratha-Yatra has grown steadily in both attendance and visibility. After experimenting with various city-center locations over the years, Náměstí Republiky became the perfect home for the festival: spacious, central, and filled with curious passersby who often become unexpected participants.

The festivities will start at 12 p.m. with a chariot procession moving through the historic streets of Prague 1. The route follows Celetná Street through Old Town Square, then continues along Železná, Havířská, Na Příkopě, and Wenceslas Square, before looping back via Ovocný trh, Celetná, the Powder Gate, and returning to Náměstí Republiky.

After the procession, the celebration continues at 3 p.m. on the Náměstí Republiky stage, with Indian dance, music, kids’ performances, and lively kirtan (musical meditation). Visitors can sample free vegetarian Indian food and explore a festival village featuring Vedic exhibits, henna art, and stalls with spices, gifts, and clothing from GovindaButik.cz. Monks will also be on hand for conversation.

Mádhava says that first-time visitors shouldn’t miss helping to pull the chariot. “Just for a moment, join in,” she suggests. “Then taste the free vegetarian food and let yourself be carried away by the dancing, singing, and great atmosphere.”