Festival of Chariots is a free, fun, conscious living, Bhakti Yoga Festival celebrating the ancient spiritual traditions of India and the modern, multi-cultural wellness and yoga movement.
Bhakti yoga is the yoga of love and devotion.
If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting exotic cultures, you can get a taste of the East without leaving Florida! The event includes entertainment, live music, singing, dance performances by Bhakti Kalalayam Dance Academy, healthy living booths, gift bazaar, an interactive Wellness Tent with all day classes, workshops and presentations and a free vegetarian feast.
The festival has been welcomed by The City of Jacksonville Beach since 2002 and celebrates its 15th year this August. In 2009, Mayor Sharp made a proclamation and an official Festival of Chariots Day on May 29, presenting festival organizers with a key to the city.
Two stages host an array of dynamic activities, entertainment and powerful life changing education. We welcome healing arts leaders and guest speakers including Amrit Yoga Institute, who will offer a Yoga Nidra class and Freddie Zeringue, author and publisher of Natural Awakenings Magazine, Northeast Florida, who will present a Green Business Entrepreneurs & the Art of Flow workshop with Q & A.
Festival of Chariots is the oldest known parade in the world. The parade’s unique feature is a huge 25 ft tall, brightly colored chariot ornately decorated with swans, lotus flowers, flags and auspicious symbols. The chariot has 100 ft long ropes that are pulled by anyone who wants to join in, propelling the chariot along the beach. Riding on the Chariot is the Lord of the Universe, encouraging everyone to come together and celebrate life, peace and well being while uplifting our consciousness. Accompanying the parade is live, spiritually inspired kirtan music and dancing, backed by exotic drums & hand cymbals. It’s an ecstatic, exciting event, a vision from another world!
SCHEDULE:
4PM – Kick off Ceremony at the Pavilion.
4:15PM –Parade On The Beach– Travels North on the beach several blocks, then turns back South, returning to Sea Walk Pavilion
4:15-9PM –Yoga & Wellness Tent- There will be free yoga classes and healing arts workshops going on throughout the day. No previous experience required. Public is invited to join in at any time.
6-9PM –Cultural Program & Feast– Variety of enlightening events, booths and free vegetarian food.
HISTORY:
The credit for this beautiful and inspiring event goes to the Founder/Acharya, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who came to America in 1965, at the age of 70, and introduced the timeless tradition of the Festival of Chariots (known as Ratha Yatra) to the West. His vision was to inspire people from all walks of life towards a peaceful, spiritual society. The festival has attracted millions of people during its annual celebrations in major cities around the world. Over 10,000 plates of vegetarian food are served free of charge between the nine festivals held each year in the state of Florida: Miami, Jacksonville Beach, Tallahassee, Orlando, Tampa, Gainesville, Daytona Beach, Clearwater Beach & St. Augustine.
The credit for this beautiful and inspiring event goes to the Founder/Acharya, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who came to America in 1965, at the age of 70, and introduced the timeless tradition of the Festival of Chariots (known as Ratha Yatra) to the West. His vision was to inspire people from all walks of life towards a peaceful, spiritual society. The festival has attracted millions of people during its annual celebrations in major cities around the world. Over 10,000 plates of vegetarian food are served free of charge between the nine festivals held each year in the state of Florida: Miami, Jacksonville Beach, Tallahassee, Orlando, Tampa, Gainesville, Daytona Beach, Clearwater Beach & St. Augustine.
