THE eagerly awaited Festival of Chariots takes place this Easter Weekend from Friday, 25 March to Monday, 28 March at the old Durban Drive-In.
Organised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), this iconic festival kicks off a year of celebrations that marks the 50th anniversary of ISKCON, and the organisers are pulling out all the stops to make this the most exciting and memorable festival yet.
The traditional chariot parades will take place on Friday at 10.30am and on Monday at 5pm. Three 15-metre high chariots, accompanied by jubilant celebrants, will make their way along Marine Parade on Friday. Starting at the Tropicana Hotel, the parade will culminate at the tented village on the festival site at the old Durban Drive-In. On Monday evening, a second parade will leave and return to the festival site.
Local and international artists will present a spectacular display of traditional and contemporary dance and music items on a number of stages set up at the site.
Canadian-born theatre producer, Bhakti Marg Swami, has been commissioned to produce two new drama pieces, both making international débuts in Durban.
Ever-popular puppet theatre and dance drama are also on the cards again this year. The much-loved children’s adventure park – the Blue Mountain – will once again provide hours of educational entertainment for the little ones, engaging them in cookery, arts and craft, music, dance and drama and other fun activities.
Festival-goers can look forward to a lifestyle expo with health and wellness experts, gifts and clothing boutiques, henna and tattoo artists, international food stalls and ISKCON’s famous free hospitality meals. Entry is free and ample parking is available.
