Reading will be hosting the Rathayatra Festival, for the fourth year, on 30th July. The Reading branch of the International society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON), is celebrating the free event, a vegetarian event with yoga and meditation, on Saturday.
Reading ISKON operates from a flat that is used as a temple also. The premises is owned by the key proponent of ISKON, Amala Manjari. Mrs Manari has also been studying for 15 years the 5,000 years old text of the movement, a monotheistic, onsectarian tradition, which is also called as the Hare Krishna Movement, that has 200 practising residents in Reading.
The festival will take place form 12 pm at the Forbury Gardens. There will be a line-up of mamta music and kirtan bands, of magic and meditation classes, yoga sessions and Henna tattoo drawing, plus free vegetarian food. Speeches will be delivered by the Deputy Leader of the Green Party, Dr. Sharar Ali and former Lord Mayor of Reading, Councillor Sarah Hacker.
ISKON was introduced to the West in 1966, when Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the spiritual leader travelled to New York from Calcutta. ISKON now has, 50 years later, 600 centres and a large following in Europe. Get more information on the free event by Reading ISKON, by visting the website- iskonreading.org.
