Three 40-foot authentic chariots from India will parade from Santa Monica to Ocean Front Park in Venice this Sunday, Aug. 4 as part of 37th Annual Festival of the Chariots.
At the end of the parade will be a huge festival site with entertainment, classical dance, and popular “Bhakti-Fest” kirtan.
The Chariot Parade begins at 10 am sharp from the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium at 1855 Main Street. It ends at a big festival site decorated by colorful Indian style “pandal” tents where Windward Avenue meets “the Boardwalk” in Venice. The festivities will run through 7 pm.
The tents house many exotic food booths, the famous Govinda’s Gift Shop and three stages with classical music, dance, and Indian rock fusion.
Entertainment:
— Karn Amrita, recording vocalist, main stage performer at Bhaktifest
— Anjani Ambika Dance Troupe from India
— Viji Prakash and Shakti Dance Co. classic Bharat-natyam dance performance
— Temple Bhajan Band, performs for LA yoga studios and interfaith groups
— Haribhakti & Ajamila, classic vocals, intergenerational all-star kirtan band
— Gaura Riggan, India’s Got Talent contestant #2, performing Dance Nectar
— Nandita Behera, classical Odissi dance
— Cooper Madison- invocation Bhaktifest kirtan performer
— Deepak Group also from Bhakti fest, and Alok Gupta, Sitar Player
The Festival of the Chariots is based on an ancient annual festival in the holy town of Jagannatha Puri. Every year in India the festival attracts over one million pilgrims. It is second only to Kumbha Mela, the largest gathering of humanity on Earth.
For more information, visit festivalofchariots.com.
