Historic Golden Jubilee Celebration Honors a New York Tradition Begun by Srila Prabhupada in 1976
The heart of New York City came alive June 13, 2026, with the chants of Hare Krishna Hare Ram! Drums, and music as thousands gathered to celebrate the Hare Krishna Festival, also known as Ratha-yatra or the Festival of Chariots.
The massive procession accompanied three giant hand-pulled chariots traveling down Fifth Avenue from 41st St to Washington Square Park., marking the 50th anniversary. The Golden Jubilee celebration coincided with another historic milestone for ISKCON: the 60th anniversary of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), founded in New York City in 1966 by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Among the high profile guests were a representative from the Indian Consulate Mahesh Yadav, as well as Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh and Dr. Sudha Parikh. Parikh Worldwide Media covered the event on ITV Gold its sister television channel. Dr. Sudhir Parikh and Sudha Parikh thanked organizers for inviting them and praised the elaborate celebrations and the organizers for keeping up the tradition.
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In addition to the chanting and music, there were cultural performances, yoga and meditation programs, as well as spiritual exhibits and a complimentary vegetarian feast.
The inaugural Fifth Avenue festival 50 years ago also drew thousands of participants and spectators. The New York Times described it as a moment when “East Meets West,” highlighting the unique gathering of Indian immigrants, New Yorkers and international visitors celebrating one of the world’s oldest spiritual traditions, the press release from ISKCON said.
“The festival’s longevity also reflects New York City’s unique role as a global crossroads. For fifty years, Ratha-yatra has brought together New Yorkers and international visitors of all faith backgrounds in a joyful public celebration,” organizers noted.
A special highlight of the 2026 Golden Jubilee was the return of the original chariot of Srimati Subhadra Devi, which was restored to its original form which Srila Prabhupada rode during the inaugural 1976 procession.
“The 50th anniversary of New York Ratha-yatra is much more than a celebration of a festival—it is a celebration of a vision,” said President of ISKCON New York City Hansarupa Dasa, “When Srila Prabhupada brought Lord Jagannatha down Fifth Avenue in 1976, he demonstrated that New York City could become a meeting place for the world’s spiritual and cultural traditions. Fifty years later, we are honored to celebrate the continuation of that legacy by welcoming people of every background to experience the joy of kirtan, the spirit of community and the timeless wisdom of bhakti-yoga.”
More than 20,000 plates of complimentary prasad, sanctified vegetarian cuisine, were distributed to attendees.
From humble beginnings in a Lower East Side storefront, ISKCON has grown into a global spiritual movement with hundreds of temples, educational institutions, farms, restaurants and cultural centers around the world.
“Few events better illustrate Srila Prabhupada’s impact on New York and the world than the annual Ratha-yatra Festival,” said ISKCON NYC Communications Coordinator Pancharatna Dasa. “Today, this festival is part of a global tradition celebrated in hundreds of cities across six continents.”