Cork city festival of the chariot shows the ‘true colour of integration’

More than 500 people brought song, dance and joy to Cork city’s streets on Sunday afternoon, as Ratha Yatra, the Festival of the Chariot, the world’s oldest street celebration, returned to Leeside.

An important Hindu festival, celebrated at this time of year worldwide, this was the second year that Ratha Yatra came to Cork.

The festival was hosted by Durga Puja Cork, which has been hosting the annual Holi and Durga Puja Celebrations in the city since 2017.

The honour of launching Cork’s second Ratha Yatra fell to Green Party councillor Honore Kamegni, deputising for the Lord Mayor, Fianna Fáil councillor Fergal Dennehy.

Mr Kamegni was joined by Labour Party senator Laura Harmon, who last year, as a city councillor, officiated at Cork’s first chariot festival, Labour Party city councillor Ciara O’Connor, and Fine Gael county councillor Úna McCarthy.

Together, they joined members of Durga Puja Cork in burning and then breaking coconuts on the ground, in a symbolic gesture of banishing negativity.

Mr Kamegni was given the ceremonial task of sweeping the street before the chariot was pulled along the streets in a celebration of Jagannath, the lord of all creation.

The procession followed a route from Brown Thomas, along Patrick St, the Grand Parade, and the South Mall, to City Hall, where a celebration was held.

Mr Kamegni told The Echo he was very honoured to attend Ratha Yatra.

“I want to say thank you and welcome to all who are here today for this important community celebration,” he said.

“This is the true colour of Cork, the true colour of integration, this is the kind of Cork we want to see, a Cork of integration, a Cork of multiculturism, a Cork of welcome.” 

Ms Harmon said it was enriching to see the culture that Cork’s Indian community has brought to the city.

“It’s great to be with them today, and we’re blessed with the fine weather,” she said.

Ms McCarthy said it was wonderful to see people from so many different backgrounds celebrating in the city.

“It’s great to see such inclusivity in Ireland, with so many members of the Indian community here, so I’m delighted to be here,” she said.

Ms O’Connor said Cork’s Indian community had brought so much to the city, and it was great to be able to celebrate their culture with them.

“It’s such a colourful and good-natured festival, and Cork is a city of welcomes, so this is fantastic to see,” 

she said.

Bishwamitra Thakur, the event’s director, said the purpose of the festival was to highlight Indian culture, and to help bring people closer together.

“We are singing ‘Hare Krishna’, which translates as ‘Praise the Lord’, and this is a cultural festival where everyone turns out irrespective of their background and they celebrate together,” he said.

The Ratha Yatra takes its name from two Sanskrit words, ratha, meaning chariot, and yatra, meaning pilgrimage or journey, and the festival is celebrated by pulling a wooden chariot bearing idols of Jagannath, Balaram, and Subhadra.

The festival has been noted by European travellers as far back as the 13th century, but custom says it dates back more than 3,000 years.