Wheels in motion for parade

From today's Leicester Mercury:

Wheels in motion for parade

The final preparations are under way for a colourful and lively city centre procession set to attract thousands of people.

The annual Hare Krishna Festival of Chariots returns to Leicester tomorrow.

The city hosts the second biggest celebration in Europe and festival-goers will descend on Humberstone Gate, to pull three giant chariots from the Clock Tower, in the city centre, to Cossington Street park, Belgrave.

Devotees believe that if they get the honour of pulling the ropes of the giant chariots – carrying models of Lord Krishna, Lady Subhadra and Lord Balarama – they are brought closer to the Gods, and at the end of this life they will be granted a place in the spiritual world.

Organisers are busy cooking food, arranging flowers and decorating the chariots for the festival, which is expected to attract 9,000 visitors.

Krishan Mistry, who owns Loughborough wedding florist Vrinda Flowers, will be helping to make garlands and flower displays for the festival.

He said: "Flowers play a really important part of the festival and are very significant.

"Garlands are a traditional way of welcoming and showing respect for guests, so those are being made to give to VIPs on the day, and to offer to the deities.

"Flowers are significant because we feel that while you can offer gold and silver, that is a one-time offering. But flowers will wilt, so the offering can be made again and again.

"The flower side of things can be very busy, because it has to be done last minute as the flowers will wilt.

"The arrangements for the park were done on Friday and the garlands will be done today – into the late hours."

The 5,000-year-old festival came to the UK from India in the 1960s, and has since been celebrated in hundreds of cities all over the world.

This year will mark the 14th time the festival has taken place in Leicester – the second biggest celebration in Europe, after London.

The procession leaves Humberstone Gate at noon, and arrives in Cossington Park at 2.30pm.

One of the organisers, Nimai Devi Dasi, said she hoped this year would be bigger than ever.

"Last year, we had 8,000 people, and this year we are expecting 1,000 more," she said.

"It certainly grows every year. The atmosphere is very jovial and family-friendly, and we invite people from all cultures to join us and celebrate.

"The pulling of the chariots is very important and symbolises pulling God into your heart.

"There will also be lots going on at Cossington Park, too, with tents, free food and a children's area with dancing and yoga."