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Festival of the Chariots returns

The 32nd annual Festival of the Chariots, a Hare Krishna celebration with food, entertainment, and exhibits, will return to Venice Beach Sunday, August 3rd. Each year, a procession marches from Santa Monica accompanied by three towering red floats — devotions to the deities of ancient India — that end up on Venice Beach for an afternoon celebration.

The procession begins at 10 a.m. at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St., Santa Monica. Marchers end up near Ocean Front Walk and Windward Avenue in Venice, where the afternoon festivities begin.

Admission is free, and the public is invited to join the parade.

The event is organized each year by a West Los Angeles-based group of Krishna devotees, the Los Angeles Chapter of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

Most recognizable are the festival's three large red floats — nearly 50 feet high — devoted to Krishna deities, which paraders carry from Santa Monica to Venice.

Members of the crowd will use ropes that are attached to the side of the floats to pull them along the route and down Ocean Front Walk.

The floats have large red cloth canopies that are emblazoned with Sanskrit inscriptions and drawings based on Vedas scripture. They are decorated with fresh flowers, flags and banners.

Crowds of dancers, singers and beach-goers typically walk alongside the floats.

Within the floats are wooden carvings of Krishna deities.

The three floats contain carvings of Lord Jagannath, his sister deity Lord Subhrada and his brother deity Lord Balarama.

The hand-pulled chariots make their way south on Main Street in Santa Monica, then head west on Rose Avenue in Venice and finally are steered left onto Ocean Front Walk and proceed south to the heart of Venice Beach near the ocean end of Windward Avenue.

Once it reaches Venice, the festival will feature a free feast (20,000 plates prepared in the Krishna tradition) and three stages of live entertainment that includes drummers, sword fighters, Indian dance performances, drama and "mantra rock."

The event will also have information booths on Hare Krishna traditions and beliefs as well as Indian art and culture.

There will be exhibits on yoga and meditation, reincarnation, spirituality, vegetarianism and animal rights, and children's games and gift booths will be set up.

The idea for the Venice/Santa Monica Festival of the Chariots is based on an ancient festival that takes place annually in the Indian holy town of Jagannatha Puri.

The festival is a celebration of Indian Vedas scripture and the ancient Indian god Lord Jagannath.

Each year in India, the festival attracts massive numbers of pilgrims, and organizers compare the festival to the Kumbha Mela.

The local Festival of the Chariots is seen by an estimated 50,000 people each year, according to organizers.

Information, (310) 836-4342.