Lots of singing, lots of dancing and a big bunch of happy people together on the streets of Amsterdam. That is the annual Chariot Parade Festival, organised by the Hare Krishna community of Amsterdam. This year again we will celebrate this Festival in grand style, and everyone is invited to join us in this festival.

The people of Hare Krishna are very well known for their singing and dancing on the streets. Two times in the year we do it in a bigger style, on Kingsday and the Chariot Parade Festival, also known as Ratha Yatra. On this day, we welcome the Lord of the Universe, known as Lord Jagganatha, a form of Krishna, and His brother Baladeva and Sister Subhadra in Amsterdam, and invite them to sit on a big chariot, which we will pull (with a rope) through the streets. Starting from the Pijp, we will go all the way to Dam Square, where a big festival with stage program and several market booths is organised. On the way to Dam Square we chant the following mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. These are names of Krishna, which we chant out of love for Him. In the end we are all equal, and we all want peace and happiness, and by singing and dancing in this way, we want to share this feeling of happiness with everyone.

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, also known as Srila Prabhupada, is the Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or the Hare Krishna movement. In 1967 he came from India to the United States, and introduced the Hare Krishna mantra in the western world, opened several temples and centres and attracted a lot of people in the Hare Krishna philosophy. In 1969 he organised the first Chariot Parade in the western world, in San Francisco, and since then this festival is held in several major cities in the world on annual basis. We are greatly indebted to Srila Prabhupada for all his endeavours and thankfull to him that we can organise this festival this year again.

The parade will start from the Hare Krishna Temple at the Lizzy Ansinghstraat 80 at 12:00. The full route towards Dam Square is disclosed in the map. Click on it to view the route in Google Maps.

The festival on Dam Square starts at 13:00 and finishes around 19:00. Every visitor can get a free vegetarian meal. And several snacks, sweets and books about philosophy can be obtained at one of the boots. The outline of the festival terrain can be found below.

The temple at Lizzy Ansinghstraat 80, where the parade starts, can be reached easily by metro line 52 (De Pijp station), and the 5 minutes walk, or tram line 14 (Van Hilligaertstraat stop). Coming by car is not recommended, since parking availability in the area is scarce and expensive. Parking can be done at De Rai P+R, after which you can take metro to the temple.

Dam Square can be reached by metro line 52 (Rokin station), and several tram lines. From Central Station it is a 5 minute walk to Dam Square.

A festival as big as this needs lots of support. We need both donations as well as volunteers.

Please donate over here.

Do you want to help as volunteer? Registration for volunteers will open later. Please keep an eye on this site.