29/07/2026
FESTIVAL REPORT: THE GRAND JAGANNĀTH RATHA YĀTRĀ
Date of Event: July 19th, 2026
Venue: Hindu Temple, Paco, Manila
Theme: Devotion, Service, and Community Harmony
Event Status: Resounding Success
Hare Krishna!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Pranams 🙏
Dear devotees, friends and well-wishers,
The Grand Jagannātha Ratha Yatra (Festival of Chariots) celebrated at the Hindu Temple, Paco, Manila was an overwhelming success, drawing a vast assembly of devotees, cultural enthusiasts, and community leaders. Organized in close collaboration with the Hindu Temple, the auspicious procession of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra brought streets to life with vibrant music, devotional chanting, and unmatched spiritual energy.
Sacred Chariot Procession: Hundreds of devotees united in joy to pull the hand-decorated chariot (Rath) through the heart of Manila.
Uplifting Kirtan & Cultural Display: Continuous kirtans by our team of devotees from ISKM Singapore and dancing created an atmosphere filled with ecstacy and devotion.
Mass Prasadam Distribution: All devotees and attendees were served sacred, wholesome 6-course Prasadam meals after the procession and Maha-Arati.
Honorable Mentions & Special Acknowledgments:
🏛️ Chief Guest / Guest of Honor — Ambassador of India
Deepest gratitude to the Ambassador of India to the Philippines, H.E. Shri Harsh Kumar Jain, First secretary Mr.Nilesh Kumar Rai and their team of delegates for honoring the festival with their esteemed presence. Your participation added great dignity, warmth, and prestige to this milestone cultural celebration.
🛕 Collaborating Partner — Hindu Temple, Paco, Manila
Heartfelt thanks to the management and trustees of the Hindu Temple, Paco, Manila and special thanks to Mr. Prakash Ramchand Rewachandani, Mr. Prakash Sachanandani, Mr. Dilip Mansukhani for all the wonderful arrangements and logistics and Maharaj Kapil Sharma for his support and participation throughout the event. As co-hosts and key collaborators, your unwavering support and operational facilities were central to making this festival possible. From securing the permits to shouldering all expenses for the Prasadam feast, spreading the word around – everything was selflessly done by the members of the management committee of Hindu Temple for the pleasure of Lord Jagannatha. We pray to Lord Jagannatha to bless all of them with pure devotion and grant many more such opportunities to serve Him in the future.
🥤 Refreshment Sponsor — Anmol Grocery
Special appreciation goes to Anmol Grocery for their wonderful and generous service in providing refreshments (samosas and chilled rose milk) to the devotees, volunteers, and participants during the procession. Your thoughtful support kept energy high and spirits bright!
Cultural Dance – We thank Ms.Shwetha Thakur for her very graceful dance performances for the pleasure of Their Lordships Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi.
A heartfelt round of applause for our wonderful children, whose energetic devotional dance medley as Radha, Krishna, and their friends added so much joy and devotion to our Jagannath Rath Yatra celebration. These young performers, children of our regular Sunday devotees, truly brought the spirit of bhakti to life. Congratulations to the children, their dedicated teachers, and their proud parents. May Lord Jagannath bless them all!
🤝 Volunteers, Authorities & Local Partners
Sincere thanks to the organizing team, dedicated volunteers from HSS, local municipal authorities, and security personnel for ensuring flawless coordination, crowd control, and safety throughout the event.
Special thanks to admins of various Indian expat chat groups for spreading the word in the community even at such short notice.
A BIG thanks to all the devotees who travelled to Manila at their own expense from our headquarters in Singapore to help in the organising of the event.
Special thanks to all the donors from ISKM family worldwide and several other devotees who contributed locally.
This Jagannātha Ratha Yatra served as a beautiful reminder of unity, selfless service (seva), and devotion. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed their time, resources, and energy to make this celebration an unforgettable success.
Jai Jagannath!
Jaya Srila Prabhupada
📷 Photo Credits: Ajay Paswan (Emilio Aguinaldo College, Manila
