page_title: Festival of Chariots
section_title: Controversy
hierarchical_section_title: Festival of Chariots / Controversy
caption_attribution_description: More pictures of the holi festival&#160;: holiphoto.tumblr.com
context_page_description: Festival of Chariots refers to the Ratha Yatra festivals run by the International Society for Krishna Consciousnesss. The main event is a chariot procession through the streets. The procession may then be followed by performing arts presentations on the stage and visiting various booths encamped at a park site. The festivals involve chants, the arts, music, and free vegetarian feasts that can be seen over the world but specifically in the United States. ISKCON, commonly referred to as Hare Krishna is a branch of Hindu religiosity. ISKCON have used the practice of Hindu festivals as an important element of Hare Krishna expression, and is a recognisable feature of their appearance in the public realm. Kirtan is an element that is common to all ISKCON festivals. Kirtan is a process of musical worship, that is accessible for group participation and as described by Edwin Bryant as “Krishna in vibratory form”. The practice of kirtan are melodies, mantras, spiritual texts that proclaim God’s name in his many forms. The ‘Festival of India’ is the International society for Krishna consciousness conveying Indian expression in the global sphere.
context_section_description: Notable points of controversy include:
  Cultural tension these festivals have caused outside India. In Singapore the state has been historically hostile towards members of ISKCON. The practice of festival, central to their beliefs, have had to been practiced in different ways such as in personal houses, farms or stadiums. ISKCON expression has taken a different mode when interacting with its culturally situated surroundings.
  Some believe that the festival has been stripped of its religious value spectators who participate for non-religious recreational purposes. This specifically relates to Holi ‘the festival of colours’.  
caption: People throwing paint
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