ISKCON to celebrate Rath Yatra festival in Bangladesh amid high security

DHAKA: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) will celebrate Sri Sri Jagannath Dev’s traditional nine-day Rath Yatra festival in Bangladesh amid tight security.

An ISKCON priest said that the festival will begin in Dhaka from Friday. “Rath Yatra is one of the most important festivals of the Sanatan Dharma. Like every year, ISKCON has taken up various programs in Dhaka to celebrate the festival,” the priest said. “Rath Yatra is a grand gathering of harmony, devotion, and joyful chanting of Harinama,” he added.

Unprecedented restrictions on Rath Yatra this year:

Must end within fixed hours
No kirtan, Hare Krishna chants, loudspeakers or mics
Silence during Azan; chariot can’t pass mosques
Volunteers will have to be arranged on our own.

Never seen this before. Thanks to the… pic.twitter.com/DhfCgjYdwX

— Voice of Bangladeshi Hindus (@VHindus71) June 23, 2025

The first day of the Rath Yatra will begin on Friday, June 27 at 3 pm. The chariot will pass through ISKCON Swamibag Ashram, Joykali Temple, Ittefaq Intersection, Shapla Chattar, Dainik Bangla Intersection, north side of Baitul Mukarram Mosque, Paltan Intersection, Press Club, Kadam Foara, High Court Shrine, Doel Chattar, Shaheed Minar, Jagannath Hall, Palasi Intersection and reach Dhakeshwari Temple, ISKCON said in a statement.

The chariot will arrive at the Swamibag Temple on the same route and in the opposite direction on Saturday, July 5 at the same time, it added.

The Dhaka metropolitan police’s traffic division has urged transporters to avoid routes from 2 pm to 6 pm on June 27 and July 5. Police say adequate security measures have been taken to ensure a smooth procession. (ANI)