In early July, the Cart Festival was held once again in Budapest. Our cultural festival welcomed the capital’s residents and all interested visitors amid the most beautiful summer weather, where anyone could experience this colorful Indian tradition.

This year marked the 22nd edition of the Cart Festival, the Ratha Jatra celebration, held in Budapest. The all-day festival and the colorful parade revived an ancient tradition that originated in India. Dancers and stilt walkers lead the procession. Children also greatly enjoy this colorful spectacle. The Chariot Festival is celebrated together by millions of Vaishnavas and people of many other faiths in India and around the world. What makes the festival unique is that anyone can join the festive procession without any obligation, regardless of religious affiliation. The celebration is therefore also a symbol of religious tolerance.

As part of the India Festival, we welcomed visitors to City Park all day long with a flea market, non-violent vegetarian culinary specialties, workshops, and cultural and philosophical lectures. We provided entertainment with special stage performances; the traditional Indian music and dance show was a huge hit, followed by yoga and a historical Indian drama. The festival’s great atmosphere was further enhanced by the electrifying Visnu Band, which performs every year—no wonder no one wanted to go home.

We concluded the evening with a free meal provided by our Foundation, featuring a multi-course Indian meal on the menu this time. (Jasmine rice with corn, green pea sabji, tomato chutney, and crispy papadam) Given the intense heat, we also treated the families waiting in line to refreshing rosewater lemonade and organic whole-grain bread to take home. The festival was made possible with support from the Ministry of Human Resources as part of a grant program. We would like to thank our donors for their support!