Just as I was making a beeline for the Underground, a Hare Krishna devotee accosted me and asked me I was going to sample the feast. I was just about to pretend I was broke…when she mentioned it was free. Not being one to look a gift horse in the face, I joined the queue for some free food.

I had just finished watching the amazing West End Live music event at Leicester Square on Sunday afternoon and was heading home, when I stumbled upon something happening at Trafalgar Square. The place was packed, there were 3 huge brightly coloured chariots and there was some singing going on…and then I caught sight of lots of Hare Krishna’s, which was my signal for getting the heck out of there like a speeding bullet.

Just as I was making a beeline for the Underground, a Hare Krishna devotee accosted me and asked me I was going to sample the feast. I was just about to pretend I was broke…when she mentioned it was free. Not being one to look a gift horse in the face, I joined the queue for some free food.

I had stumbled upon the London Rathayatra Feast 2010, which is seemingly the Hare Krishna Festival of Chariots. This Festival of Chariots, Ratha-yatra, is a celebration dating back over 5000 years, annually observed in the ancient holy city of Jagannatha Puri in Orissa, India, making it the oldest street festival in the world. Devotees believe that if they get the honour of pulling the ropes of the giant chariot, carrying Lord Krishna, known as Jagannatha ― Lord of the Universe, then, at the end of this life, they will be granted eternal service to the Lord in the spiritual world.
I should have known that Hare Krishna’s were vegetarian, and if I had known, I doubt whether I would have queued up for 20 minutes to get a plate full of veggie food. But that would have been a big mistake on my part, because whatever I ate was quite simply delicious and it went down a real treat. I will give it to those Hare Krishna’s they seem to be people that are in tune with what’s going on around them. And none more so than the woman who asked me if would like a glass of lemon and peppermint water, which was such a refreshing and tasty drink. It sure saved this thirsty Scotsman.

There was a good atmosphere going on in Trafalgar Square with people of all nationalities and skin colours enjoying the hospitality of the Hare Krishna’s. I would just like to say that the white English guy that I noticed wearing the full Hare Krishna outfit with the dirty white socks and the sandals…he looked ridiculous…never ever wear socks with sandals..They are only to be worn by American tourists!
Next year I’m going to keep a look out for the 43rd London Rathayatra so that I can get a better idea of what the whole festival is all about. I’m always open to new life experiences, even something involving Hare Krishna’s, who are by all accounts come across as being nice people.