SPECIAL EVENTS

Orissa Culture Center(OCC) and Govindji Gaudiya Math, with participation from the Greater Houston India Communities,  celebrates the Houston Rath Yatra-2010 (Festival of Chariot): a Unique Cultural Event  on July 24th 2010 at India House located at 8888 West Bellfort Street, Houston, TX‎.

Rathjatra or the Festival of Chariot has been celebrated in Houston since 2008 with fanfare. Its major goal is to bring together people of all color, race, and religion and showcase the cultural diversity of Houston. It represents a colorful, centuries-old cultural heritage from India promoting universal brotherhood, where look-alike deities from the medieval Jagannatha Temple of Puri, Orissa, India, are pulled in a 22 ft. tall, colorful wooden chariot, hand-crafted by amateur artists from Houston.

The 2008 and 2009 versions of this cultural extravaganza attracted over 3000 people from all walks of life. The inaugural 2008 event was organized at the India House premises with congresswoman Hon. Sheila Jackson Lee as the Chief Guest, whereas the 2009 event was celebrated with former Houston city Mayor, Mr. Bill White in attendance as the Chief Guest.

The wide spectrum of audiences from diverse racial, nationality and cultural backgrounds showcased the “unity in cultural diversity” theme that the City of Houston is so well known for, and making this event more unique.

This year, the cultural extravaganza will be celebrated at the premises of the India House (located at 8888 West Belfort Avenue, Houston, Texas 77031) on July 24, 2010 (5-11Pm). The guests of honor for this year’s Rathjatra include: Honorable Judge Emmett, Mayor Scarcella and Indian Vice Consul CM Ramchanda.

This years’s festival is supported in part by a grant from the city of Houston Mayor’s Special Initiative Program of the Houston Arts Alliance.