Thousands of people will be fed at a free festival coming to Reading next weekend.
The Rathayatra Festival comes to Reading every year in the summer.
It is the biggest event organised by the Hare Krishnas (ISKCON) in the town, who can regularly be seen in Broad Street on weekends.
The festival on Saturday, July 25 will see icons of deities paraded through Broad Street from 1pm to 2pm, and a festival in Forbury Gardens from 12pm to 5pm.
One of the organisers, Pratamapaya Nitai Das, said: “We’re in our 13th year.
“During the coronavirus pandemic, we had it online, each year it grows and the volunteer pool increases.
“There will also be mantra meditation and yoga from Bagwan Gita, the source of inspiration for our community.
“It is the yoga of love, expressed through the festival, we want to share food, happiness and joy with all the people in Reading on that day. Volunteers throughout the UK, festival many outside as well Basingstoke, Newbury, London etc celebration of unity in diversity.”
The organisers are affiliated with the Food For All charity, which will cook the meals for five thousand people using ‘Europe’s largest cooking vessel’.
Mr Das said: “The charity makes 10,000 meals a day, we’ve made pop-up kitchens in Ukraine by turning swimming pools into kitchens, a rapid action crisis team has just been to Venezuela providing emergency food relief, sleeping bags and necessities for disaster.”
Amala Mataji, a yoga teacher and ISKCON devotee, said: “This is a family festival, where the whole family comes, and everyone in the family has something to participate in.
There is a kids’ area and stage performances, there is something for everyone to take away, for one day in a year, it’s unique.
“There is no anxiety, we see so many happy faces, five thousand happy faces.
On the work of Food For All, she said: “Our vision is that no one goes hungry in Reading – wherever we are 10 mile radius, that’s what we’re working towards.
“We hand out free food on Wednesday food at the university, all the food is freshly cooked to provide a nutritious meal.
“We also deliver our food to shelters, so if more people would like to get it we can provide that, we’re ready to give more.
Definitely, Reading is one place we want to make sure that no one goes hungry.
“The food is nice and nutritious, with fresh rice and vegetables, coming together for a nutritious meal.”
Hugh Rendle has recently joined ISKCON while studying at the University of Reading.
He said: “I came across the society in the Freshers Fayre, it was very uplifting. I started volunteering, it’s very nice to see people getting uplifted from the food and seeing the smiles.
“I’m really looking forward to the festival, it’s great to see people invested in their wellbeing, to see people free from anxiety, it’s nice.
“I’ve experienced the Rathayatra in London, this will be my first time seeing it in Reading – after that, there’s no way I’d miss the Reading one.
“There’s music, singing and dancing it’s the best thing ever, no worries in the world, it’s blissful.”
Mr Rendle, 22, is studying Business Management.
He added: “I’ve found my place here with ICKSON, it’s helping studies, spending time doing something more fulfilling, I don’t need the nasty habits that i first had at university.
“I’m looking forward to spreading positivity, mental wellbeing and giving free food to everybody.”
