A sleepy Mill Avenue awoke Saturday morning to the sound of balram drums and 150 harmonizing voices, as Hindu devotees held Arizona's first Rath Yatra.
In the event, Hindus celebrated the emergence of their god Krishna, known to them as the lord of the universe.
Rath Yatra, Hindi for chariot journey, is a 3,000-year-old tradition celebrating Krishna's emergence in the world.
During it, devotees pull a 25-foot tall wooden chariot through the town. The chariot carries three representations of Krishna.
Devotees and followers gathered at an ASU parking lot at Lemon Street and Rural Road to pull the decorated chariot through the city to Tempe Beach Park.
Those not pulling sang devotional songs and danced in front of the gold and orange chariot.
"We believe this Rath Yatra is a blessing to the whole population, whether they understand it or not," said Radha Pran Das, an event coordinator.
It was the first time Arizona has held a Rath Yatra. The event was organized by the Phoenix Hare Krishna Temple.
Though only about 150 paraded, a couple thousand showed up for festivities following the parade, said Sandamini Mataji, founder of the two Hare Krishna Temples in Arizona.
The turnout was relatively small compared to Rath Yatras in Los Angeles and New York, which produce crowds of 10,000 people.
Though the small parade was joyous for the participants, some onlookers were upset at the roadblocks around the already congested downtown.
Political science senior Kyle McMurray said streets shouldn't have been closed off for a small celebration.
"I understand everybody has a right to practice their religion, but I had to drive over roadblocks to get to work, and I have to make money to pay my rent," said the Rula Bula employee.
The event held significance for electrical engineering freshman Sunil Mutreja. Mutreja arrived from Bombay, India, last month.
"I feel like this is a mini-India," Mutreja said. "It reminds me of home and these kinds of events will help us not feel homesick."
Reach the reporter at jacqueline.shoyeb@asu.edu.
