Chariot Fest (Ratha Yatra)

Ratha Yatra - the festival of chariots - is one of the oldest continuously observed festivals in the world, and Red Deer now has its own. A decorated wooden chariot is pulled by hand through a public route by whoever takes hold of the ropes, accompanied by kirtan singing, drums and dancing, before the procession arrives at a festival site for the afternoon.

The festival end of the day is where most people spend their time: free vegetarian food served to everyone who comes, stages for classical and folk dance, henna and sari-draping tables, yoga and philosophy tents, and craft stalls. The scale has grown steadily alongside Central Alberta's South Asian population, which is now one of the fastest-growing communities in the region.

What makes it distinctive locally is how open it is. Pulling the chariot ropes is not restricted to the congregation, the food is free and unlimited by design, and the organisers actively invite people who know nothing about the tradition to come and ask. For a lot of Red Deer families it has become a straightforward summer outing that happens to also be a religious festival.