Thousands set to parade through city for festival

Thousands of people are expected to join a procession as part of a Hindu festival in Leicester later this month.

The Festival of Chariots, known as Rath Yatra, will take place on 22 June.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Leicester - a Hare Krishna branch of Hinduism which organises the event - said a 40ft (12m) chariot will be hand-pulled through the city accompanied by a procession which will involve music and dance.

Pradyumna Das, president of ISKCON Leicester, said Rath Yatra is a festival of "reunion" and is "open to everyone".

The traditional Rath Yatra is a celebration dating back more than 5,000 years and is believed to be the oldest chariot procession in the world.

ISKCON Leicester said the procession would start at 11:30 BST in Gallowtree Gate and would go along the Golden Mile before arriving in Cossington Park at 14:30 for a free festival.

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