Patna, June 26: International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) will organise a Rath Yatra Mahotsav in the state capital, next Saturday. The event is expected to draw an overwhelming response from more than 10,000 people, said Nagmani Kumar, the spokesperson of Iskcon Rath Yatra in Patna, today.

Rath Yatra Mahotsav, 2011, aimed at encouraging spirit of togetherness and unity, will also have Odissi performances by troupes from Russia and Ukraine.

“Krishna followers, associated with Iskcon in Russia and Ukraine, have given their consent to take part in the annual Rath Yatra this year,” Krishna Kripadas, the president of Iskcon, Patna, said, adding that the troupe will perform Odissi and chant hymns in praise of Lord Jagannath.

The Iskcon temple management expect several foreign disciples to take part in the Rath Yatra this year.

Artists from all over the state and other parts of the country are busy giving final touches to the rath (chariot) for the annual Rath Yatra scheduled on July 3.

The Rath Yatra will start at 2.30pm on Saturday from Iskcon temple at Budh Marg and will be pulled by thousands of devotees through major roads of the state capital, including Dakbungalow Road, Frazer Road, Gandhi Maidan, Exhibition Road, Mahavir Mandir and R-Block, before converging at the Iskcon temple.

The procession will be followed by a spiritual discourse and distribution of prasad to devotees. Students from Indian Institute of Technology, Patna, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and Banaras Hindu University, associated with Iskcon Youth Forum, will also take part in the yatra.