The July 2012 Festival of India in Toronto celebrates Krishna Consciousness with a parade down Yonge Street and a multi-faceted picnic on Centre Island on July 14 and 15.

The Festival of India Parade in Toronto

The India Festival begins with a parade down Yonge Street. Starting from just north of Bloor Street, it will march down to Queen’s Quay on Sat. July 14 from 11am-2pm.

This parade is based on the “chariot procession”, or “Ratha-Yatra”, in which Lord Krishna, along with his brother and sister, each ride a “ratha” through the city and into the hearts of their followers.

The procession leads towards the ferry docks on Queen’s Quay, inviting everyone to the Centre Island picnic.

The India Festival Toronto Picnic on Centre Island

The picnic for the Festival of India is held on Centre Island. It features free vegetarian food; entertainment including music and dance; children’s activities; cultural exhibits; a South Asian bazaar; and “Yoga Meltdown”.

Yoga Meltdown is a fully participative event, with something of value for novices or the merely curious as well as for those experienced in yoga.

The overall event also has cooking demonstrations for vegetarian cuisine.

Centre Island is accessible based on the ferry schedule, but officially the picnics start around noon on both Saturday and Sunday. They will wrap up at 9pm on Saturday and 5pm on Sunday to close this East Indian festival in Toronto for 2012.

Centre Island is, of course, a worthy destination in its own right. Expect others to head to the Centreville amusement park, or to wander the Toronto islands.

Official Toronto Festival of India and Yoga Meltdown Web Sites

I must tip my hat to those who designed the official sites and created the content. Click the “Directions and Timings” link at the bottom of the Toronto Festival of India home page to open a pop-up with links to very useful maps for the parade and for the ferry docks. I’ve had to provide that level of detail in some articles about other Toronto events; but the Toronto India Festival site covers it very well indeed.

Their site also notes earlier events that prepare for the parade and picnic, under the “Pre-Festival” link. My assumption is that these would appeal mainly to people already involved in the Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) movement, and therefore would know about it from other sources.

The Toronto Yoga Meltdown site can be found through the Toronto Festival site, but here it is anyway; that saves you about 2 mouse clicks.

Looking for More Annual Toronto Events?

The Festival of India in Toronto might inspire you to search for vegetarian restaurants; my “Summerlicious 2012 Hosted by Top Toronto Restaurants” points to the official site but gives some navigation tips before doing so.

Check the “annual events” or “Toronto events” categories toward the end of the left-hand menu for other fascinating, free or frugal annual events in Toronto.

Disclaimer: DeHaan Services has no relationship to the organizer(s); I am not reimbursed for writing this article.

Thanks for reading about this East Indian Festival in Toronto for 2012, celebrating Krishna Consciousness.

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