A Ram Rath Yatra spanning across North America aims to connect Hindu temples throughout the United States and Canada

April 2 :
The Sacred Shri Ram Rath Yatra The Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) and its Canadian counterpart set out on a 60-day journey across North America to connect Hindu temples across the two countries. The journey covered more than 16,000 miles, passing through more than 150 Canadian temples and more than 850 in the United States.

At the VHPA headquarters in Sugar Grove, Illinois, the inauguration ceremony for the US leg of the Yatra began on March 23, 2024, which happened to be the same day as Holi. The first day of the yatra encompassed nine temples and more than 500 miles of travel.

The organisers claim that bringing Hindu communities and traditions together across the continent is their primary goal. The spiritual significance of the Shri Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha ceremony, which took place in India on January 22, 2024, is something that the Yatra hopes to spread. Three chariots, or Raths, with the North American emblems of Shri Ram Lalla serve to guide the pilgrims on the Yatra.

Ceremonies at the Vishnu Temple in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, commenced the Yatra on March 25. The Pran Pratishtha ceremony and a puja dedicated to the Rath were part of the Canadian inauguration.

The United States portion of the Yatra has covered around four thousand miles and visited nearly one hundred temples as of March 31, 2024. There was a strict routine for each of the short temple visits, during which the precious idol of Shri Ram Lalla was erected with great reverence and rites were performed. At the same time, the Canadian group on the Yatra concentrated on the Greater Toronto area, visiting twelve temples and covering about 900 km. A visit to Ottawa's Parliament Hill was noteworthy since it was there that Shri Ram Lalla was honoured, a moment of great spiritual and cultural significance.

The United States squad will hit the road via New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut next, while Canada splits its attention across the provinces, visiting multiple temples in the Greater Toronto Area as a final stop.