Do not be surprised Saturday if you see a chariot being pulled along a downtown street with musicians and drummers accompanying.
That atypical but celebratory sight will grace downtown, starting at Front Street Festival Plaza, with Texarkana's very first Ratha-Yatra Parade for Peace.
With a festival at 11 a.m., a parade at noon and a vegetarian meal at 2 p.m., a local man aims to celebrate Lord Jagannatha, a symbolic representation or manifestation of Krishna, said to be an embodiment of divine love, according to information shared by organizer Roshan Sharma, a longtime Texarkana physician.
Sharma is bringing the ancient festival to Texarkana in the name of peace. He expects 150 people or more to participate in the parade.
"My goal is to honor Texarkana. I've been here for the last 28 years. To honor Texarkana and its citizens and hold this first and historic, wonderful and public ancient festival. It dates back to almost 5,000 years old," Sharma said. "My goal is to have people of all cultures, races, religions, nationalities come together, love each other, respect each other and help each other."
He aims to draw out that spirit of helping each other through the festival, and hopes to get more and more people involved so it can eventually become a charity event for Texarkana.
The parade itself has roots that extend way back to its beginnings in Puri, India. The Ratha-Yatra celebrations and processions have been commonly held in Hinduism. Sharma is spiritual but doesn't consider himself Hindu.
"The chariot is going to be hand-pulled, just like in the ancient times. They're not going to use any motor or vehicle to put the chariot. We pull it with our love and devotion and try to bring the love and devotion from the lord into our hearts," Sharma said.
He will give a short speech when the event starts. Dignitaries will be acknowledged. Drummers will perform.
"At 12 noon the entire group of people will follow us into the streets, pulling the chariot while the musicians are singing and drummers are beating their drums. People will be dancing to that music and marching in front of the chariot," said Sharma.
They'll travel up State Line Avenue to the Downtown Post Office and then return back to the festival plaza.
In the spirit of the peaceful theme, people are pitching in and sharing in the work to organize all that needs to happen logistically, such as preparing fresh flowers for the chariot.
"It's going to be beautiful, it's going to be beautiful," Sharma said about the chariot, noting food will be offered to anyone who comes. He calls it a first and historic Ratha-Yatra Parade of Peace.
"It's the first time anything like that has happened," Sharma said, adding, "I think people will be wonder-struck with the beauty of the chariot, fresh flowers, the devotion of the people, the goodness in their hearts, and the dancing and music, and especially the drummers."
The parade itself is expected to take about an hour-and-a-half.
(In the event of heavy rain, the rescheduled day is Sunday. More info: 903-838-2112.)