What was meant to be a vibrant, peaceful celebration of devotion turned into a scene of religious desecration and insult, as eggs were hurled at devotees during the 53rd annual Jagannath Rath Yatra procession in Toronto, Canada. The incident, widely condemned by Indian authorities and Hindu organisations worldwide, has raised serious concerns over growing Hinduphobia and the systematic targeting of Hindu religious expression in Western democracies.
Videos of the July 14th event, organised by ISKCON Canada, show eggs smashed on the road along the sacred chariot’s path, with some narrowly missing devotees singing bhajans and pulling the sacred rath (chariot). The act has been widely described by community members and analysts not as petty vandalism, but a premeditated, hate-fuelled assault on Hindu identity, belief, and visibility.
The Rath Yatra is not merely a cultural parade; it is a profound public expression of Hindu spirituality and reverence toward the deity Bhagwan Jagannath. To target this procession with eggs—objects traditionally associated with impurity in Hindu customs—is to purposefully humiliate devotees and desecrate the sacred chariot, which for millions symbolises divine presence and protection.
Participants in the event, which took place on Toronto’s iconic Yonge Street, were left shaken. “It was not just an egg — it was a symbolic act of hate,” said one devotee. “They targeted us because we were singing, chanting, and pulling the chariot of our deity in public. This was a direct attack on our faith.”
During ISKCON’s 53rd annual Rath Yatra in Toronto, eggs were thrown at Hindu devotees participating in the religious procession, in an attempt to defile and insult the sacred festival.
The Rath Yatra, a key event honouring Lord Jagannath and involving singing, dancing, and… pic.twitter.com/OWFH4YS3xO
— Hinduphobia Tracker (@hinduphobia_tr) July 14, 2025
Security footage and eyewitness accounts point toward deliberate action, not spontaneous vandalism. Organisers say the attack happened as the chariot moved past a busy intersection, suggesting the perpetrators were waiting for the right moment.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs wasted no time in expressing outrage. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the incident as “deeply unfortunate” and “an assault on religious freedom.”
“We have strongly raised this issue with the Canadian authorities and demanded immediate identification and prosecution of the perpetrators. Such acts violate not only the sanctity of the religious event but the very spirit of multiculturalism that Canada claims to uphold.”
Sources confirm that India’s diplomatic mission in Ottawa has submitted an official protest note and is pursuing the matter with the Canadian Department of Global Affairs.
The Rath Yatra is rooted in Puri, Odisha, and its cultural and religious significance resonates globally. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik issued a sharp statement, noting, “The Jagannath Rath Yatra is a sacred event that brings peace, devotion, and unity. This vile act of assault not only wounds the sentiments of Hindus worldwide but especially hurts the people of Odisha. I urge the Centre to lodge a strong diplomatic protest and demand justice.”
This is not an isolated case. Over the last three years, Canada has witnessed a string of attacks on Hindu temples, threats to priests, vandalism with pro-Khalistani and anti-Hindu slogans, and open intimidation of Hindu religious gatherings. Despite community outcry, Canadian law enforcement agencies have largely remained passive, citing lack of evidence or refusing to categorise these acts as hate crimes.
Now, activists say, the attack on Rath Yatra is the culmination of unchecked Hinduphobic sentiment festering within radical elements operating in the country.
Toronto-based Hindu rights activist Nikhil Sharma remarked, “This was not just about eggs. This was about shaming a community for having the courage to celebrate its faith in public. If this were a Jewish or Muslim procession attacked in such a way, Canada’s Prime Minister would have tweeted within minutes. But when Hindus are assaulted? Silence.”
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