On Heritage Sundays various buildings are opened to the public so they can experience the areas that are usually inaccessible. I took the opportunity to visit the well known Leicester landmark The Magazine Gateway . A Grade I listed building in alongside Leicester ring-road , it was originally the main gateway of a walled enclosure built around 1400, providing access to the religious precinct of The Newarke . The building has had man uses over the years including a porter's lodge, guest accommodation, prison, militia building, and regimental museum. It is currently managed by Leicester Museums .
Rathayatra also known as the Festival Of Chariots is a celebration of an ancient festival which began in India over 5,000 years ago it was brought to the UK and Leicester in 1966 by the ISKON temple and the Hare Krishna community . The festival features a vibrant 40 ft tall chariot carrying the deities of Lord Jagannatha ( Krishna ), his brother Balarama and sister Subhadra . Hundreds of people gather on the route to pull the chariot ropes, accompanied by energetic devotional singing ( kirtan ), traditional music and street dancing.