The International Society for Krishna Consciousness was founded in by Srila Prabhupada New York in 1966, and spread rapidly in the United Kingdom in 1969, when it attracted the attention of Britain’s most popular pop group, The Beatles.  The Society ‘is a global community connecting to each other, the world around us, and to God through service and the reciprocation of love.’

Since the 1960s ceremonies which involve the pulling, or pushing, of ‘carts’ have taken place each year in London.   On 17 July 2016 ceremony involved moving three large ‘carts’ from the South Carriage Drive in Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square, where vegetarian food was available for all those who wanted it.

Each cart was abundantly decorated with garlands made mainly of chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum cvs) and carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus); no African or French marigolds (Tagetes spp.) which often feature in Hindu rituals appeared to be have been used.

Srila Prabhupada saw his mission as using the English language to introduce his version of Hinduism to the western world, and initially his followers we mostly of European origin.  Participation at the London 2016 event included a majority of people of Indian origin.