Bhubaneswar: Kalinga Sena, a social and political organisation in Odisha, on Friday warned International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) against holding untimely Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and siblings by deviating from tradition and culture.
Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, Kalinga Sena leaders warned that ISKCON temples in Odisha and other states would be shut down if the international society goes ahead with its plan to hold hols Rath Yatra this month flouting Jagannath culture and tradition.
Despite repeated warnings, ISKCON has failed to adhere to the schedule fixed for holding Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings, they said.
Notably, the Houston unit of ISKCON is planning to hold Snan Yatra of the trinity on November 3 and Rath Yatra on November 9 in the United States.
“All ISKCON temples will be targeted and locked if the society goes ahead with its plan to hold untimely Rath Yatra,” Kalinga Sena leaders warned.
It may be noted that ISKCON’s plan to hold untimely Rath Yatra has triggered outrage among devotees across Odisha and outside.
Following condemnation from different quarters over untimely Rath Yatra organised by ISKCON, Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb had written to the organisers expressing his objection to the proposed Rath Yatra in Houston.
In his letter to the chairman of the governing body commission, ISKCON Mayapuri and the president of ISKCON temple, Houston, the Puri king sought to cancel the Rath Yatra scheduled on November 9.
He pointed out that the annual Rath Yatra of the deities of Jagannath temple in Puri is held on the date as prescribed in the scriptures. As per tradition, the car festival starts on ‘dwitiya’ (second day) of ‘Shukla Pakshya’ (bright fortnight) of Asadh month in Odia calendar.
The temples across Odisha and outside also celebrate the Rath Yatra on these dates. Any violation of this dates hurts the sentiments of the Jagannath devotees, he said.
The king also said the temple administration had held discussion with ISKCON in this regard several times urging for sticking to the particular dates of Rath Yatra. If Janmashtami (birthday of Lord Krishna) is observed on one date everywhere, why Rath Yatra’s date would be violated, he questioned.
Respecting the religious sentiments of Jagannath devotees, the king told the ISKCON authorities to cancel the proposed Rath Yatra at Houston in the USA on November and in Nigeria on November 23.
Puri Shankaracharya has also flayed ISKCON for planning to hold untimely Rath Yatra saying the move was aimed to gain popularity and draw attention.