‘Untimely’ Rath Yatra In Houston: Puri Gajapati Asks ISKCON Not To Test Patience Of Lord Jagannath Devotees In Odisha

Puri: Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb on Tuesday said legal action would be initiated against International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) if the organisation doesn’t refrain from holding untimely Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath.

This came amid uproar over ISKCON of Houston proposed first annual Festival of Bliss, the Sri Jagannath Ratha Yatra, at the American Legion Park on November 9. The event continues to feature on its website despite the Gajapati writing to chairman of the governing body commission at ISKCON, requesting him to ensure that Rath Yatra and Snana Yatra of Lord Jagannath are observed by its centres globally on tithis/dates sanctioned by scriptures and tradition.

Speaking at a presser, the Puri king, who is the chairman of Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, said that such deviation from tradition hurts crores of Jagannath devotees across the globe. “Though ISKCON withdrew its plans to hold the Snana Yatra of sibling deities on November 3, nothing has been announced regarding Rath Yatra in Houston on November 9. Lord Jagannath should not be brought out of the temple except for Snana Yatra and Rath Yatra. The Lord has Himself mentioned the same in Skanda Purana. ISKCON is welcome to spread ‘Vaishnav dharma’ across the globe, but not by conducting untimely annual sojourn of the Lords,” he said.

Also Read: Is ISKCON Of Houston Going Ahead With Untimely Rath Yatra Despite Puri Gajapati’s Appeal?

He further stated that ISKCON has been organising untimely Rath Yatra since 1967. “It is was first held at San Francisco in the US. Rath Yatras were also conducted in Ludhiana in October 2007 and in Delhi in December the same year. Following consistent efforts and dialogues, such untimely festival is no longer being organised in India after July 2021. However, the practice is continuing abroad,” he rued. 

The Gajapati said that the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration is in touch with senior members and Swamijis of ISKCON. “They are unlikely to make any changes to their plans unless a decision in this regard is taken in their governing body meeting slated for March next year. Odias are peaceful people with a lot of patience and we want to resolve the issue in an amicable manner,” he said, mentioning about its Rath Yatra plans in Nigeria on November 23.

Also Read: Puri King Asks ISKCON To Cancel Untimely Rath Yatra In USA & Nigeria

Stating that ‘enough is enough’, he said that they will be forced to initiate legal action If ISKCON authorities fail to abide by the traditions of Srimandir. “But that will be our last resort as we believe in bringing them around through logic and shastra,” he added.