Bhubaneswar: The titular king of Puri, Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingha Deb, regarded as the chief servitor of Lord Jagannath, has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for intervention in a growing controversy surrounding International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)’s observance of Rath Yatra overseas.
This followed ISKCON’s communication to Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC), which is responsible for the daily functioning of the 12th-century shrine , stating that synchronising global Rath Yatras to a single date or ‘tithi’ was difficult due to logistical hurdles abroad.
The Gajapati has reportedly asked the Prime Minister’s Office to raise the issue with foreign governments via diplomatic channels to ensure that Rath Yatra is observed in accordance with the traditional practices of the Puri shrine.
According to scriptures, Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is held annually on Asadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya Tithi
SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Padhee confirmed that the matter has been raised with the Prime Minister’s Office. He added that the SJTA will act as per the decision of the state government and the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTMC) headed by Gajapati Maharaja.
On September 6, the Gajapati wrote to ISKCON, requesting that they refrain from celebrating Snan Yatra and Rath Yatra on varying dates in India and overseas. He highlighted these practices as breaches of the holy scriptures and longstanding traditions linked to the Puri Jagannath Temple, regarded as the principal seat of Lord Jagannath.
On October 19, ISKCON responded by highlighting practical difficulties, particularly the challenges in securing permissions from government authorities in foreign countries. It noted that devotees of Lord Jagannath constitute a small minority in many nations abroad, which complicates obtaining approval for rath yatra processions. The organisation added that authorities in Western countries generally permit such events only on weekends to avoid major disruptions. Nevertheless, ISKCON assured that all its temples in India would adhere strictly to the festival protocols followed by the Puri temple.
Unsatisfied with this response, the Puri king on October 21 voiced disappointment with ISKCON’s position, pressing the organisation to reconsider its decision.
Speaking at an event organised by the Shree Jagannath Chetana Research Institute, the Gajapati Maharaja on Sunday accused ISKCON of spreading misinformation and setting a “dangerous trend” that could erode established rituals. “Holding untimely Rath Yatra is a serious deviation. ISKCON has been violating scriptures and Shree Jagannath tradition. This has set a very dangerous trend which is now being followed by others, weakening the sanctity of Jagannath culture,” he noted.
