Puri: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has once again come under attack for organising a Rath Yatra on an unscheduled date.
Deviating from the scheduled fixed by Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri, the untimely Rath Yatra was reportedly held in Sandton in South Africa. The event marked the fourth edition of the Rath Yatra organised untimely by ISKCON.
The incident came to light after ISKCON shared photos and videos of the event on its official social media platforms.
By holding the Rath Yatra on a non-designated date, ISKCON has been deviating from tradition.
A similar incident took place in Chelmsford, London, where ISKCON hosted an untimely Rath Yatra last week, prompting viral posts across social media.
In November 2024, a similar event in Houston, USA, had triggered among devotees of Lord Jagannath. Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb had even written directly to ISKCON urging the outfit not to proceed with the plan. Following the backlash, ISKCON had declared that, in place of the Rath Yatra, a Gaur-Nitai Sankirtan Yatra would be held.
The repeated instances of organising Rath Yatras on non-traditional dates have led to widespread discontent among devotees and cultural custodians.
Noted sand sculptor Sudarsan Pattnaik has voiced his displeasure on social media, stating that such actions undermine the religious sanctity of Lord Jagannath’s traditions. Despite previous appeals from temple authorities and devotees, ISKCON’s continued organisation of these events has been met with disappointment.
Despite such instances, ISKCON has repeatedly shown disregard for the cultural traditions surrounding Lord Jagannath. This recurring conduct has caused deep dissatisfaction among devotees.
