Bhubaneswar: Devotees of Lord Jagannath across Odisha are up in arms against the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) deviating from the traditional schedule for the sacred Rath Yatra and holding the festival on arbitrarily-fixed dates round the year.
Intensifying the protest against ISKCON’s move to hold Rath Yatras abroad on dates different from the traditional schedule observed in Puri, a large number of people staged a demonstration in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
Holding placards and banners, the protesters gathered under the banner of an organisation ‘We for Bhubaneswar’ and staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the ISKCON temple in Bhubaneswar.
Stressing that the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath has a specific date and tradition as prescribed in scripture, the protesters said holding untimely Rath Yatras is hurting the sentiments of lakhs of devotees.
During the demonstration, the protesters peacefully put forward their demands. They urged ISKCON to reconsider the issue and respect the traditions of Jagannath culture. The protests erupted after ISKCON reportedly rejected the appeal of Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb to hold the Rath Yatra on one date worldwide as per scripture.
The controversy continues as ISKCON has scheduled its annual Rath Yatra in Los Angeles on August 2. Globally acclaimed sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik has also appealed to ISKCON authorities to respect Jagannath culture and cancel all scheduled untimely Rath Yatras.
Discussions are meanwhile ongoing among Jagannath lovers and devotees regarding the dispute, with many calling for uniformity in observing the festival as per the traditions of the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar ISKCON president Satwatapati Das has reportedly said it is not proper to organise untimely Rath Yatras and urged the organisation’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) to reconsider its stand.
He said the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri, regarded as the foremost servitor and representative of Lord Jagannath, had already appealed for adherence to the traditional calendar. Das said ISKCON should respect the religious sentiments of Jagannath devotees and maintain uniformity by celebrating Rath Yatra on the same date across the world.
