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

Puri: Following condemnation from different quarters over untimely Rath Yatra organised by ISKCON, Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb has 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 has 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.