Rath Yatra Row: ISKCON Resolves To Follow Puri Jagannath Temple Date

Bhubaneswar: Amid the row over celebration of Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra in certain places outside Odisha on dates that are different from the one on which it is held at the 12th century shrine in Puri, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has decided to celebrate the festival across the country to coincide with the traditional date in Ashada Masa.

Yudhistir Govinda Das, National Director of Communications, ISKCON, said that the decision was taken at the group’s national meeting in November 2019 following a request by the Puri Gajapati Maharaja Divyasingha Deb.

“We would like to let the public know that late last year, ISKCON was contacted by the representatives of the Gajapati Maharaja regarding their concerns about the Rath Yatra dates. Acting on the concern of the Gajapati Maharaja, ISKCON took immediate steps and had a meeting with the stakeholders. This was followed by two meetings in Bhubaneswar,” Das said in a release.

“Presiding over the meeting, the Gajapati Maharaja suggested that we could also observe the Rath Yatra in the twelve days between the Gundicha and Bahuda Rath Yata. We also presented the scriptural injunctions given in Skanda Purana which allows Rath Yatra festival on two other dates on Basant Panchami and Ashokastami. We are trying to hold a dialogue with Gajapati Maharàja on these dates. Since these festivals have been going for 50 years, it will take some time for the transition.” Das added.

Protesting the untimely Rath Jatra organised by ISKCON in Mumbai on January 30, activists of Jagannath Sena and Sachetan Nagakarika Manch had lodged a complaint against Mumbai ISKCON chief Radhanath Das Swami Maharaj at Simhadwara Police Station in Puri on February 2.