Bhubaneswar: Sparking a fresh controversy and resentment among devotees in Odisha, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has again organised Rath Yatra outside the traditional schedule.
As per information, the ISKCON is hosting Rath Yatra events in the United States and Australia, ignoring objections from temple authorities and stakeholders.
Sources said the celebrations are being held under different names abroad. In Dallas, Texas, the event is organised as the ‘Festival of Joy’.
On the other hand, it is being conducted as the ‘Festival of Chariot’ in Australia’s Brisbane. Both events are scheduled for April 18.
The untimely celebrations have once again drawn strong reactions from Puri. Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Arabinda Padhee said authorities had earlier communicated their concerns to ISKCON. “We received information about the untimely Rath Yatra being organised abroad. After discussions, an email was sent earlier through the Gajapati Maharaja expressing our discontent. Such actions are not acceptable, either in India or overseas,” he stated.
Despite multiple notices issued in the past, the practice has continued. In view of the developments, Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb had convened a meeting with officials to review the situation. It was found during the discussion that Rath Yatra has been conducted at around 80 locations outside India, while Snana Yatra has been observed at nearly 10 places.
