Bhubaneswar: The proposed Rath Yatra at Jagannath temple at Ferozepur Cantonment in Punjab, originally scheduled for May 23, has been deferred following strong objections from Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the governing body of the 12th-century sacred shrine in Puri.
The Ferozepur district administration announced the decision on Wednesday after consultations with the local Jagannath Temple Committee with the latter agreeing to align the event with the traditional schedule, rescheduling it for July 16, which corresponds to the Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya as observed in Puri.
Ferozepur Collector Deepshikha Sharma formally communicated the decision to SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Padhee. “The organisers of Jagannath Temple were called by this office on May 20, where they were informed about the appropriate timing of Rath Yatra and the significance of Shree Jagannath Puri Ji. The temple administrators have provided their written consent to postpone the Rath Yatra,” the letter read.
On Tuesday, the SJTA had urged the Punjab government to prevent the proposed observance of Rath Yatra by Jagannath Mandir in Ferozepur Cantonment on May 23, stating that it is not in accordance with the prescribed religious calendar and traditional rituals associated with Lord Jagannath.
It was the latest instance of the Puri administration stepping in against what it views as “untimely” celebrations, following a similar objection to proposed early Rath Yatra and Netrotsav events in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh.
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