Bhubaneswar: A protest took place outside the ISKCON temple in Bhubaneswar on Sunday as members of a social organisation ‘We for Bhubaneswar’ staged a peaceful demonstration against the conduct of Rath Yatra on dates other than the traditional date.
The protesters alleged that holding Rath Yatra on dates that do not follow the traditional religious calendar violates the age-old customs of Lord Jagannath and hurts the sentiments of devotees.
The organisation demanded a complete halt to all untimely Rath Yatras conducted by ISKCON outside India, saying that such celebrations should strictly adhere to the sacred tithis observed at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
Members of the organisation warned that any attempt to undermine Jagannath culture and traditions would not be tolerated. They said the protest marks the beginning of a larger movement to protect the sanctity and dignity of Jagannath traditions.
The protest comes amid an intensifying debate over ISKCON’s decision to organise Rath Yatra and Snana Yatra at overseas centres on dates that differ from the ritual calendar followed at the Puri shrine.
Meanwhile, Bhubaneswar ISKCON president Satwatapati Das said ISKCON should not organise untimely Rath Yatras and urged the organisation’s Governing Body Commission (GBC) to reconsider its stand.
He emphasised that 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 day worldwide.
He also observed that the Government of India could play a role in resolving the issue, noting that ISKCON India may not have the authority to stop overseas temples from following different schedules.
Earlier this month, ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission rejected a request from Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, who also chairs the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, to align overseas observance of Snana Yatra and Rath Yatra with the prescribed tithis followed at the Puri temple.
In a letter responding to the Gajapati’s appeal, GBC chairman Madhusevita Dasa said the organisation would not reconsider its decision, effectively ruling out any change to its policy of allowing overseas Rath Yatras to be held on flexible dates based on local circumstances.
The Gajapati has maintained that while the manner of celebrations may be adapted according to local conditions, the sacred tithis governing the festivals are immutable. He has also written to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging intervention to stop the conduct of Rath Yatra and Snana Yatra on dates that depart from the traditional calendar followed at the Puri shrine.