Temple administration rejects ISKCON's claims on off-season Rath Yatra
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has rejected ISKCON's claim that organising Rath Yatra on dates different from those observed in Puri outside India is
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has rejected ISKCON's claim that organising Rath Yatra on dates different from those observed in Puri outside India is sanctioned by Hindu scriptures, accusing the organisation of misleading devotees worldwide. The latest exchange escalates the ongoing dispute between the Puri temple administration and ISKCON over what the SJTA describes as the "untimely" celebration of Rath Yatra and other Lord Jagannath festivals abroad. Read Full Story In a statement issued on Tuesday, the SJTA said a press release circulated by ISKCON's Communications Office in New Delhi on July 12 contained "false statements" and was intended to create confusion over the timing of the Shree Jagannath Rath Yatra.
Rejecting ISKCON's assertion that its overseas Rath Yatra celebrations are fully in accordance with the shastras, the temple administration termed the claim "absolutely false". It said that during a meeting held in Bhubaneswar on March 20, 2025, ISKCON scholars had sought to justify holding Rath Yatra on different dates outside India by citing scriptural references. However, SJTA maintained that its scholars had refuted those arguments using authentic scriptures and Puranic texts. The temple administration also objected to ISKCON's suggestion that Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the titular king of Puri, had directly or indirectly endorsed the celebrations.
Calling the claim "deliberate and mischievous", the SJTA said it unfairly questioned the integrity and conduct of the Gajapati Maharaja, who had attended an ISKCON Rath Yatra event in Berlin, Germany. Responding to the controversy, ISKCON's Country Director of Communications and Spokesperson, Yudhistir Govinda Das, declined to comment, saying he had not yet seen the SJTA's statement. The disagreement over the timing of Rath Yatra celebrations outside India has been a longstanding point of contention between ISKCON and the Puri temple administration.
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