The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) announced on Friday that a delegation from the Puri shrine will soon meet President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek their intervention in preventing the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) from organizing Rath Yatra celebrations abroad on dates different from the one in Puri.
Delegation to Plan Visit After Niladri Bije
The delegation is expected to plan its visit after the Niladri Bije festival on July 27, which marks the conclusion of the annual Rath Yatra. The decision was taken during a meeting of the temple managing committee chaired by Puri king Gajapati Dibyasingh Deb.
Committee Expresses Strong Displeasure
Gajapati Dibyasingh Deb and other members expressed strong displeasure over Iskcon and other organizations conducting Rath Yatra abroad on untimely dates despite repeated appeals and letters. SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Padhee stated, “The committee has resolved to send a delegation to the President, Prime Minister, and others holding high offices to persuade Iskcon to synchronize their celebrations with the official calendar of the Puri temple, the principal abode of Lord Jagannath, thereby ensuring uniformity in observance of the sacred festival.”
State Government to Take Up Matter with Centre
Padhee added that the committee will also request the state government to take up the matter with the Centre through official channels. “Recently, we successfully persuaded two temples — one in Uttar Pradesh and another in Punjab — to align their Rath Yatra schedules with Puri’s calendar. While deviations are rare within India, violations of tradition and scriptures linked to Jagannath Temple and Rath Yatra are frequently seen abroad,” he said.
Ongoing Campaign for Uniformity
Over the past year, the Puri king and SJTA have spearheaded a campaign urging Jagannath temples worldwide to follow the Puri shrine’s official schedule. The Odia diaspora abroad has also voiced strong opposition to celebrations on non-traditional dates.
Letters Sent to Highest Offices
The Gajapati has written letters to the highest offices, including Prime Minister Modi on October 24, 2025, and President Murmu on April 20, urging intervention. He requested that the matter be taken up with foreign governments through diplomatic channels to ensure Iskcon temples worldwide align their observances with Puri’s tradition.
Iskcon Cites Practical Challenges
Earlier, on September 6, 2025, Deb wrote to Iskcon, urging it to avoid observing Snan Yatra and Rath Yatra on different dates. In its reply on October 19, Iskcon cited practical challenges, including difficulties in securing permissions from authorities abroad. The organization noted that Jagannath devotees often form a “small minority” in foreign countries, making approvals for processions harder to obtain.
