Bhubaneswar: The Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (SJTM) has asked the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) to organize Rath Jatra only on the Tithi prescribed by the Puri Jagannath Temple.
The Rath Jatra should be held between the second and tenth day of Shukla Paksha in Ashadha month in accordance with scriptural guidelines.
A meeting between the SJTM and ISKCON was held in Puri under the chairmanship of Puri king Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb. The meeting was attended by prominent figures, including Dr.Arabinda Padhee, Chief Administrator of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Guru Prashad Swami Maharaj, head of ISKCON’s governing body commission (GBC), Premananda Das Maharaj, director of Odisha ISKCON, and regional director of Bhubaneswar, Banamali Chandra Das.
The SJTM, the highest decision-making body of the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, made it clear that there should be no deviation from the prescribed ‘Tithi’ (dates) for the annual Rath Jatra, which is usually held in June-end or July.
Experts from both the SJTA and ISKCON are expected to meet soon to discuss the matter further. The ISKCON authorities plan to raise the issue during their governing body meeting to be held in February 2025, where global affairs are typically discussed.
“There was a detailed discussion between Gajapati Maharaj and Guruprasad Swain Maharaj on what is mentioned in the scriptures like Skanda Purana about Snana Jatra and Ratha Jatra. The ISKCON authorities assured us to take the issue up in their meeting which will be attended by their leaders from different countries. Hopefully, there will be a positive outcome,” said Padhee.
ISKCON’s Houston wing had decided to hold both the Snana Jatra and Rath Jatra of the Trinity on November 3 and November 9 respectively. Owing to Gajapati’s intervention and public outcry in the State, both the festivals were cancelled but Rath Jatra was organised as Sankirtan Jatra on November 9.
Subsequently, in letters to the chairman of ISKCON governing body commission Guru Prasad Swami Maharaj and president of ISKCON temple at Houston HG Saranga Thakur Dasa, Gajapati stated that over the last many years, he has been interacting with the organisation for holding Rath Jatra all across their centres in accordance with the prescription of scriptures and traditions.