Bhubaneswar: Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Monday warned that the state government may initiate legal action against ISKCON temples if they conduct Rath Yatra celebrations on dates not sanctioned by ancient scriptures.
“The matter has already been discussed with the Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration (SJTA). The Chairman of the Managing Committee, Gajapati Maharaja, has sent a letter to ISKCON and other organisations attempting to conduct the Rath Yatra on unauthorized dates. The government is taking this very seriously and we will not hesitate to take legal action if needed,” said the Law Minister while speaking to reporters.
The statement comes a day after Puri Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb issued a directive urging all ISKCON temples worldwide to adhere strictly to the dates of Snana Yatra and Rath Yatra as sanctioned by ancient scriptures and temple tradition.
