Puri: Gajapati Maharaj Dibya Singh Dev has written to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking intervention to resolve issues related to ISKCON conducting Jagannatha Snana-yatra and Ratha-yatra on dates that do not align with scriptures and tradition.
In his letters, the Gajapati said ISKCON is performing the two sacred festivals on random dates throughout the year in countries outside India, which he stated is in contravention of clear scriptural prescription and hurts the sentiments of countless devotees. He added that Shankaracharyas and Vaishnavacharyas have strongly denounced the practice.
According to the Gajapati, after years of dialogue with Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration, the Chairman of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission communicated on 19 October 2025 that ISKCON will celebrate Ratha-yatra within India only during the nine-day period starting from Ashadha Shukla-paksha Dvitiya Tithi as per tradition. However, outside India, ISKCON will continue to celebrate Ratha-yatra on random dates. He noted that during the current year, ISKCON is scheduled to hold Ratha-yatra in more than 70 cities worldwide on dates not prescribed by scriptures.
Though the ISKCON Chairman had committed on 19 October 2026 to celebrate Snana-yatra in all ISKCON temples worldwide only on Jyestha-poornima Tithi, the festival is being performed on other dates in at least 10 cities outside India this year, the letter said. In his letter to the Prime Minister dated 24 October 2025, the Gajapati stated that Ratha-yatra is a nine-day festival starting on Asadha Shukla-paksha Dvitiya Tithi and Snana-yatra is performed on Jyestha-poornima Tithi, as mentioned in Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana, Padma Purana and other scriptures.
He said both yatras have been observed on these tithis at Shree Jagannatha Temple in Puri and in other Jagannatha temples in India and abroad since time immemorial. The Gajapati claimed that over the last several decades, ISKCON temples within India and abroad have performed both festivals on random dates.
During the current year, Snana-yatra has been celebrated in at least forty ISKCON temples in violation of scriptures, while Ratha-yatra has been performed in at least sixty-eight ISKCON temples outside India on unsanctioned tithis.
He requested the President to initiate appropriate steps for amicably resolving the issue and protecting the heritage of Shree Jagannatha Mahaprabhu. A dossier containing relevant documents was submitted with the letters.
