Bhubaneswar: Eminent sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik expressed his displeasure after the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) organised an unscheduled Rath Yatra in Sandton, South Africa, ignoring appeals from the Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and devotees to preserve the cultural and spiritual sanctity of Lord Jagannath’s festival.
In a tweet, Pattnaik stated, “Jai Jagannath, very unfortunate to see Jagannath Ratra Yatra was already celebrated in Africa by ISKCON. After so many requests from @SJTA_Puri and all the devotees, again they have deviated the unification of Ratha Yatra dates to preserve the cultural and spiritual sanctity of Maha Prabhu Jagannath”
Despite direct requests from Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the titular king of Puri, and the SJTA to adhere to traditional dates, ISKCON’s decision to proceed with non-traditional schedules has sparked outrage among devotees, with Pattnaik urging respect for the sacred traditions of the Rath Yatra.
ISKCON organised the Rath Yatra in South Africa and shared photos and videos on social media. This wasn’t the first time they’ve done it on a different date, and it sparked criticism. Similar events in Chelmsford, London, triggered widespread criticism online last week. In November 2024, a comparable event in Houston, USA, also faced significant opposition.
